Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1908 — SUITE “A” IN A LIVERY BARN [ARTICLE]

SUITE “A” IN A LIVERY BARN

Rensselaer Boys Misrepresent Destination When They Hire Rig and Have Tough Experience. Three . Rensselaer young men, names known but withheld, rented a single horse livery rig of Liveryman John M. Knapp last Sunday, stating that they wanted to drive to the Oscar Hauter farm, just southeast of town. Mr. Knapp rented them a horse that had already done a pretty fair day’s work, and they paid him the sum of $2, and that was all Che tjiumvurate possessed •The young men changed their minds about where they wanted to go and started at once to Francesville. Soon after they bad arrived there the liveryman where the horse was put up received a message by telephone from Mr. Knapp, who had learned that the boys had gone there, and the message required the liveryman to refuse to let the horse be taken out until 6 o’clock the "next morning, as it had already hen driven farther that day than it should have been and humanity demanded that the tired beast be given a night’s rest. As soon as the boys reached Francesville, they started out in search of loose “calico” and two of them made a catch, but number three was less fortunate and carried the banner aboutthestreetsun.il the other two boys, who had been busy ducking ice cream parlors, got ready to come home. Finally the three got together and went to the stable for the rig, but they were confronted with the refusal to release the horse until 6 o’clock the next morning. This was a tough situation. For, take all the money the three fellows had and put it together there wasn’t a blamed cent in the crowd. All importuning of the liveryman went for naught, and finally one of the boys made bold to ask him if they might repose for the balance of the nocturnal period in the hay. loft The charitably disposed liveryman gave affirmative assent in the following language: “Sure, boys, suite ‘A’ is at your service; take the elevator tn the left and get off on the second floor If you want a bath, put it off till you get home; if you want ronre covers, unbale another bunch of the seaweed; if want hot-or cold water during the night, ring your hands; if you don’t like your bed, take any one in the bostlery.” ‘‘Good,’ 1 said one of the guesta, “where do we register, I want to leave a 4:30 call?”

"Never mind the register,” said the liveryman, John Knapp will look after that when you get back to Rensselaer.” And John Knapp did look out. He had a bill of expense amounting to 15 60 awaiting the boys when they got home, and they got the coin in a jiffy People who hire livery rigs should never falsity their destination to the liverymon, for they are quite apt as in this instance to be suppled with a horse for a short distance chat is unfit for a long drive, andlf they have misrepresented they are criminally liable and can be fined or sent to jail. It was distinctly right for Mr. Knapp to direct that the horse be rested before driven back to Rensselaer, and all liverymen should be just as careful and humane to their animals as was Mr. Knapp in this instance It is probable that the boys did not figure on the condition of the hoise, but boys and men who hire livury rigs must have their wits about them and they can hereby save considerable expense and puasibly a lot of other trouble. And they won’t be compelled to sleep in hay mows.