garded as
superfluities, and his most conspicuous garment as he appeared behind
the counter was a cardigan jacket of a frowsiness beyond compare. A
greasy neck scarf was embellished with a gem whose truthfulness was
without pretence. The atmosphere of the room was accounted for by a
remark which was made by one of the loungers as John came in. "Say,
Ame," the fellow drawled, "I guess the' was more skunk cabbidge 'n pie
plant 'n usual 'n that last lot o' cigars o' your'n, wa'n't the'?" to
which insinuation "Ame" was spared the necessity of a rejoinder by our
friend's advent.

"Wa'al, guess we c'n give ye a room. Oh, yes, you c'n register if you
want to. Where is the dum thing? I seen it last week somewhere. Oh,
yes," producing a thin book ruled for accounts from under the counter,
"we don't alwus use it," he remarked--which was obvious, seeing that the
last entry was a month old.

John concluded that it was a useless formality. "I should like something
to eat," he said, "and desire to go to my room while it is being
prepared; and can you send my luggage up now?"

"Wa'al," said Mr. Elright, looking at the clock, which showed the hour
of half-past nine, and rubbing his chin perplexedly, "supper's ben
cleared off some time ago."

"I don't want very much," said John; "just a bit of steak, and some
stewed potatoes, and a couple of boiled eggs, and some coffee." He might
have heard the sound of a slap in the direction of one of the sitters.

"I'm 'fraid I can't 'commodate ye fur's the steak an' things goes,"
confessed the landlord. "We don't do much cookin' after dinner, an' I
reckon the fire's out anyway. P'r'aps," he added doubtfully, "I c'd hunt
ye up a piece o' pie 'n some doughnuts, or somethin' like that."

He took a key, to which was attached a huge brass tag with serrated
edges, from a hook on a board behind the bar--on which were suspended a
number of the like--lighted a small kerosene lamp, carrying a single
wick, and, shuffling out from behind the counter, said, "Say, Bill,
can't you an' Dick carry the gentleman's trunks up to 'thirteen?'" and,
as they assented, he gave the lamp and key to one of them and left the
room. The two men took a trunk at either end and mounted the stairs,
John following, and when the second one came up he put his fingers into
his waistcoat pocket suggestively.

"No," said the one addressed as Dick, "that's all right. We done it to
oblige Ame."

"I'm very much obliged to you, thou