1901 Trinity Yearbook

The italicizing is my own, and these were the passages, as you will remember, which puzzled us most.

To begin with, I had only the most casual acquaintance with the young man ; not even eating at the same table, or having any of those trivial connections, which serve to form friendships in hotel life. We had simply taken a few long tramps together; on several of which he had regaled me with his experiences in the late Cuban war, in a most graphic and interesting manner, and this letter was the first I had received since "\Ye parted. Who Mr. W. was, or why in the dickens I should meet him, I couldn't in the least imagine.

Well, after all sorts of ideas about confidence games, I decided to write, explaining that no doubt he bad written before, but that the letter was not received; telling him I should be very pleased to meet Mr. W., or any friend whom he might recommend , at any time or place.

Well, do you know, three days a fterwards I received a letter requesting me to telegraph for him to come and see me at once. There was such a tinge of Sherlock Holmes in the whole proceeding that I did as he asked. l-Ie came, and there was unfolded to me about the coolest piece of confidence business I ever heard of, and certainly the coolest I ever expect to take part in.

To be very brief, Mr. W. had bought a hotel and a large tract of land, and proposed to form a stock company. He asked my young friend if he knew of any one who would feel like investing twenty-five or thirty thousand in such a scheme.

This interesting youth had long planned to go on a hunting trip for a few days; gave him my name, and proposed going up to Hartford, and talking me into the scheme.

He got his holiday and expenses, and from some out of the way town on Chesapeake Bay had entertained Mr. W. over the long-distance wire on my enthusiasm. Then, having attained his object, namely, his vacation, he returned to New York, and dropped the whole matter. But Mr. W. did not see it in that light, and hence the letter.

So far, it was all very amusing. But when he explained that he must bring Mr. W. up the following week, that I must manifest the greatest interest in a hotel scheme, a nd plan to flood New York's residences with bottled drinking water, I objected; but it was useless-either Mr. W. must come up or be would lose his positi-on.

In due time they arrived. Mr. W. was a stout man, somewhat under medium height, with a round bead, closely cropped gray hair and beard. There was nothing re路 markable about his face or form which would impress one favorably or otherwise.

However, be did not look like a man who could be taken in or be easily deceived. I ~oon saw that be bad come fully prepared to talk up his hobby, a mountain hotel.

Moreover (thanks to that rascally Jack), he bad come with the fixed opinion that I bad wealth to command, and was disposed o be "in it," and for two hours I heard of nothing but pure air and mountain spring water. My role was a simple one-I bad but to look and listen like a man with thirty thousand in his pocket.

At last be thanked me for the opportunity I had given him of seeing me, and begged me to come up and see the place whether I invested or not. Ah! Mr. W., bow my conscience thanks you for that saving clause, "or not." Poor Jack, he bad fled, and was seeking to quiet his nerves with cigarettes, across the hall. Mr. W. hoped I might come up the next Saturday, but I wrote that I was not sufficiently interested to waste time 110