one hand over his mouth, and the other
holding his hat and cane; and one foot in the air, ready to make a break
for out of doors.

I answered the young man by saying:

"Yes, sir, it's everything in knowing how to run a hotel; and you have
got to pay in advance if you stay here."

"Well, I am surprised, landlord; but I supposed you were a good enough
judge of character to know the difference between a gentleman and a dead
beat."

I assured him that I didn't doubt his honesty, but I was willing to
wager that he hadn't money enough to pay one week in advance. And as it
took money to keep things running and----

"And buy cream biscuit," shouted the Doctor,----

---- I had got to have my pay in advance.

He then acknowledged that he was a little short, but would probably be
able to pay the next day. I told him he could have his supper, lodging
and breakfast, but nothing more.

The next morning they both came to me and owned up that they were
"broke."

I then hired one of them for hostler and the other for clerk.

About this time I succeeded in getting the landlady's consent to
re-model a part of the house. She said she didn't care to be bothered
with it, nor to remain there and listen to the noise; so she would go
and visit her friends in Detroit, and leave me to fix things to suit
myself. She said also she had all confidence in me, and felt certain I
would do even better than she could.

Before leaving, she instructed me to go ahead and get what I wanted, as
her credit was good anywhere.

By the time had fairly reached the depot to take the train, I had
engaged several carpenters, painters, plasterers, bricklayers, and teams
to do our hauling.

I very soon had the old hotel in a condition suitable for business, by
tearing down old partitions, building up new ones, papering and painting
thoroughly, and adding a lot of new furniture and carpets.

I had the whole outside of the old shell painted, a portion of which I
ordered done in brick-color, and penciled.

The latter part, the neighbors claimed, fooled the landlady so badly,
when she returned a few weeks later, that she didn't know when she
arrived home, and kept right on up street, making inquiries and looking
for her hotel. How much truth there was in this statement I do not know,
but I well remember the expression on her countenance when I answered
her query of how much the whole thing would cost, by informing her that
I didn't think it would amount