Busted, But Benevolent

When the girls at the Hotel Royal, Regent-by-the-Sea. saw blazoned upon the register the names, "Percival Von Der Hyde" and "Alfred Astorbilt," both of New York City, they believed that distinguished visitors had arrived. In reality these "prominent" men worked in a department store. The luxury surrounding them caused no apprehension in them, for they had a joint bankroll of $30. Their complacency vanished at the end of the week when they received their bill for $374. Something had to be done, and Alfred suggested that the pity of their fellow-guests might be aroused. Alfred was to leave a note near the water's edge conveying the information that he had been ruined in Wall Street and was unable to pay his honest debts, so had sought refuge in the depths of old ocean. Percy's role was to leap after Alfred, rescue him, and when the sympathizing guests came up and Alfred's bankruptcy was revealed Percy was to start the collection for his benefit by open-handedly passing over their combined wealth of $29.98. In discussing their plans, Alfred and Percy were overheard by two tramps, who decided to get the money themselves. They followed the boys to the pier. Alfred jumped overboard, after pinning the note of "farewell' to his coat. Percy was on the job, and as he was going to his friend's "rescue," he was hurled into the water by one of the tramps while the other destroyed the note. The cries and shouts of the men attracted the attention of the hotel guests and others and soon a crowd gathered. So grateful were the spectators to the tramps for rescuing the "millionaires" that money was forced upon them. They even took the $29.98 out of the coat of Alfred. So the boys' attempt to pay their debt failed, and they were led back to hotel, after admitting their novelty, and forced to work out their bill as waiters. Perhaps they are there yet. for it takes a long time to pay $374 at a dollar a day in a short season.