Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net A GUEST AT THE LUDLOW AND OTHER STORIES BY EDGAR WILSON NYE [BILL NYE] _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY LOUIS BRAUNHOLD_ [Illustration] INDIANAPOLIS AND KANSAS CITY THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY M DCCC XCVII Copyright, 1896 BY THE BOWEN-MERRILL CO. A GUEST AT THE LUDLOW [Illustration: _You can pay five cents to the Elevated Railroad and get here, or you can put some other man's nickel in your own slot and come here with an attendant_ (Page 2)] * * * * * This volume was prepared for publication by the author a few months before his death, and is now published by arrangement with Mrs. Edgar Wilson Nye. * * * * * CONTENTS PAGE. I. A GUEST AT THE LUDLOW 1 II. OLD POLKA DOT'S DAUGHTER 13 III. A GREAT CEREBRATOR 22 IV. HINTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD 33 V. A JOURNEY WESTWARD 42 VI. A PROPHET AND A PIUTE 52 VII. THE SABBATH OF A GREAT AUTHOR 64 VIII. A FLYER IN DIRT 69 IX. A SINGULAR "HAMLET" 81 X. MY MATRIMONIAL BUREAU 92 XI. THE HATEFUL HEN 99 XII. AS A CANDIDATE 108 XIII. SUMMER BOARDERS AND OTHERS 123 XIV. THREE OPEN LETTERS 134 XV. THE DUBIOUS FUTURE 144 XVI. EARNING A REWARD 156 XVII. A PLEA FOR JUSTICE 162 XVIII. GRAINS OF TRUTH 168 XIX. A SCAMPER THROUGH THE PARK 179 XX. HINTS TO THE TRAVELER 187 XXI. A MEDIEVAL DISCOVERER 201 XXII. HOW TO PICK OUT A BIRTHPLACE 208 XXIII. ON BROADWAY 218 XXIV. MY TRIP TO DIXIE 222 XXV. THE THOUGHT CLOTHIER 228 XXVI. A RUBBER ESOPHAGUS 233 XXVII. ADVICE TO A SON 243 XXVIII. THE AUTOMATIC BELL BOY 254