UNPLEASANT FOR THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 16

UNPLEASANT FOR THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.

The proprietor of an hotel situated not far from Birmingham tells the following strange story in a recent issue of the “Birmingham Mail”:—Recently, a gentleman staying at his hotel committed suicide by taking poison, while occupying a bedroom which w T as set apart solely for a commercial traveller who made the establishment his headquarters, but who was then away on his rounds. Thinking that the presence of the corpse would not enhance the reputation of his house, the landlord arranged with the undertaker to bring the coffin after closing hours, the boots being instructed to await its coming. In the course of his vigils the boots fell asleep, and, while he was oblivious, who should arrive but the commercial traveller to whose use the bedroom containing the corpse was allotted The double doors had been left ajar for the undertaker and his men, and the commercial traveller, who was in a state of intoxication, knowing nothing of the tragedy which had been enacted, made for his room, and without lighting his candle, partly undressed and threw himself on the bed beside the corpse, and was soon sound asleep. Shortly afterwards the undertaker and his men arrived, and, preceded by the boots, whom they woke, proceeded to the room where the dead body was lying. The entrance of the party, however, awoke the commercial, who, seeing the coffin, set up an earpiercing yell. The undertaker, with the horrified ejaculation, “He’s ris,” dropped the coffin, and followed by his man and the boots, rushed downstairs, pursued by the supposed corpse, who, picking up a bust of the Samuel who stood in the corridor, shied it after the retreating figures. When the commercial was awake and sober the mattei was explained to him, but he has not occupied that bedroom since.