MUTE GUEST HARD TO AWAKEN.
Proprietor and Employes of Sexton
Thought J. G. Barnes Dead.
Believing J. G. Barnes of Chicago dead, C. L. Wood, proprietor of the Sexton hotel, his clerks and employes broke into Barnes's room yesterday morning only to discover why he did not answer the call bell or the bell boy when he rapped at the door to awaken him was that he was a mute.
Barnes is a horse dealer. He visited the stock yards yesterday, departing last evening. He arrived in Kansas City from Chicago Sunday evening, and registered at the Sexton. He wrote a call for 8 o'clock on a slip of paper which he handed to Clerk George Brown. Brown forgot that the guest was a mute, and placed the call with the others. He said nothing yesterday morning when relieved by Day Clerk Jacobs.
About five minutes past 8 o'clock the telephone girl told Mr. Jacobs that No. 310 did not answer. Five minutes later a bell boy was sent to the room. He returned and reported that he could get no answer. Jacobs then sent the porter with the bell boy, declaring himself that the telephone was out of order and that the bell boy had "soldiered." Both porter and bell boy returned with the information that the key was inside the door, and that they were unable to arouse the occupant of the room.
Clerk Jacobs notified Mr. Wood, and the quartette made their way to the room. They were joined by others.
Barnes's covers were deranged and one leg hung out of the bed. Mr. Wood took hold of Barnes's knee. As he did, Barnes turned his head and, gazing at the frightened faces around the bed, smiled.
"My, but you are a hard sleeper," declared Mr. Wood when he recovered from the surprise.
Then it was that the mute wagged the message that he could neither hear nor speak. Mr. Barnes told Mr. Wood that as a rule the vibration caused by the ringing of a bell or a hard rapping on the door of his room was sufficient to awaken him.
