They followed the officer’s instructions, and within a short time found the “Golden Rule Hotel”.  They entered its office, a spacious well-kept room, but the next moment they were almost frightened out of their shoes by the loathsome sight which met their eyes, as they found themselves in the midst of a lot of cursing, semi-sober harvesters; crippled, alcohol-marked vagrants; blind mendicants; drunkards and blackguards, in fact a choice collection of the most degraded specimens of humanity.

James nudged Joe and whispered:  “Brother Joe, this is no place for fellows like we are.  No place for lads who have come to seek employment.  Let’s get out of here as quickly as we can and hunt a different lodging house.”  Joe, who acted as the treasurer, having in mind the sum that they could save by stopping at a reasonably-priced lodging place, calmed his brother’s fears by replying:  “Wait and see what sort of a place this is.  The company may not exactly suit us, but has not the policeman told us that this is the best hotel in Minneapolis for us, and look, Jim, doesn’t this office look rather inviting?” While they yet argued the point, the manager of the hotel, an oily-faced fellow, accosted them:  “Strangers in Minneapolis, eh?” he queried, with utmost kindness, while at the same time his shifty eyes scanned the country-style suits they wore.  “I welcome you to our hustling city, and invite you to make your headquarters at the “Golden Rule Hotel” during your stay.”  Noting that the lads were yet undecided what to do and correctly surmising that they had received an old-fashioned, Christian home training, he suavely added:  “Our charges are most reasonable, only fifteen cents per night, and every Sunday morning we hold here in the office a most beautiful song and prayer service, and I am sure you lads will be glad to join us in singing grand hymns.”

This last statement settled the whole matter, for the twins felt that a place in which prayer meetings were held and holy hymns chanted could never be an unfit place for the likes of them, and instead of landing in a “hobo-joint” as they had first feared, they concluded that they had actually struck a home.  Perceiving the splendid impression his appeal had made upon the newcomers, the manager almost pushed the lads before the counter and made them write their names upon the soiled and tattered register.  Then he explained to them that the charge was fifteen cents for one night’s lodging, but if they wished to settle in advance by the week only seventy-five cents would be the rate.  Seeing that he could save sixty cents, Joe paid for each a week’s lodging.  They left their bundles in the manager’s care, and then inquired for a reasonable priced restaurant, to which they went and satisfied their appetites.