"Can I see the steward, or the manager ?" "I'm the proprietor, if that will do," answered the man, giving Dick a sharp look.

He saw that his youthful visitor was evidently a well-bred boy, but that did not prove that Dick was not looking for work.

College boys often serve as bell-boys or waiters at summer hotels.
"If you will step outside then, a moment, sir," Prescott continued, "I think I can show you the nicest lot of black bass you ever saw." "A string of bass, eh ?" "No, sir; quite a load." "I'll look at them," said the proprietor briefly.
When he saw the quantity of bass, and noted the plumpness of the fish, the proprietor was more interested.

It is always a problem, with a summer hotel, to serve enough novel food.

But the proprietor offered less than half the price Dick named.