I am not a bettin’ woman, but if I had to take odds, I would say this man never had to pay a reward.
Dallas Morning News, September 18, 1918
LOST – Ten new $5 bills* between Wilson Bldg and Adolphus Hotel. Finder please call phone Cliff 20, MR ALLEN, for reward.
* $50 in 1918 is worth over $930 today.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Dallas area, the Wilson Building hosted a high-end department store on the lower floors and a number of businesses on the higher floors. It was (is) so big, it had its own well and numerous elevators, which were a novelty at the time.
The Adolphus was (is) one of the swankiest hotels in Dallas. It was built by Adolphus Busch of Budweiser fame. It still operates as a hotel. The Adolphus and the Wilson are two sizable city blocks apart.
More bettin’: It appears Mr. Allen has a local phone number. He might have had one too many drinks in the bar of the Adolphus before setting out to do some shopping?
