The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-28
a Bcll-KInglng boy.

81 would like to ring that bell. Say,
won't you let me ring that bell I? That
must be lne-sounding bell. III give
you fifty cents if you let mo ring that
bell"
The speaker was Il mild-eyed young
fellow with All innocent look upon his
faro that inspired confidence at the first
sight. lie was a Boston boy and was
cents @ Mtader9S n 9Ss Ganet GSScnRet e ' hadn cTy SS baS
any breakfast or dinner, and when he
offered Charley Hall, the proprietor of
the hotel, fifty cents for the privilege of
ringing the huge dinner-bell that set in
the office, he was playing for Il stake.
Charley gave the youth Il casual
glance, "sized him up" us "fresh,"
and then told him he could ring the
bell as long as he wished tn for fifty
cents.
The young man laid down his last
fifty cents, seized the bell and began IL
vigorous ringing.
AS it happened to be about the dim
ner hour, the proprietor thought this II
good joke.
In through the parlols, out upon the
veranda and even up into the chambers
sounded the clang of the bell. Tho
guests soon became annoyed and then
exasperatcd. "What in thunder have
you got that bell ringing for?" asked
one. "Tie a rope to that calf and haul
him in" said another. eff you don't
put a stop to that confoundcd nuisance
We'll quit your house, said third.
The landlord, thoroughly bewildered,
both by the ringing of the bell and the
complaints Of tho guests, went out to
the fellow and said: "Come, haven't
you rung that bell about long enough ?
The guests are all complaining about
it.n
"Rung it long cnoughp Bless your
soul, haven't hardly begun yet. What
do you suppose paid you the last fifty
cents tnat had in the world fOr3 Long
enough? Pshaw! You must be crazy,
man. just listen to that bell. Amt
that a splendid sounding bell What IL
magnificent bell! man, and then think
how you could ask me to stop ringing
that bell. I'd rather ring this bell than
cat my dinner. Don't keep bothering
me; let me attend to this bell"
by this time the attention of the town
officers was attracted to the matter, and
the landlord was told he must discon-
''Condemnit, "said the now thorough
y exasperated landlord, "I'm not ring
ing the bcll."
well, you must stop it, no matter
who it is that's ringing it.''
10 the bell-ringer again went the an
noyed landlord and repeated his re-
quest, this time little more severe.
II want you to let up on this business.
You have made noise enough, and |
think its time to stop. DO you want
to alarm the whole cOuntry?n
s'Just listen to that bell; amt that Il
daisy bell? That's the best bell [ think
| ever heard. Where did you get this
bell. What al exceptionally fine sound
ing bell. What will you take for that
bcil?"
'"The question amt what III take for
the bell, but what you'll take to let
up" said the excited landlord.
"Well, don't know that l care to
stop, but amt that a fine sounding bell
If it's all the same to you about $40,
l think would be about right"
81 won't give. you $40, but I'll tell
you what 1 will do; l'll give you s.
and the best dinner you ever had il
you'll stop right where you arc"
''Agreed; let's have your$5. Thanks.
Now we'll go into dinner" and in a
few minutes the ravcnous youth from
tho club" was putting away roast
beef and chicken salad ata nlaryclously
rapid rate.