The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-19
A PLACID CLERK.
How He Mortified Desperately-R Revenge
fa full Individual.


How He Mortified Desperately Revenge
full Individual.
The receiving clerks behind the desks
at the telegraph offices are cool, placid
fellows. They take your message of
life or death with perfect indifference.
mechanically count the words, and look
q bit bored as they reply:
at will be sixty-ive cents, please
had my eye on certain chap for
several weeks before I humbled his
pride. He insulted me- He insulted
me by softly whispering to himself as
he counted the words in the following
message:
Grandmother died last night very
suddenly. How many of you can at
tend funeral?''
When handed in that message / ex-
pected him to exhibit little emotion.
While he could not have been person.
ally acquainted with My grandmother,
he must have suspected that she was
nice old lady, and that her sudden death
had greatly overcome me. Why didn't
he look up with bit of sympathy in his
eye and say: #aa
"Too bad! know just how you feel,
and I'm sorry for YOU
But no. He whistled and counted,
made scratch or two with his pen, and
carelessly remarked:
"Three words over-seventy cents.
And as he made change he told one
of the BOYS behind the counter that he'd
be hanged if he wasn't going to the
dog fight that night. Then he picked
up my dead grandmother dispatch and
banged it on hook, showed me over
some change. and turned away to re-
sumo the perusal of sporting paper.
The next week went in with dis
patch announcing that my grandmoth-
er's will had been opened, and that |
came in for twenty-five thousand dol
lars. That man must have seen by my
face that I was highly elated. He never
had the fifth of that sum, and his salary
had just been cut down ten dollars per
month, but when he had read the dis
patch he calmly announced:
Forty cents, and you forgot to date
it."
| And then he began talking to
one of his fellow-clerks about
slugging match, and how he won three
dollars by betting on the right man. l
don't say he ought to have swung his
hat and cheered over my good fortune,
but why couldn't he have extended his
paw and sid:
'EhP Old boyp In luck, amt you?
Well, I'm glad on it. Send around the
cigars and we'll smoke to your good
health"
made up my mind when went out
that would upset that mans equanim-
ity or lose a 1eg. I'd tumble him off
that pedestal Of placidity if it cost a
$1,000. I'd upset, unbalance and I'M
hinge him or die trying. l gave him
two weeks to repent 1t isn't right to
rush telegraph man out of the world
on days notice. went back one
evening, and felt bit sorry for him
as he glanced up. I knew that his wife
and child were in Ohio on visit, and
stepped to the desk and wrote:
DETROIT, Mich, June g. 1895.
J. H. Smith, Columbus, O..
Please telegraph me full particulars OF the
81
daughter of this city, were instantly killed
this Afternoon. 5. L.
I felt bit sorry as handed 1t in, not
knowing but the man might faint deat
away as he read the terrible news
Still, had vowed revenge, and would
not forego it. He received the dis
patch, whistled softly as was his wont
clattered the point Of his pen along
the words as he counted, and ther
drawled out:
"A dollar and twenty-five cents, AM
, where shall / send the answere'
..Did you read that dispatch?'
asked after looking at him for half
minute.
"Yes.' M ~
!. "Do you know the parties?'
, Eyes, sir.
9 Isn't your name George Taylor?"
9 eyes, STRIP,
: aren't the parties your wife ar
Q daughter?"
9 no, sir. They returned home tn
Q morning-here's your cnange!'-4
Quad, IN Detroit Free Press,