The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-12
A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE,
The Interesting Com motion Kicked Up by
e ectriC Bells.

The Interesting Com motion Kicked Up by
Electric Bells.
In almost every railroad officials private
othce-say from general manager up-ther Q
is a small post near the occupants desk
with flat-surfaced gutta-percha top, in
which are imbedded dozen or more little
push buttons, says the Electrical Review.
This is the electrical call system. The
wires run down through the post and
branch off to the offices of the various un-
der official, where they are attached to the
electric bells or buzzers. They are used by
the magnate to call his subordinates to his
room when their presence is desired.
few days ago a clerk in the general
freight department of one of the large rail
roads was sent up to the vice-presidents
office with bunch of correspondence. He
was to make some explanations, and natur-
ally enough was somewhat embarrassed.
While talking he rested the palm of his
hand on the fiat surface of the post COM
pressing a number of the push buttons. He
felt the little round digits sink under the
weight of his arm, and the idea that he had
Numbered flashed through his mind He
quickly removed his hand and continued
his explanation.
Soon the door opened and the general
| superintendent walked in. removed his hat
and placed it ON top of the curtain desk.
The vice-president looked up astonished at
this piece of impudence. for be it known
that the sanctum sanctorum of the railroad
high joint is all they claim for it in the way
of privacy, and is not usually open to callers
without the ceremony of formal an
nouncement by the colored boy in uniform
out IN the reception room, unless it be by
an official summoned by call bell. While
the magnate and intruder eyed each other
! the door praJn no oci,,
agent tripped in, making a very polite and
iron merchant sort of bow, stood with his
hands resting on his hips to hear a COM
mand from his superior. He was closely
followed by the assistant from the chief
engineers Office, who was the first to speak.
He approached with red face and STAN
mered that the chief was out on the line, to
which the vice-president replied that he
didn't care a ~ where the chief was 80
long as he got the estimates ON the super
structure of the Gall river bridge by Satur-
day, as promised.
visions of gold headed cane present atoms
fitted athwart the cross beams of his brain,
II don't understand
The door opened at this juncture to ad-
NIT two more officials. On their heels was
the colored janitor, with two feather dust
ers thrust on top of his ears as he had seen
'Yas, sahr' the ianitor promptly re-
marked, as he mingled in the group with an
humble courtesy, and mopped the perspira-
tion from his shining forehead with 8
channels skin.
Gentlemen" again began the vice-prssi
dent, Il have had no notice. I do not I'M
derstand this. II
"Our bell rang" timidly ventured the as
sistant from the engineering department.
And SO did mine," said the general su
perintendent.
sand mine:'
And miner'
"And mine.'
"An' my gong runeed as shoh as you'll
alibe, sah!' said the janitor.
There is certainly a mistake somewhere.
remarked the high joint. II have runR n
bells this afternoon for any of YOU" TIL
crowd dispersed.
Nobody had noticed the freight clerk. VIII
stood motionless with his face as pale a
death. He alone could explain, but b
didn't. The vice president touched but
! ton, called in the superintendent of tel,
graphs and instructed him to examine th
wires. Eleven hundred feet of flooring VI
; taken MP and replaced. -Four. electrician
worked three days each to discover whs
, they afterwards reported did not exist. Br
] the freight clerk WAS mum.