Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-04
CAME NEAR ESCAPING.
The Swinging Doors Would Not Swing for
Weather Bureau Witness.

Inc swinging Doors Would Not swing for
Weather Bureau Witness.
That such .orrentiaI rain storms as yester-
days do not improve the temper OF ''the man
On the outside was shown very conclusively
by an incident which occurred in front of Sec
rotary Mo-.on's Departments yesterday after
noon A certain army officer who is not
entirely unconnected with the weather bureau
and its recent Investigations had been requested
to come over and tell Gen. Colby some more
about expert compiIers" who are not expert
The lieutenant arrived on the ground about
three minutes before o'clock via the Belt line,
and being good swimmer soon came ashore at
the main entrance to the Agricultural
Department. He hurried up to the double
swinging doors, expecting a hearty well
come to the dry inside But the swinging
double doors did not swing. not even one OF
them Instead the bury and horny-handed
gentleman on the inside cautiously opened one
door just far enough to poke his nose through
and glared at the lieutenant with a large sized
Interrogation point plainly visible on his coun-
tenance. at which the lieutenant glared back at
him. There the two glared at each other for
the space Of forty winks. when the following
dialogue took place in short, sharp, staccato
style Of gait
The heutenant-"Well?'
Man inside-"Well. what do you waut?,
Lieutenant-"Want to come in. What dye
think WANT
Man inside-"Are you a Senator or a Con-
gressman?'
Lieutenant ''Neither, thank Godr'
Man inside-''Do you want to see the weather
bureau show
Lieutenant Gin tone of disgust)-"No, don't
want TO see it; but was sent for in connection
with IL. VIII you open this doOr?'
Man inside-..Who sent for you?''
This was one too many for the walk-a heap
officer, and with the remark that he hadn't
been sworn yet and was not on the stand he
turned his back on the swinging doors that
only swing for Senators and SIGH" and strobe
down toward Pennsylvania avenue in the rain
probably thinking that Willards was the near
est place to drown his grief. He had only gone
about forty yards. however, when he heard
calls from behind, Hi there, Say, Hay
there"' whistlings. and various other agri-
cultural ordinations of like degree of intel
hgence- But hearing no proper military COM
mand on which to execute 'change OF direc-
ton" he sturdily pursued his course toward
Wizards 5. just at this time the department
clerks were turned loose. and many OF them
Joined in the noisy efforts to engage the atten-
ton OF the rapidly retreating officer. Many
supposed that the disappearing figure some
weather bureau official who was running off
with Secretary Morton's front door step.
Finally. the lieutenant heard the rapid ap-
proaeh Of carriage in his rear. the driver call
ing frantcally: Hay, boss Hold on, Mister
You there" The officer faced his sable friend
auu Sehuy inquired what alleo MN Just tnen!
The coIored man said: ''Dey wants you to
please come right back. boss" did they send
you after me?' inquired the officer, thinking
some one would have fare to pay. and that he
wouldn't be that one "Yes, san" And back
went the lieutenant. though he foresaw he
would not reach Wizards much before
o'clock
Had not STAR reporter been there to tell
the man at the door of his mistake that lieuten-
ant would have escaped Gen Colby and the
true inwardness of the 'iuexpert expert COM
pliers" might never have been known.