The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-14
THoUeHTIT WAS "PIANo TALK. "
Abstracted Clerk Who Got Into Trouble
with an Inquisitive Guest.

Abstracted Clerk Who Got Into Trouble
with an Inquisitive Guest.
An absent-minded clerk and an in
4uisitive guest managed to get tangled
up on an argument at the Waldorf that
almost led to blows. Both were perfect
~ innocent in the matter, but enough
ill-feeling was engendered to justify
an international dispute. The Waldorf
has on the first floor a reception-room
and parlor. This is utilized for all
kinds of entertainments. One day an
art sale is held there, the next a dis
play of fancy work, perhaps a musical
the next, and so on. The other after
noon a musical programme was given
in this reception room, and that was
what caused all the trouble. The door
itading to the room, which is usually
open to all, was watched by an attend
ant who demanded cards. This aroused
the curiosity of the inquisitive guest.
lie walked around the corridor eying
the room from every possible point of
vantage, and then walked up to the
desk and said to the clerk, who was
writing in huge ledger;
What is going on in there?'
The clerk jabbed his pen in the ink
stand and replied tersely: Il guess it
is a bird recital"
Then he continued his writing with
never culver of an eyelash. The in
quisitive guest contracted eyebrows,
then he looked for n lurking CLEAN of
amusement in the clerks eye, but
found none. Then he turned and wan
dered into the cafe to think over the
problem. After duN deliberation he
came to the conclusion that it was not
al all straight and he came back. He
expected to see the clerk give some
sign of amusement when he APP
preached the desk, but instead the man
behind the onyx was immersed more
deeply than ever in the big book. The
guest repeated his question, saying:
What did you say was going on in
that room?"
The clerk never raised his eyebrows,
but muttered something about -four
and seven make eleven and" adding
hurriedly:
81 don't know, but 1 think it's piano
talk"
The mystery was deepening, and the
inquisitive man saw no way out of the
difficulty except to go and see for him
self. He could detect nothing in the
clerks manner that warranted him in
believing that he was being made the
butt of joke, but he was confident that
it was not all straight. SO he walked
up and purchased a ticket and went in
side. In a few moments he came out
and he had look of set determination
upon his face. He walked up to the
desk, and in a rough voice he de-
handed:
What did you say was going on in
that room ?"
The clerk was startled at the gruff
tone and looked up from his book. He
saw that the man was angry clear
through, and he wondered at his per-
sistency in asking about the entertain
ment. He said, quietly:
Il said l was not sure, but thought
it was a piano recital"
mo you didn't" Numbered the in
quisitive man.
What did L say? asked tbe clor,.
meeBly.
You said first it was bl4l rooi.o, >,
said the man. And then you said II
was piano talk, and now you say it's
a piano recital. I'm not in the habit
of being guyed, and you knew what it
was all the time, for you tod me
straight enough when you knew had
found out. l paid two dollars just to
find out what was going on in that
hole, so | could catch you straight. 1su
are altogether too recent for this place,
| didn't" The guest might have
gone on talking indefinitely, had not
the clerk apologized in the most peni-
tent manner. He said, contritely:
"Well, you see it is this way. We have
bird talks, piano recitals, musicals, pic
ture exhibitions, and | don't know
how many other kinds of affairs, in
there. 1 was busy with the books and
I got tangled up. l did not mean to
mlslead you" The guest was molli
fed, but he is not sure yet that he was
not being ''jollied," to use his own ex-
pression.--N. Y. Tribune.