Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-06-12
FHoueHrrr WAS "prANo TALK.
Anst-Rcted Clerk Who Got Into Trouble
with an Inouisitivo <sx.cst


THOUGHT 1T WAS "PIANO TALK
Anst-scted Clerk Who Got Into Troubl,
with an Inquisltivo Guest.
An absent-minded clerk and an in
4uisssive guest managed 10 get tangle,
up on an argument at the Waldorf tina
almost led TO blows. Both were perfect
~ innocent in the matter, but enough
lii-feeiing was cngcndercd 20 iust:f,
an international dispute. The Waldur-
has on the first floor a rcccption-roon
and parlor. This is utilized for al
Kinds of entertainments. One day an
art sale is held there. the next a dis
play of fancy work, perhaps musica
The next. and so on. The other after
noon q musical programme waS rivcl
In this reception room, and that va.
what caused all the trouble. Tho doc,
leading to the room. which is usual,
open TO all. WAS watched by an attend
ant who demanded cards. This nrcu wi
the curiosity OF the inquisitivc guest
lie walked around the corridor ewing
The room from every possible point OF
= -Sta2c, and then walked up to the
- and said to the clerk. who was
writing ia huge ledgcrs
What il going on in thercY''
The clerk jabbed his pen in the ink
stand and replied tetseiy; Il guess II
Is Tbird recital"
- Then he continued his writing with
never CULVER of an eyelash. The in.
1uisitivc guest contracted hiscycbrows.
then he looked for lurking CLEAN OF
amusement i'm the clerks eve. bur
found none Then ne turned and WIN,
'tiered into the cafe TO think over the
problem. After due dcliberation lie
came TO the conclusion that IT was not
% all Straight and he came back. lie
Ypected to see the clerk give some
- of amusement when he an.
~ achcd the desk, bat instead the man
od the onyx was immersed moro
han ever in the big book The
--->SS,essa.tcl bis qucs7 ion. saying:
-t,ast did You srr~SSs going on in
f, tas; Hoom?" A--
Tho Jerk never raised his eyebrows,
hnt mut'crcd something about flour
lud seven make eleven and" adding
Ldl7'ediy.
'i 'on't know, but think it's piano
talk"
The mystery was deepening, and the
inquisitive man saw no way out of tho
difficulty except 20 go and see for him
self lie could detect nothing in the
clerks manner that Warranted him in
believing that hc was being made tho
butt Of 4 joke. but nc was confident that
II was not al straight. So nc walked
up and purchased ticket and went in
J side. In few moments ne came out
sand he had look of seide!erminntion
upon his face. He walked up TO the
Desk, and in rough voice he de-
:. o4aalrlrd:
,sSssA~a.- did YOU say was going on in
,friat room?"
he clerk WINS startled az the grufr
ID" and looked MP from his book He
saw that the man WAS angry clear
hro 9Th, and he wondered at his per,
steucy in asking about the entertain
.inent lie said, quietly:
Z sa.d was not sure, but thought
WIS a piano recital"
- you didn't" thundered the in,
inisitTve- man.
HFhat did ! say?" asked the clerk,
s0ee','y.
-. 1ou said first il was q bird recital, ="
Yia ne man. And then you said it
was "a plano talk, and now YOU say it's
afr,u@o recital. I'm not In the habit
p Icing goSed, and You knew what it
,vas all the time, for YOU told me
st,light enough when YOU knew had
s sound out. paid two dollars just to
lind out what was going on in that
hole, so could catch You straight. You
are altogether too recent for this place.
I didn't" The guest might have
gone on talking Indefinitely, had not
the clerk apologized in the most peni-
tent manner. He said, contritely:
We'll, you see il is this way. We have
i'ird talks, piano recitals, musicals, pic.
ture exhibitions, and don't know
how many other kinds of affairs, in
there. was busy with the books and
got tangled UP. l did NOT mean tc
miAlead you" The guest was molu.
fled, but he is not sure yet that he wa.
/. not being 'jollied." to use hiseown ex
~ Pression.-N. y. Tribune.