Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-05-06
THOUGHT IT WAS A "PIANo TALk.n
An Abstracted Clerk Who Got Into Trou-
BILE With an Inquisitive Guest.

An Abstracted Clerk Who Got Into Tror
/. ble With an Inquisitive Guest.
10 An absentminded clerk and an in
quisitive guest managed to get tangle
up in an argument at the Waldorf tina
almost led to blows. Both were perfect
ly innocent in the matter, but enougl
i'll feeling was engendered to justify al
international dispute. The Waldorf ha
On the first floor reception room ant
| parlor. This is utilized for all kinds O
entertainments. One day an art sale il
held there, the next a display Of fancy
work, perhaps musicale the next, anl
SO on. One afternoon musical pro.
gramme was given in this reception
room and that was what caused all the
trouble. The door leading to the room,
which is usually open to all, was
watched by an attendant who demand
ed cards. This aroused the curiosity of
the inquisitive guest. He 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:
vvA0e . 8OAAE Ou LII tuCIc!
The clerk jabbed his pen in the ink
stand and replied tersely, "I guess it's
bird recital. !"
Then he continued his writing with
never quiver of an eyelash. The in
quisitive guest contracted his eyebrows;
then he looked for lurking gleam of
amusement in the clerks eye, but found
none. Then he turned and wandered
into the cafe to think over the problem.
After due deliberation he came to the
conclusion that it was not all straight.
and he came back. He expected to see
the clerk give some sign Of amusement
when he approached the desk, but in
stead the man behind the onyx was i'm
mersed more deeply than ever in the
big book. The guest repeated his ques-
tion, saying:
"What did you say was going on in
that room?''
The clerk never raised his eyebrows.
but muttered something about 'sfour |
and seven make eleven and''-adding |
81 don't know, but 7 think it's a
piano talk"
The mystery was deepening; the in.
lulsltlve man saw no way out of the diff
to go and see for himself.
He Gould detect nothing in the clerks
manner that warranted him in believ-
ng that he was being made the butt Of
joke, but he was confident that it was
lot all straight. So he walked up and
purchased ticket and went inside. In
! few moments he came out, and he had
look OF set determination upon his
ace. He walked up to the desk and in
rough voice he demanded:
What did you say was going on in
hat room?''
The clerk was startled at the gruff
one and looked up from his book. He
aw that the man was angry clear
trough, and he wondered at his per-
stency in asking about the entertain
lent. He said quietly:
Il said was not sure, but thought
was piano recital
No, you didn't, - thundered the in.
1isitive man.
what did I say?' asked the clerk
Ieekly. --.a-
"You said first it was bird re-
tai, said the man. 'sAnd then you
Id it was piano talk, and now you
y it's piano recital. am not in the
.bit OF being guyed, and you knew
hat it was all the time, for you told
straight enough when you knew I
ID found out. I paid So just to find
It what was going on il that hole, SO ,
COULD catch you straight You are al /,
gether too recent for this place. ,
Mt The guest might have gone on ;
king indefinitely had not the clerk 3
in a most penitent manner. I
said contritely: J
"Well, you see it is this way. We s
We bird talks, piano recitals, musicales. G
'ture exhibitions and don't know 4
W many other kinds of affairs in L
re- was busy with the books and
tangled up. l did not mean to mis- y
d you" The guest was modified. +
he is not sure yet that he was not
ng Jollied, !" to use his own express n
New York Tribune. q