Arizona republican., 1898-02-19
A TRANSACTION IN BRASS
MT. Shull Orme of Phoenix and the
 P. Make a Deal.

MdhG d D0dl.
 Shull Orme, who left here a week ago for the Sandwich islands, wrote home yesterday that he had been un- fortunately detained at San Francisco by financial controversy with the Southern Pacific Railroad company which at the moment of writing had been happily adjusted without any loss to either party other than the consumption of great deal of time. But MT. Orme said time was of no great value to him just then and he judged from the recklessness with which the Southern Pacific consumed it. it also had large stock on hand.
 When MT. Orme arrived in San Francisco he discovered that he had lost his baggage check. He reported the loss to the company with prompt ness, and after having proved his own ershin Of his baggage to the satisfac tion of the official in charge, he was permitted to take it upon the payment of half dollar for the check This seemed to MT. Orme an exorbitant price for brass, but as the Southern Pacific at that particular juncture was without competition in brass checks. he paid it. The company had him searched anyhow, for he had al- him cinched anyhow, for he had all ly found it, and having no use for it took it to the official whom he had paid for it and tried to sell it back.
 He showed that it was in every re- spect in as good condition as when he bought it. The official admitted all this, but he said he was not in the purchasing department and referred MT. Orme to the general offices of the Southern Pacific in the Union Trust building. MT. Orme went there and stated his business to clerk and also presented the check for inspection. The clerk having examined it criti- cally and at length being unable to detect any flaw. referred the matter to the head of the department He referred it to the head of another de- partment, and he to another. They all told him that General Manager Kruttschnitt was out of the city, other wise he deal might be closed immedi- ately. He had left word before going that too great care could not be taken in the purchase of brass checks. Con- sequently the heads of the depart ments, unwilling to assume the deli cate responsibility, kept referring Mr. Orme tc somebody else, so that he spent the first day in forming new and pleasant acquaintances. He had fin ished opeE ations on the first floor and the next day was promoted to the second. He was constantly referred that day and got acquainted with a great many more people. but they were not quite so well dressed and did not appear as respectable as the gentlemen he had bet nthe first day His progress. though, was more rapid for he was aided by experience. He got two floors worked off.
 His experience on the sub sequent days was similar to that of the first two, and he observed the growing inferiority of the persons he encountered as he neared the top. He went to bed one night with feeling of intense satis- faction. He had only one more floor to canvass and with reasonably good luck he could finish that before noon and unload that brass check. He re- stunned business the next morning with a light heart and a buoyant step. At 10 o'clock he had practically finished his work He had been brought into contact with several hundred persons, including heads of departments. as sistants. clerks, errand boys and jan itors. There remained, however, two more persons and he was referred to them. They were pleasant. well dressed old gentlemen with white mutton-chop whiskers. MT. Orme does not know in what particular capacity they are employed, but he suspects that they are paid large salaries to ask Uh hPQr- ing on the matter in hand. He stated his business to them and showed them the brass check. They took only cas- ual notice of it. being aware. as MT. Orme supposed, that it had been care fully inspected by 317 other employees of the Southern Pacific, all having better eyesight than their own. They took it for granted that it was genuine brass. They asked MT. Orme to be seated and began asking questions. One of them would direct interroga- tories until he was out of breath, when the other would relieve him. MT. Orme was surprised at the close of the examination that he knew so much about himself
 Among .ne interrogatories were the following: Where and when were you born?" Do you expect to be born again?" 'If so, when and where?" The inquest was adjourned until after noon and was concluded about 8 o'clock. The old gentlemen then asked MT. Orme where he was stopping. He replied at the Grand. They told him to return to the hotel and remain in or about the office. A gentleman would call before night and close the negotiation on the part of the Southern Pacific Railroad com pany for the purchase of the brass. MT. Orme went back to the hotel and waited uneasily about the office for an hour, when a clerk from the South ern Pacific called and inquired for him. He presented a voucher which MT. Orme signed and received a draft at three days sight, for 50 cents.