Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-23
OUTWITTED.

story.
1T was one day about two years
ago." said he, that | received card
on which was engraved the name Miss
Julia Wood When my wife was liv-
ing Miss WOOD had been an intimate
friend Of hers, and frequent visitor
at our house. Since then | had lost
trace Of the girl, and knew only that,
owing to her fathers death, and the
Strengthened circumstances of herself
and her sister, she had taken up short
hand and typewriting, with the idea of
earning her living.
Mr.. Gilbert, | am in great trouble,
she exclaimed, as | shook hands with
her, and then, without further prelim-
inaries, she stated her case.
You know, Mr.. Gilbert, that tor
over year have been studying short
hand and typewriting, and you can
understand that lately l have been
very anxious to find a place. 1t was
not until this week that even temper
airy opening presented itself.
morning my teacher, Mr.. Lacombe,
came to the door of my room where
| was at work, and calling me to one
side, said:
"'"Miss Wood, didn't you tell ME
that you understood the deaf and DUMB
alphabet?'
Perfectly" | answered.
"'"I thought So" said Mr.. Lacombe
and am glad for your sake that you
do, for I've just had an application
Qumb amanuensis."
"'"But ! am not deaf and dumb,
protested.
'"No, but you understand the sign
language, and that is the main point.
You see, this woman wants some notes
taken from a deaf and dumb relative,
who uses, of course, the deaf and dumb
alphabet, and she thinks, | suppose,
that a person who understands the
sign language must be a deaf mute
also. She says that this relative of
hers is i'll; possibly hasn't long to
live"
Money, experience and adventure,
The combination was too much for my
prudence. Forty-tiye minutes after
the time | walked into Mr.. Lancombe' S
office sat in a northern bound train
rushing toward place I'd never heard
of before, the companion of woman
who was an utter stranger to me, and
bound on an errand of which ] knew
practically nothing.
Upon leaving the train after a
ride Of about two hours ana half, !
found myself at Redwood a desoate
little wayside station. The only sign
of life was a carriage drawn by pair
of lean horses and driven by the son
of my companion, a man about 80
years of age.
LAS we drove off the young man
put a question at once which | did not
hear, but but his mother in her usual
voice assured him that | was a deaf
mute and had been secured at large
salary for that reason.
~ could hardly touch a mouthful
of supper and soon excused myself
from the table. Wandering along the
path which skirted the house, | came
upon rear view of the premises.
Here | had another surprise, for de-
tached from the main house, and sew
eral yards away, stood a long. low
bpfo h,ti1l Wit n
above it. Its windows were close
against the roof, and probably twelve
feet from the ground, while the only
entrance seemed to be BY way of a
rough bridge extending with a curious
door on a line with these windows to
a window in the second story of the
dwelling house.
While l stood gazing at this re-
markabe building noticed that Mrs.
Westinghouse had followed me. With
an impatient gesture. as though she re-
scented my inquisitiveness the lady
caught up ny writing pad and scrib-
bled. 1T Is my brothers laboratory;
he is a metallurgist. We wish you to
come and take dictation from him.
"'Then. leading me in doors and up
stairs, she unlocked a door and ush-
cred me into large apartment, in
which, at that moment, saw only
one object-a man stretched upon
couch.
Now, Alfred" wrote Mrs. West
inghouse upon my pad, and signifylng
20 me that this was my Introduction,
her is Mis- Wood. deaf and dumb
shorthand writer We have brought
from London. so there's no longer any
reason for your keeping your precious
secret. She understands the signs,
and can put your words on paper As
fast as you can give them to her"