Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-06-22

steps of my sleeper and landed my coat
in my arms. OF course knew what to
do. There's nothing small about me,
Goodwin-you know that. l never
thought of putting the fellow off with
quarter. That's SOS overcoat. What
l was feeling for was half, but some.
how or other couldn't get my fingers
on 1t. The train began to move faster
and faster, the porter was shifting
from one foot to the other, with his
hand on the railing all ready to swing
off as soon as I'd done my duty; ]
paved wildly in my pocket for the if
ty-cent piece that wouldn't come, and,
at last, as the train was going almost
full speed, jerked out n silver dollar
in desperation, slammed it into his
hand and yelled out: Here, take this
its the smallest I've got!'
"Thatll do, Goodwin-thatm do,
I'd like to see the tragedy you
couldn't get humor out of. / suppose
you'd have laughed at the time to
see me charge into the ear and fire
the coat at one seat and myself At
the other. 1t wasn't that / was mad
about giving him the dollar-but why
couldn't have done it in way to
get the credit on it? Why did have
to pose as chump? That's what
does me up-it's lack OF tact, ! tell
you"
Goodwin was sitting up to laugh.
"Say. wonder what you'd think Of
performance of mine at the ban
quet last week." he said. "You didn't
come, you old miserl was RESPONSE
BILE for the programme, so | went
around and warned some of the fell
lows to get ready for impromptu
speeches, and beiiggered If they didn't
prepare so much that thought
they'd talk all night. knew I'd got
to call out all I'd spoken TO or have
hard feelings, so / managed to whis-
per to German and couple of others
that they'd better cut us Off with
crisp, short speeches in order to Get
an example to Franklin, because old
Franklin was liable to prose all night.
Then l got around by Franklin and
told him we'd enough Of these long
winded old fgureheads--for heavens
sake to stir us up with one of Ills
short breezy talks. Now, that sort
of thing, Ellsworth, is what l call
tact"
~ don't" said Ellsworth. "There
was nothing sudden about it. l could
have done that myself"
Hold on, now, till you hear it all
I'd no sooner left Franklin and tip
toed back to my seat, patting myself
on the head for diplomat, than up
he gets and begins his speech by say
ing that he's just been Informed the
company has had enough of these
long winded old fgureheads-and so
on!"
Ellsworth groaned appreciation.
"Never you mind--it didn't stumn
mel" boosted Goodwin. "The fellows
jaws began to drop and everybody
looked at me, but up ] jumped AMI
| says-as easy and smiling as you
please-says /: Gentlemen, pardon
the interruption, but ! want to pro-
pose toast within a toast. Here's
to Jonathan Franklin--the merriest
and most accomplished liar of them
ALL Well, sir, everybody roared and
Franklin didn't know where he was
at and the other fellows said after
ward that it was mighty poor taste
in Franklin to call them long-winded
fgureheads, even for the sake of his
joke on me- How was that?"
"That," agreed Ellsworth, with a
touch of awe in his tone, that's the
real thing. That's tact" And he
pulled at the cigar he had lighted
in leisurely, plenty-of-time fashion.
Goodwin took to the couch once
more.
According to our deductions" he
said, slowly, "tact seems to be the
ability to lie gracefully-or, at least,
to deceive"
81 should add to that definition the
words: On the spur Of the moment "
said Ellsworth. with an air of settling
weighty question.
In the silence that followed both
men seemed TO browse. An electric
bell reused Ellsworth and he swung
back to the telephone on his desk.
"Hello!" he cried, in sharp business
like tone that went off like cannon
in the sleepy Office.
Eyes, I've done that very thing! In
the pressure Of business this morning
utterly forgot your Aunt Mary was
coming. What time was the train
due? Thunder She must be half
way out TO the house by this time.
Why, sure! | meant to meet her-as
much as could be-but you've no idea
how things pile up on a man when
he gets down to the office IN the
morning. The matter was complete
ly crowded out of my mind. Pity you
didn't call me sooner, dear. I'd have
shaken everything and gone TO that
train. Yes, things are pretty heavy
to-day I'm working on that big alb
stract, you know. Yes-a good many
interruptions-men coming in to con.
suit, and all that. No, don't hurry
there's only one man waiting now
Let him wait. You're more important
to me than any man, Oh, no, don't
think Tn working too hard, dear
This spring weather's a little trying
for fellow that has to go right on
digging, but / think III stand the
strain all right. Too bad about Aunt
Mary. You know nothing but busi'
ness would have made me forget yonr
wishes. Shall bring you some vio
let's? Not much-1 won't forget that!
Good-by."
He was solemnly relighting his Ct,
yar as he caught Goodwin's admiripa
eye.