The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-11-17

How n Clerk Worked Up an Excuse
That Was Gladly Accepted by His
Employer, TO Whom lie Had shown
Gross Inciyility.
ITS mighty hard for a clerk to be
suave and polite all the time said a
department manager In one Of the big
stores. a clerk is like any other hui
man being, subject to headaches and
indigestion and fits Of irritability, and
occasionally he will be a little gruff
without intending It, When | was
younger. few thoughtless words once
came near losing me good job and
the way l escaped being fired was
rather amusing II happened like this:
Il had charge Of the mems furnish
ings counter in a large clothing store,
and the pay being first rate aud chance
of promotion excellent | was naturally
anxious to hold on to the job. one
morning. however. l was feeling all
out Of sorts and was just developing
an ugly headache. when man came in
and asked TO see some cravatS.
81 could tell from his general appear
ance he was from the north, and he
had a curt. semisupercilious manner
that irrltated me Immediately. If |
had been feeling well. ! would have
kept my temper. hut my head was
throbbing. and when he paved over
the stock. finding fault with everything
and sneering at my statements as TO
quality l began 10 get crusty.
FINALLY couldn't stand It any lon
GER. If you really want a scarf l
said, you'll find plenty here that, l
dare say, are as good as anything
you've been accustomed to wear Just
then l happened to look up and caught
sight of n floorwalker standing in a
rear aisle and making frantic gestures
to me with his hands.
eff you'll wait a moment l said to
the customer wondering what the
dickens was up. I'll see If can find
something else Mt the other side With
that l hurried over TO where the floor
walker was standing. What's the mat
terT asked IN a low tone.
"'Great Scott, man. he whispered,
that's the boss"
"The store. rs I should have explain
ed. was the southern branch Of a New
York establishment and during the
time had been there the head Of The
firm had never before paid 1t visit in
person. Consequently | didn't know
him by sight. and my blood ran cold
when realized how hopelcssly l had
rammed my foot into 1t. During the
next five seconds l did some quick
thinking. and among other things that
came crowding into my mind was the
fact that the boss had been married on
" a short time before. That gave me
an idea.
"T'm going back whispered to the
foorwalker, and in a minute or two
you send one Of the boys to me with a
piece Of folded letter paper
"'What are you up TOT he asked.
"'Never mind said l. You do ex-
actly as | say. Let him just hand me
the paper and walk off. hurried back
to the counter and found my man look
ing black as thunder. Sorry l said,
still as grum as ever. but that's all we
have. If nothing in It suits you, youn
have to 90 elsewhere
every we'll he replied sarcasticaily'
and now let me give you n small piece
of information. =
"At that moment a boy handed me
the paper / tore 1t open, pretended to
read a note, slapped my leg joyfully
and proceeded to do a double shuttle on
the floor. The stranger glared at me in
amazement. What the deuce is the
matter with your he growled. Are
you crazy or just drunk
Neither l cried. 4 am simply re-
lleved. inexpressively relieved and re-
ioiced You must pardon this idiotie
exhibition, my dear sir l went on ear
nestly, and hope you will also par
don my gross rudeness to you mo-
ment ago. | was beside myself with
anxiety and didn't know what l was
doing. The fact is said, with the
best imitation Of difidence / could
muster up, the fact IS, we have just
had q new arrival out at my house.
It's a boy, sir, and everything's all
right. And really hope you will over
look
Don't say a word he interrupted,
cordially grasping by hand. 4 appreci-
ate your feelings, and your apology Is
ample. Here's my card
$50 that was the way got out of 1t"
added the department manager, grin
ming, 'but it was close shave, espe-
cially in view of the fact that l was
and am a case hardened old bachelor,
with a special aversion to infants. The
boss was very kind and cordial, and
whenever he came to town afterward
he never failed to ask how the youn-
ster was getting on. He doesn't know
any better to this day."-New Orleans
Times Democrat
Boston's Slave Market.
II 80. llu1