The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-11-30
SAVED HIS POSITION.
QUICK WIT LANDED HIM SAFELY OUT
OF A TIGHT PLACE.

How q Clerk Worked Up nm Excuse
That Was Gladly Accepted by Hts
Gross IbciviIity.
TITS mighty hard for clerk to be
suave md pCSlte all the time" said a
department manager I'm ono OF the big
stores. "A clerk Is like any other hu-
Inan being, subject To headaches and
indigestion and fits OF lrrltability, and
occasionally he will be little gruff
without intending It. When l was
younger. n few thoughtless words once
came near losing me n good Job, and
the way | escaped being fired was
rather amusing. 1t happened like this:
II had charge Of the mems furnish
ings counter In n lnrge clothing store
and the pay being first rate and chance
of promotion excellent | was naturally
anxious TO bold on 10 the job. one
morning. however, I was feeling all
out of sorts ana was just developing
nm ugly headache. when a man came IN
and asked to see some CrayntS.
81 could tell from his general appear
ance he was from the north, and he
had curt, semisupcrcilious manner
that irritatcd me Immediately. II |
had been feeling well, | would have
kept my temper, but my hend was
throbblng and when ne paved over
the stock, finding fault with everything
and sncoring at my statements as 10
quality began 10 get crusty.
Finally couldn't stand II any lon
GER If you really want scarf |
sald. you'll find plenty here that |
dare say. are ms good as anything
you've been accustomed TO wear Just
then | happened TO look up and caught
sight. OF noorwalkcr standing in a
rear aisle nnd making frantic gestures
10 me with his hands.
III you'n wait n moment said 20
the customer, wondering what the
dickens was up, ri see II can find
something else at the other side With
that hurried over 10 where the floor
walker was standing. What's the mat
ter| asked I'm low tone.
"'Great Scott, man. he whispered,
that's the boss"
"The store. as | should have explain
cd, was the southern branch OF New
York establishment, and during the
time had been there the head Of the
firm had never before paid IL n visit In
person. Consequently | didn't know
him 10y sight. and my blood ran cold
when | realized how hopelcSsly | had
rammcd my foot into II. During the
next five seconds | did some quick
thinking, and among other things that
came crowding into my mind was the
fact that the boss had been married on
ly short time before. That gave me
an idea.
"'Tm going back | whispered 70 the
floorwalkcr. and I'm n minute or two
yod send one OF the boys 10 me with a
piece Of folded letter paper
"'What are you UP toT he asked
"Never mind said l. You do cN-
actly as say Let him Just hand me
the paper and walk or. hurried back
60 the counter and found my man look
Ing black as thunder. Sorry l said.
stlll as gruf as ever. but that's all we
have. II nothing In IL suits you. your
have 60 go elsewhere
"'Very well. he replied sarcastically,
and now let me give you small piece
OF Information. T.
AT that moment boy handed me
the paper tore IL open. pretended TO
read a note. slapped my leg joytully
and proceeded 60 DO n double shuttle ON
the floor. The stranger glarcd at me IN
amnzemcnt. What the deuce Is the
matter with your he growlcd. Are
you crazy or lust drunkT
] "'Neither. / cried 4 am Simply re-