Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-07-29
SAVED HIS POSITION.
QUICK WIT LANDED HIM SAFELY OUT
OF A TIGHT PLACE.

How a Clerk Worked Up an Excuse
That Vas Gladly Accepted by His
Employer, to Whom He Had shown
Gross %Incivility.
"Its mighty hard for a clerk to be
a and polite all the time" said a
department manager in one of the big
stores. "A clerk is like any other hui
maj being. subject to headaches and
indigestion and fits of irritability, and
occasionally he will be a little gruff
without intending 1t. When l was
younger, a few thoughtless words once
came near losing me a good job, and
the way l escaped being fired was
rather amusing. 1t happened like this:
81 had charge of the mems furnish
ings counter In a large clothing store,
and the pay being first rate and chance
Of promotion excellent l 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 a man came in
and asked to see SOM %cravats.
II could tell from his general appear
ance he was from the north, and he
had a curt. semisupercilious manner
that irritatcd me Immediately. If l
had been feeling well, l would have
kept my temper, but my head was
throbbing. and when he paved owe
the stock. finding fault with everything
and sneering at my statements as to
quality | began to get crusty.
"Finally l couldn't stand 1t any Ion
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 a tOOrwalker 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, III see If l a find
something else at the other side With
that | hurried over to where tn. floor
walker was standing. What's the mat
ter: | asked In a low tone.
"'Great Scott. man. he whispered,
that's the boss"
"The store. as l 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 it a visit in
person. Consequently didn't know
him by sight, and my blood ran cold
.,l.A, .a.1;.a1 IA1- 1at,,1nNp1y hpd
rammed my foot into it. 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
" a short time before. That gave me
IN idea.
"'Im going back l whispered to the
foorwalker, and In a minute or two
YOU send one of the boys to me with II
piece of folded letter paper
"'What are you up to? he asked.
"'Never mind said |. 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 us thunder. Sorry ! said,
still as gruff as ever, but that's all we
have. If nothing in it suits you, you'll
have to &C cisewhere.'
VERY we'll he replied sarcastically,
and now let me give you Il small piece
Of information. l.
at that moment a boy handed me
the paper. | tore'it open. pretended 10
read Il note. slapped my leg Joyfully
and proceeded to do a double shuttle on
the floor. The stral ger glared at me In
amaZcmcnt. What the deuce is the
matter with YOU Tue growled. Are
you crazy or just drunk"
"'Neither", | cried. 1 am simply re-
lieved, inexpressively relieved ana re-
ioiced. You must pardon this idiotic
exhibition. my dear sir went on ear
nestly. and l hope you will also par
don ny gross rudeness to you a mo-
ment a~o. | was beside myself with
anxiety end didn't know what l was
doing. rhe fact is l said, with the
best imitation of dittidence l could
muster up. the fact is. we have Just
had a new arrival out at my house.
It's a boy. sir, and ev%erything's all
right. And really l 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 l got out of it"
added the department manager. grin
ming, but 1t was a close shave. espe-
cially in view Of the fact that was
and am n case hardened old bachelor,
with a special aversion to infants. n
boss was very kind ard cordial, and
whenever he came to town afterwafd
he never failed to ask how the youn-
stcr was getting on. He doesn't know
any better to this day."-New Orleans
Ttples-Dcmocrat
No.Ico To Whes linen,
There's positively no need to endure
disco Mort by reast n Of chatting. sunhurn