Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-24
HE HAD NERVE.
Man With Horace Greeley Hair Reg
ulates the Regulator.
John Quill Calls on His Friend, the
Jeweler, and Listens.

| Inc nerve md, some people have ls
phenomenal. Talk about killing
mans nerve with creosote, why. the
man l saw in lewelrr store the other
day had nerve that creosote would
have no effect upon, and | doubt very
much if a gun would. He was without
Exception the nerviest man T ever
bumped up against, and if there is any
''yarb or, lotion mentioned in the
'materia medica that will make any
impression on that case hardened
nerve of his, l am willing to squander
a weeks wages Tor a small vial full
4, just to give the stuff try and see how
easily that old fellow with the exposed
nerve will down it and look for more.
| | stood talking with d ieweler the
other day. one Of those eag1e-eyed
watch carpenters with a dice box in his
eye, putting the intestines back into a
: 50 watch, one of those grab bag
! watches with State prison escapment
three holes for cruel and all that sort
Of thing warranted to beat time for %
| years.
| He had all the little things back in
the watch again so it was ticking like
cricket, when the outer door opened
and let in about 2.222 cubic feet of cold
air and wise looking old guy with
Horace Greeley hair and whiskerettes
that looked like the fringe upon tidy.
He gave one the impression he was
running the universe on shares and
was pretty darned well satisfied with
the Job He gaZed around the shop for
sometime until his eyes finally lit on
the regulator. He looked at the thing
for some time. whistled softly then
commenced to inhibition several coats
and jackets and to dig down in the
depths of his wardrobe after something
he had apparently lost and at last with
the aid of dog chain pulled out of
cadaverous Pocket a watch about the
size and shape of a backing box, one
of that kind they sell down in Connec-
them they sound like a watchman's
rattle He fished the old ancient play
thing out and commenced to compare
it with the regulator. Now a jewelers.
regulator is supposed to be absolutely
correct. a great deal like a marriage
certificate. no disputing it and no going
behind it. and when the sun oversleeps
itself the regulator is pretty sure to
catch old Sol at it. Old whiskers
studied the face of that regulator for
some minutes, while he mentally per-
formed mathematical problem in
dead reckoning to see just how his old
egg timer stood. Then he held the
watch up to his ear to make sure that
it was going all right and in peculiar
inimitable drawly tone said:
Say. you, your darned old regulator
amt all right It's fast. It's gained two
minutes since last week. Why don't
you fix it? Twas just right with
mine the last time'I was in here, but
now it is going like a race horse.
They don't make clocks the same as
they used to when l was a boy. l
would give more for one of those old
clocks they used to make way back in
Grandpas days than l would for
horse load of these new tangled ones.
1t is just like this watch of mine. Now
this watch / have carried for going on
ten years. Bought it of a peddler for
80, and I never see anything like it for
timer. When you look at it you
know just where you are every day in
the week. Don't have to do nO.guess-
ing when that is around. Nothing like
| having Il watch YOU ltel sd TAIN VI.
They make lots of prettier ones now
days. but when / want something to
bank on, why, give me the old watch
every day."
l looked at the man with amazement.
saw he was perfectly honest and be-
lieved in the accuracy of that old black
ing box with wheels in it the same as
missionary does in his Bible.
looked at the watch tinkerer, expect
ing him to rise in his wrath and anger
and read the riot act to the old gentle
man with the ancient timepiece, but
not so. He merely smothered few
cuss words and putting on a bland
smile said he was not aware his regu1
lator was fast, but if it was it was the
only fast thing there was in the shop
and he was very much obliged to the
gentleman for calling his attention to
he fact, and he would have it fixed at
once. The old gentleman seemed to
feel that mis- mission on this earth had
been accomplished and that the regu1
lator would be tinkered to conform
with his watch. and he promised to call
again in a few days and see how the
regulator was progressing. He gath
cred his IA CLAN about him. and took his
departure, while the jeweler batted
one optic at me and turned his atten-
ton to marking his goods UP 10 per
cent. in anticipation of the spring rush.
n n a. 80 \