The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-21
WANTED THE MONEY
Strange Bill Presented to The
News and Observer.
Claim Of Under the Influence Exerted by the
Charleston Special Edition Over One
Who Took the Trip.

and Observer was startled from his
wonted composure Yesterday morning
by gentleman of very business-hke
appearance and manner, who without
any remarks by way of introduction
presented a bill somewhat after this
wise:
The News and Observer.
TO Mr.. John Doe, DR..
To railroad fare Charleston and
return ...... 80. .............''.S11 .oO
To one weeks expenses at EXPOSE
ton. -. ......... .............'' 5o'oo
SAG. 80
"What does this mean?" qucried the
business manager, stricken aghast, and
looking as if he felt like the thirty
cents part of the bill.
Just what you see," quoth the
stranger.
'But we never sent you to Charles
ton" said the business manager, IT
never remember seeing you before,
even"
THAT may all be true, said he of the
BILL but you nevertheless owe me
$3.50, just what it cost me and my wife
to 20 to Charleston and spend the week
seeing the great Exposition"
"Bc good enough to explain Yourself,
sir" said the business manager, begin
ming to get little piqued ut the stran
gers confident air and the broad Srins
Of the reporters who were hanging
around the office, dreading to start out
on the days hunt for news stories. ,"
Even the typewriter stopped clicking in
the office, portentous sign that always
did make the manager nervous.
81 will begin by asking you Iues-
tion," said the strange gentleman. Did
you or did you not issue last Sunday a
great Charleston edition of your paper
setting forth the great things to be seen
at the Exposition, and the great good
to be derived from going there"
I'VE did, and it was the greatest pub
LEGATION of the kid ever attempted: it
gave a complete description of the city
of Charleston, the Exposition, the ex-
hibits of all the States. and especially
North Carolina and -
Hold on, l know all that. Keep it
for some other fellow Put now to bust
ness. | read that paper. My wife read
that paper. That was on Sunday. l
pledge you my word that neither one of
us had the slightest idea Of going to
that Charleston Exposition up to the
time of reading that paper. AS soon as
my wife laid down the paper, saw her
pull out one Of her trunks and begin to
pack it. / looked on in a mechanical
sort of way for several minutes, and
nfc 70
helping her crowd things into that
trunk. We went right on until every
thing was packed up and ready. Then
we sent the trunks down to the Union
station, neither one of us saying a word
rs to where we were going. We follow
ed the trunks to the station, and when
the ticket agent asked me where l want
ed a ticket to, / answered without the
slightest hesitation, and in a matter-of-
course sort of Characterization and re-
turn? Ny wife did not seem the least
surprised and so we went, ana had all
sorts of a good time. TOO.
But now l am coming tc the pith of
all this talk. That blessed Charleston
edition of the News and Observer was
the cause of making me spend nearly
We would never have dreamed CT going
to the Exposition. if it had not been for
that paper of yours last Sunday.
therefore present the bill, and expect
you to pay it,
The business manager remained per-
fectly still for several minutes and moth
ing could be heard save the ticking of
the clock. the hurried rushing Of a re-
porters pencil over his wad OF paper,
and the distant sound of voices engaged
in morning prayer from the composing
room upstairs. Finally the manager
found his voice.
I'VE decline to pay the BILL" said he,
with a determined look around the cor
ners of his mouth.
Very Well, l shall go to law about
| it, and set up claim of undue influ-
ence eXerted against my will and better
| Judgment, responded the stranger, and
as the business manager, reporters and
entire office force rushed to the window
| the stranger was seen making straight
| for the domains presided over by Mr.
| VIM M. Russ, the descendant of Aha
suerus and Lazarus.