The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-04-08

feet of gas an hour. The company should
by rights have burner department Only
it is too poor"
He spoke the last words with regret
evidetnIy of New York extraction.
Poor, echoed Mrs. f. Conomy. after
all the money I've paid it,"
While the sanguine stranger hestated
a moment to locate the proper tack to
meet this sally, Mrs E. Conomy found
her tongue.
II pity your poor company My. but
you are a talker. If you had Left off
about your poverty, / do believe you d
have gotten out without hearing a sin
gle complaint. But if l remember right.
you came here to ask about service. You
said service didn't you?
You should live dependent on the gas
company for few months yourself and
you'd learn something you wouldn't for
get and have to brush up on.
why, a man came to read the meter
one day, and when I showed him the
gas jets burning like candles. he said
there must be water in the meter. But
he never looked to see and nobody else
came
Il telephoned down TO the gas office
during the cold weather because the gas
was dim They told the meter must be
frozen up. ! sent for a plumber and told
him L wanted the gas thawed out right
away. He looked at me rather aueery
and inquired details. When / told him
why l had sent for him. he picked up his
tools and went out the door chuckiing
like an idiot.
And last week the gas blew itself
/ out. What do you think of that? l was
trying TO read when the jet commenced
/ to whistle and the light went out com
pletely. I was brolling a steak at the
same time and the flame was so cold that
! I put my hand between the meat and the
/ burner / stopped in at the office the
next day and told a clerk about it. He
! said it was strange The complaint was
new one He'd have it investigated.
You're the first investigator I've seen and
all you've done is to jot down a note in
your book just like he did You'll never
show up again nor will anybody except
/ the man who reads the meters He'll have
to come to keep the company off the
county"
! Il poked around with him one day in
! the cellar at his invitation after l had
been telling him what / thought of the
! frightful way the bills We're creeping up
month by month. He said the meter
would tell the story and asked me down
to read it and make sure that he got il
accurately.
After 1 was all covered with cobwehs
and had knocked jar of preserves off
| 1,of hqi
my neck. the meter man turned his bull 5
eye lantern on me and solemnly asked me
for the record for the month before so he
could mark down the consumption foI
the month.
Haven't you got III says l.
'' Yes. but YOU are doing this said he
Well, said /. just mark it down
quick consumption.
And bless me If the dials didn't be-
SIN to go clickety click and the wheels in
the meter began to grind--mind YOU there
wasn't~a gas jet burning in the whole
house
How do you account for tnat?" de-
manded
-rhe worm nthe meter is out of or
der. he said. TN have il inspected.
The bill came in that month for $5A
Its a shame" and she flourished pile
Of bills she had resurrected for purposes
of argument
Now, last summer" she began again
but the kick artist had thought of some
thing in the meantime.
Madam" he interjected. rising. Il Il
satisfied that we can help YOU. Coem tC
our demonstrations. l shall colloborats
III. objections discover and the report
To the company will, I'm sure, result IL
tsomethinC gratifying TO all consumers
The company viii regret deeply any indi
cation Of your displeasure.
Now. last summer commenced Mrs
E Conomy again. hastily running Over
the bills in her hand.
In the long run. you viii find the bill:
average about right" interposed the ga:
man.
Last summer. the bills were presented
for every month and
You are doing exactly right, Mrs, :
( Conomy. in keeping close Ah- He haI
reached the door.
We had bee naway and the house va.
locked ali the time. How do You accoun
for thate"
But the housewife heard q mumole i
which she distinguished only '1ust rates
and demonstrations
Pedestrians saw dapper young MAJ
fleeing from small woman who stoo'
on her front porch waving 3 bunch G
blue papers
Newark. O. April The steel shops
mounting room and Offices OF the NenTl
stove works burned today. Loss. aoou
slsQ.ess.