Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-12
"'That's right-stIck up for your own


village green, was his reply.
well, simply couldn't resist the inn
pulse to get in then. Twas through with
my dinner and ready to leave the dining
car. folded up my paper and pushed
back my chair. Then took hold Of my
knife and drummed this on the water
bottle:
"'Enjoy yourselves while you're
young, children. Don't you mind grlz-
zled old fogies like me-
When dropped the knife and
glanced across the aisle at them in q
sort of sidelong way they were both
regarding me with broad smiles.
THE ice was broken. We all sat
around one table, had more coffee and
chatted for awhile.
"The young man was connected with
one of the big life insurance companies
In New York. The young woman was,
the business manager of fashion pub
LEGATION. Both of them had learned key
punching in their teens and had worked
at 1t In branch Offices.
They were wholesome, clean mind
cd pair Of young people who had been
lighting the battle of life almost since
their childhood. noticed that he was
Juggling her hand traps, as well as his
own, going toward the ferry after leav-
ing the train. And so, who knows? I
should like to hear Of that as the solu-
ton of their innocent little water bottle
Irritation in Morse.
That experience was more pleasant
han one in which was locker on,
but not participant, in Pennsylvania
city few years ago. In the Pennsylva-
mia city met an old-time key-poundef
alongside of whom l worked out west
years ago. He insisted upon taking me
to his boarding house for dinner and
[ went along. 1t was a boarding house
patronized largely by the telegrapners
of the town. There we're about dozen
Of them around the big table when I
sat down with my old-time friend.
Most of them were seasoned chaps. The
meal was hardly under way before o
very awkward looking red-haired man
came into the dining-room with some
what countrified- looking woman. Their
clothes looked mighty new and stiff.
They'd have struck anybody as bride
and groom. The bunch at the big table
sized them up as they sat down at a
small table placed in the basement bow
window. Then the key-punching Tndi-
ans began to drum things ON their plates
with their knives. 1t was regular mus
kerry fire Of cracks.
"'Clte fire sale hair that boys got
Swell gag, this boarding house honey
incoming thing, hey?' Wonder what
that mess of marrying toys set him
backT oh, fury, fury, such spliced-
edness!' oh, girls, wonder what she
could see in him!' Wonder If he's
wearing pink crocheted suspendsrs to
match that tie?-that's the sort of rata
plan those key hammers were rapping
on their plates with their knives until
the red-haired man stood up at his table,
thrust his hands into his trousers pock-
cts, and looked the gang over grouchily.
Just for the sake Of easing the minds
Of you inquisitive pimpleheads,' the red
haired man said amid the silence-for
they quit their plate-drumming mighty
suddenly when he stood up and looked
them over in that way-I'll let you In
on the fact that I've been married for
five years and more. And the next one
of you that makes fancy crack at me
or anybody with me is going to have his
nose pulled -..
Those fellows got up from the table,
one by one, and went over to the red
haired man and apologized for their
rudeness. They really felt ashamed Of
themselves. They weren 'tsorry that they
had done this, either, when they got back
to the Office that afternoon. They found
The red-haired man there in conference
with the manager. The red-haired man
was the new night manager and had Just
got in that day from another PennsyI.
vania city to take night charge
Washington Star.