, 1905-02-14
THE MAN WHO ASKED

born with the idea that the world not on
" owed him a living, but that it ought to
do something pretty handsome IN his be-
half because he didn't refuse to live. He
thought nothing of going to the railroad
officials and demanding transportation.
and, somehow, he nearly always got it.
There was no reason why the railroad
companies should have him thus. but his
way Of walking up to a general passenger
agent. slapping him on the back and
saying: Hello. old man. | want you to
fix me out for Kansas City, seldom fail
ed to produce results that were s~atisfac-
tory to him. although the victims Of his
grating operations generally made sar-
castle remarks about his cheek and gall
after he had departed with the goods.
He would walk up to the box Office Of
a thea:er ,and ask for W of the best
seats in the house. just as if he owned
| the place, or at least had a half interest
in the show. He did nothing for the
railroads or the theaters. but apparently
it never occurred to him that that was
any reason why ne should not have
passes whenever he wanted them. His
whole philosophy apparently was cover
ed by the admonition, ASK and 1t shall
be given YOU" He went on further than
that. He didn't bother to ask himself
whether he deserved the things he asked
for and he was so constituted that he
couldn't understand why anything that
he ever asked for should be refused to
him. anyway.
Now it happened that things were dull
in the establishment where Braggins was
employed. For months he had been do
ing little or nothing. In fact, he had
never worked hard enough to make ner-
vous p%rostration even a remote possibility
in his case; but during the dull period he
had spent most of his time playing bill
lards in a ''parlor" where ii cost him
n, thing. because the proprietor had in
some way become possessed of the idea
that it lent distinction to his place to have
| Braegins so often seen there as one of
the regular patrons.
One day the head Of the firm by
which Braggins was employed called the
manager and said:
1T seems to me we can get along with
out Braggins. Couldn't you fix things 50
! that the little bit Of work he has to do
might be transferred to some other de-
partment:"
VERY easily" the manager replied.
I've been thinking for quite a while q
proposing something of the kind to you.
As soon as he comes In Ill send him to
you and you can notify him that we shall
not need his services any longer"
Along about the middle of the after
noon Braggins sauntered in to see if
there was any mail for him.
"Mr. Chuggum would like to see you"
said the manager as he looked at Brag-
gins with a feelieg Of sorrow for his wife
and children.
Good" replied Braggins. I've been
wantin' for several days to have a little
talk with the old man. III go right in"
Half an hour later he emerged from
the private Office. smoking n Of the
fine cigars that Mr.. Chuggum was in
the habit Of giving only to favored visi-
tors.
WELL" said the manager, holding out
a hand. "I'm sorry you're going. Good
by"
"Good-by. old man, but how did you
know about it? don't remember men
tionin' it to anybody"
There was something about the look of
Braggins that the manager could not un-
derstand. For a man who had just been
discharged he seemed to be in a strange
ty buoyant frame Of mind.
81 hope" the manager said. you may
not be long in finding something to dor
Something to dor" Braggins asked:
what do you mean?"
why. didn't Mr.. Chuggum discharge
your
"Discharge-say that's good. He
raised my salary and gave mt leave Of alb
sence for three months on full pay, so |
can so away during the dull season. for
the benefit Of my health. Well be good
to yourself, old man. Don't work too
hard. It's foolish. There's nothing in
it.
But it must be remembered that
where one man passes without slipping
another falls, and 'jolliers." like poets.
are born and not made.-Record Herald
To Prevent the Grip.