The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

The encyclopaedia man who stands
IN the midst Of the crowds at the ferry
entrances and direos the human herd
toward its destination, was having a
busy time OF IT.
with q perfectly clear voice and
faultIess enunciation he was going
through the throngs Of travellers in the
big waiting room plainly delivering
himself 10 all who were interested 10
hear OF this lucid utterance;
The next boat. leaving at 4;4o, ten
minutes hence. VIII carry 70 the Oakland
mole passengers for Haywards, Niles,
San Jose and Livermore. Passengers
for the east by way Of St Louis, and
for Los Angeles by way Of Newman,
Los Banos. Mendoza, Fresno, Tulare
and Bakersfield. leave on the O'Clock
ferry"
Nothing very involved about that.
was 1here2
But a fussy-looking. rather pudgy
matron, who had been intently re-
garding the train announcer as he
made this announcement in his wholly
understands bic way, didn't appear 10
believe that he was telling the truth
Il is quite within the bounds Of reason
10 suppose that she believed that the
announcer was purposely trying 10 mis-
lead persons waiting for that train for
the deliberate and malevOlent purpose
OF causing said passengers all Of the
worry. annoyance, expense and trouble
possi ble. Some such idea certainly
must have actuated her. for she rushed
Up 10 the young man and inquired OF
him:
What time did that man say the St
Louis train lefrr
Five o'clock. madam. but you can
take the $40 boat and connect with
80 81.
II YOU ike" replied the peripatetic en-
cycIopaedia- who was used 10 being re-
ferred 10 as that man"
oh he did. did he?" said the pudgy
natron suspicously. And what time
is IL now2"
That clock up there is right
madam" replied the man with 'InfOr
nation Bureau" stamped on his cap.
As he pointed toward the clock over
The news stand
Well how could ] know il was
right" she came right back at him,
without looking at the clock, I asked
you what time did he say IL was?"
He didn't say. madam. but IL was then
4-30 and IL is now 4.35 and the train
for 81. Louis leaves a. o'clock, but
you can 90 over TO the Oakland mole
81 z.40. eight minutes from now, and
get your train earlier" somewhat
YEARLY replied the man in blue.
"Hm-4.3s and the train goes az
40 calculated the fussy woman See
either, viii 7 have tine 10 so some 4
where and get a glass OF sOda2 I'm
Just perishing for cold drink
Well replied the answerer. you 4
might have time if you hurried. but
believe I wouldn't take any chance /
What's the nearest place for me TO I
GET q soda - she cut in
He pointed out TWO places not far 4
away
which Of them has the best sodag"
she asked him.
You can search-er-I mean, I really .
don't know" replied he, shifting TO the
other leg.
By this time four or fve other per-
sons were lined Up behind the little 1
woman. waiting q chance 10 get q crack /
AZ The answer man
HUH and you call yourself a bureau
OF information" the fussy woman
shifted. III YOU don't know that, why
Madam II you are going 10 take
that 4:4o boat you had better hurry"
was the warning interjected by the
man.
And here you've kept me talking all
this time when I might have gone
the fussy woman resentfully. and then
she cast him withering glance and 4
picked UP her traps and rushed for .
the gate al a waddling canter.
A woman with very high cheek 4
bones and a somewhat limp and soiled .
looking lingerie hat was the next in
line.
DO all OF them trains for Los An
geIes 80 right straight through" she .
asked fretfully.
No. madam" the answer man re-
piled. There's only one train that
goes by way Of Niles. Others 90 /
by way Of the coast route"
''Shucksl why don't they all go
straight through" she snapped, peev-
ishJy-
7 don't know" the young man re-
piled. patiently.
why. I thought you knowed every
thing, she said then. Amt you the
informer man."
We'll, work for that purpose. (
madam. but I don't dictate the policy
OF the company" was his reply.
Don't sass back" she raped out.
menacfnglv. And then she became .
quite amisble again all Of q sudden.
What's q nice place 10 stop at in
Los Angeles" was her next inquiry.
I couldn't very well recommend any
one place. madam he replied. seeing
that there are about forty hotels, and
z couple OF thousand boarding houses
down there"
oh. but I mean some place that is
cheap and nice" she persisted
The young man named q couple OF
hotels where you can get into an SKIS
hall room on the American plan for
about 81 a day II you're good, and at
the same time. lucky.