Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-05-24
STORY OF WORLDS
MOST HONEST MAN

~ 80 - vi ANSN u
In the mids OF insurance scandals.
of graft revelations. oil Investigations.
and rebate exposures. Kelley ooms up
III striking contrast to the great men
whose regulations are being blackened.
The discovery hat Kelley vas honest
was made in a strange way. He lives
In a small. but comfortable apartment
In Lexington avenue. near Fitty-eighth
street. with his wife. and he is mn
ployed as a bookkeeper in Il big TWEEN
1y-third street retail millinery estab-
lishment. His salary is a moderate
one. but 1t suftices for himSelf and his
wife. and he is a regular Attendant at
ST. Patrick's cathedral.
He lives Il clean and upright life. en-
joys the small outings II trips To the
alters and concerts in which he and his
wife indulge. Besides he has IA say
ings accoun laid up against sickness
or misfortune. He never has had amy
children. which fact both he n his
wife belnoan. He takes Il lively inter
est in political matters. pays his per-
sonal X regularly. and on his Naca-
ton each year he goes With his wife
to a quiet little resort down the Jersey
coast and battles and fishes for crabs.
That. briefly. is the outline of every
thing important in the life of r. l..
Kelley up To the time ii was discovered
that he was honest.
The discovery was made In this way.
In his apartment he uses gas tor light
ing and cooking purposes. The gas is
supplied by the Consolidated Gas ON
pany of New York. IL corporation OF
$50. 900, 900 capital. which has nearly
l.500 miles of mains II controls the
gas and electric light privileges of Mani
haitian, Bronx. Kings. Queens and
dorchester. and. through its associated
companies. the gas and electric light
of the surrounding cities.
The company'S regular dividend APP
proXimates 6 per cent. on a funded debt
of about $95. 900, 900. and of this Kelley
pays on an average of IS. % "A month.
II so happened that. for the month
of january. 1906. N of the dark
months when the gas bills run n little
higher than usual, Kelley received a
bill for 81 cents. His wife, after she
received the bill and without exam
lining it carefully. gave 1t to Kelley so
that he could stop at the branch office
In the drug store on the corner and pay
1t, as was his custom. 1t happened that
Kelley stuck 1T into his pocket and
went to work that day without pay
ing it. He knew that the discount was
safe, as he had four days to pay with
discount privileges, so he paid 40 at
tention to the matter until that night
while riding home on the electric car.
Then he suddenly thought that he had
forgotten to pay the gas bill and de-
cided to drop off the car and pay 1t
before going home. He o the bill
Out as he entered the drug store and
examined it. When he saw that the
mount only was 81 cents he stopped
II examined 1t more closely.
insists Gas Bill Is Too Small.
Hello. Fred said the druggist
Anything / can do for you"
Il guess not" said Kelley, still ex-
aiming the bill. Il dropped in to pay
the gas bill. but there seems to be some
mistake"
"Ho! ho." laughed the druggist. You
stand a bright chance to get those peo-
pie to correct a mistake"
The bill is less tina 1t should be-"
said Kelley.
We'll. that's their business. They can
afford to lose it,"
Il know-but I'd rather pay what
l wv Them" remarked the man for
whom Diogenes hunted in vain as he
pocketed the bill IL walked ON to-
wards home.
The following day, being downtown
on business. Kelley dropped in at the
main Office OF the gas trust and went
to the complaint department.
Il have a bill here" lie remarked to
the clerk. which seems to be wrong
w nat ) JIe matter Win H., asked
the clerk.
why. there seems TO be a mistake
in the
impossible. We never make mis-
takes in the mounts of bills. The
amount is just what the meter shows
o used. and 1t Is useless to complain.
People always think they haven't used
much gas, but they can't fool the
meter
That may be true" remarked KEEL
ley. But this bill is entirely too small.
I've used more gas than this"
What" said the clerk. clinging to
the ledger for support.
1t probably hould be 1910 for Jan
uary." continued Kelley calmly. but
ii is made out for 81 cents-probably
merely a clerical error. 1 wish you
would correct 1t and let me go, as my
TIM is valuable"
'Wait a minute" said the clerk. He
disappeared and a few minute later
reappeared with Il superintendent.
Gas Officials Are Astounded.
The two talked together, and the SUI
ly. Then he disappeared and returned
with two other officials. who examined
the bill. peeped at Kelley through thu
bars, and then n remarked: Well
I'll be darned! Wait q minute"
He returned with Il still higher Off
Val ili'I siItCI SoIIic conversation lnls
official came forward and poked his
hand out to shake hands with MIR
Kelley.
Mr.. Kelley he remarked. I'm glad
to meet yon. l viii make Il personal
Investigation of this btll aud send the
corrected bill to you at this address.
But l want the discount" protested
Kelley.
You shall have ii. sir" said tho Off
cial. The discount will be allowed
on the face of the bill that is sent to
you
Then he shook hands gravely with
Kelley and returned to his work. while
Kelley. much puzzled. hurried back to
his office.
Two days later Kelley received the
corrected bill and paid 1t. The amour,
was $6.16. A careless clerk had lief,
of the ina figure.
Kelley went back to work and forgot
all about the matter until IL few weeks
1go when ne received a small box, in
side of which was "A card on which was
written:
Prom the officers and directors o,
the Consolidated Gas company"
C In the cotton below WAS y
beautiful medal. On one side was {;
figure of Diogenes. standing as il sat.
isfied at last and preparing to blow