The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-05-28

at 4 convenient hotel. When L wrote
my name on the register the torture
began.
you're the first on The groundn
exclaimed the clcrkt who was evident
ly Il raw one. confess, however, that
| tidn take his meaning off The bat.
"'Of course. YOU want the best in
the house, continued the mushroom,
with smirk on his face. Then he
hammered it in. 'The Smith family
has the right Of way herc,' he con-
tinucd, and specially john
"Ordinarily Pm pretty quick on
the trigger, but the wretch kept ahead
Of me. Before l could unlimber he
handed out another:
"'We'l give you the Pocahontas
chamber, John--beg pardon-Mr.
Smith. Front.'
"Ecfore thc bellhop made the plate
| was at the bat. won't delay the
game, gentlemen, by quoting my own
words, but when was through the
excrcsccnce behind the counter was
snealling away as if he had squatted
on the hot end Of al evicted hornet.
In spite of apologies by the landlord
I walked out of that tavern and put
up at boarding house where they
don't keep books.
"The next day dropped In at the
telegraph Office and asked if there
was anything for John Smith. The
man looked at me as a fellow looks
at hat on the sidewalk on April J..
Quicker than you get your cards |
showed him my watch containing my
picture and name, and then threw
down a bundle of old letters to clinch
the identification.
"'I am John Smith, said, with
the words underscorcd, 'and I don It
want any funny business.
"The man at the window handed
out four wires to my address and
said in a quiet way that was rather
soothing:
"'I reckon you are John Smith all
right, but don't go round here with
the idee that you're the only one. The
twelfth went out jest ahead of you.
"I thought it was time for me to
do the funny stunt. Seeing that [ had
anticipated trouble, [ said:
" 'Thcn I'm No. 49,
GAS | was going out | heard the
man at The window say, "You' re la
bic to he % before your much old
err
"Ill owe that fellow one until
meet him again. | am not the only
enc Of the name that is dodging it,
! either.
"Thc last night ! was in the town
| went to ihc office Of hotel. At
was crowded. While | was sitting and
smoking an Office boy with Il telegram
pushed his way through thc jam, call
ing out Smith, John Smith! Smith,
John Smith!'
"Nnbody responded. The boy took
the telegram back TO the clerk, who
looked over at the line of occupied
chairs along the wall, and called out
"What's the matter with you
Smiths over there9 / know at least
a half dozen Of you are of that name
and here's a telegram for one of you
! What are you afraid OFF,
"Not man in the line moved. Lat.
cr on in the evening after the mob ha6
scattered I sneaked up to the clerl
and asked him if anybody had claim
cd the message.
'Ycs,' he snorted. "The message
has been read by six differen
Smiths. Maybe you're the right one
I hope So
81 took it. 1t was for me. | apollo
gized for my part Of the trouble.
said in a meek sort Of way that
wasn't to blame for my name.
"'Course not snapped the tiret
clerk, 'but if you Smiths would only
get together and mark yourselves II
some way it would save a whole LOT
of trouble in this hotel
~ left that town the next morning
and I shall be travelling away from
it as long as the Exposition lasts. And
I've burnt up all my cards.'
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