St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-10-30
Discipining
The Janitor

For some time II mad been apparent
to the Garvins that whenever anything
was lost on the dumbwaiter the JAM.
tor asked them if they knew what had
become Of it. The unanimity with
which their co.tenants, through the
medium of a common agent, applied
to them for the restoration of missing
property finally became humiliating,
and Mr.. Garvin said he was going to
put a stop to it.
saThe next time,' he said, s'that that
fellow Johns calls up here and asks us
about Jones' milk or Smiths bread or
Browns cabbages I'm going to squelch
him so effectually that he will let any
body run away with the house itself
before he'll ask us if we know what
has become Of it"
Mr. Garvin had an opportunity to
pursue his drastic policy with the iani-
tor the very next morning. It was a
Sunday morning, and Mr.. Garvin,
eager for battle, rushed to the dumb
waiter in response to the clarion cali
from the janitor's speaking tube.
"Hel1o!" he said.
"HelIo!" came the reply from the
depths Of the basement. "Say, have
youse folks seen anything of a basket
Of aigs from the ~delicatessen that was
left on the dumbwaiter this morning
for Mrs. Crosby?"
NO." said Garvin, I'VE haven't.
What do you take us for, anyway? Al
pack of thieves? When things are lost
about the house why don't you go
some place else once in a while to
look for them2 Why do you always
come to us?"
Because came the un~hesitating
reply, you are the only people in the
building who never lose anything
yourselves"
For a moment Mr.. Garyin appeared
convinced by this apparently conclu-
sive evidence of his own guilt, but
soon his Indignation as an injured
householder asserted itself and urged
him to indicate his honor.
"The only ones who haven't lost
anything, are we?' he retorted. "Well.
just let me tell you that is no proof.
We have lost things, too"
@You have?" exclaimed the janitor.
You eve said anything about it,"
Mr.. Garvin instituted his system of
revenge on the following morning.
Say, john" he said, did you see
anything Of a roll of butter the gro
GERS boy left this morning.
mo, sir" fIoated mildly from the
foot of the dumbwaiter shaft.
'That is too bad" said Garvln.
Somebody has swiped 1t. You had
better find out who it was"
"All right" said the i~anitor: 'T'Il
get it for you"
Before Garvin had finished his
breakfast he was disturbed by a VIC.
lent Whistling and shrieking at the
tube and the creaking of the dumb
waiter.
'HelIoI" came a sepulchral voice
from the basement; heres your but
ter"
Mr.. Garvin was too much astounded
at that unexpected announcement to
make reply.
well, I'll be blessed" he said to
his wife. Where do you suppose he
got it9'
what are you going to do with it?'
cross-questioned Mrs. Garvin.
Keep 1t, / suppose"
'But 1t isn't ours" she protested.
HE must have scared one Of our
neighbors into giving 1t up. You had
better give 1t back TO return to them"
Never" said Garvin. Il have start
ed out to teach that fellow a lessen.
and I'm going to stick to it. Silence
Just now is the best policy. To make
inquiry of him or neighbors might
spoil the game"
In pursuance Of his scheme for dis.
ciplining the janitor Mr. Garvin dur
Ing the next few days reported miss
Ing q pint Of cream. a ten.pound pack
age Of g~ranulated sugar, g quart OF
strawberries and a basket OF potatoes,
ana each time, to the Garvins' increas-
Ing amazement, John called mp after
the lapse Of a few minutes:
1AlI risht, SIR; here II Is"
AZ last, Mrs. Garvtn, being 81 q SUI
perstitious benz, began TO read diBas.
ter IN the 3anitor's extraordinary
obedience.
X do hope" she said, ~that ron
won't report any more fictitious Losses
Wen be guilty Of rohbins evaryb0dy
IN the house before we set out Of chs
sCrapa- ! am already such . dyed-inp
he-wool thief tAat I an ashamed so
look my neigAbors IA Me faee."
The day after receiving the mysters
ous basket OF potatoes Mrs. Gagvtn -
ceiyed the monthly bill fgom the Un
cen.
They've made . mistake" she said
after comparing It with haE own item
lied list Of purchases. They've
charged "a with butter, cream, sugar.
strawberries and potatoes that / neYos
orderedi"
A Unique soheol Service
The little town Of Stanley, en- the
falkland islands, possesses the most