The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-23
His Able
Effort

II was ten o'clock on Saturday
morning. Nothing disturbed the still
ness of the Office except the click OF
the typewriter.
Suddenly the door was cautiously
opened and an anxious face inserted
itself in the aperture. Satisfied that
the coast was clear and that he was
unobserved, the body of the office
boy swiftly followed. But the stenog-
raphers ears We're keen and without
turning her head. she sang out sweet
~: Good morning. Jimmy thought
you had gone on a vacation"
Jaw, bunk" was the ungracious re-
joinder as Jimmy hung up his hat and
smoothed his pompadour in front of
the Office glass. as the big boy in?"
nodding his head toward the inner
office.
Not yet: which is a mighty good
thing for you. Better get busy and
distribute that mail II has been ~
ing there since the second delivery.
You deserve to lose your job, being
late so often. I'm going to call up
your house and have talk with your
father He ought to give you good
lickin'."
"Huh, it wouldn't do you much
good. cause left home last night.
and the old man doesn't know where
| am"
"Why. Jimmy! Tell me about 1t.
"Well, you see. the old man came
home late last night with crouch.
and got bossy with me, so told him
that he acted as If he was stewed-"
"Jimmy. you didn't say anything
like that
Il did. and, gee, maybe he wasn't
sore! He told me If couldn't treat
him with respect could get out. and
lot more things. Then | got mad,
gathered up my clothes. put 'em in
dads best suit case and went down to
the Voorhees, hotel. Some sport, eh.
Lizzie?
Il registered as salesman from
Toledo. and told the gink at the desk
! wanted room with bath He
said All right, sir then yelled, Err.
r-r.rOnt!'
1.-THE hell hop came a-runnin'.
grabbed my suit case and took me up
in the elevator, opened the door OF
Ma, turned on the light. pulled down
the shades and said: Anything more.
sir?'
Il swelled out my chest like the old
man does when he's putting on a
game front. slipped the hop dime,
and said: No, boy! thatll be all for
the present.
"Say. little one. maybe I didn't give
'em the bunk to make EN- think was
some classy salesman! Oh, itw 8 too
easy"
"You're dreadfully bold. Jimmy.
How did you dare do such a thing.
and what will your father say"
"Huh! The old mans afraid Of me.
I'm going TO let him worry for while.
He'll want me back bad enough"
"You're entirely too conceited. II I
was your father Id let you shift for
yourself. Where did you get the
money to pay for your room? Did you
have any breakfast"
"Did have any breakfast? Say,
Lizzie, | went into that dining room
with my head up. ordered the classi-
est breakfast in town, signed the
check and gave the waiter 90 cents
all the money had in my clothes"
"Jimmy. don't tell me such fibs."
'Fibs, nothin | had 80 cents when
went there last night. gave 10 cents
to the hop and 90 to the waiter. l
tell you I'm the real goods when 1t
comes to con game"
"You can't keep that up indefinite.
~, Jimmy. so you'd better go home
where you belong. and stay there be-
fore you run up too big a bill. ! think
your conduct is outrageous"
cav, forget 1t, and let mo take a
couple o beans.
"Well, I should say not. You can
waste your own money II you want
to, but you can't waste mine"
Gee, but you're a tight wad. Who
caught that mouse in your desk? Who
gets your lunch for you when 1t rains
Who stands in line to buy your matt
nee tickets! And. what's more, who
takes notes over to that rummy In the
postoffice? Say. Liz. be good scout.
and slip me couple O. beans"
"That will not be necessary" said
a voice on the other side of the rail-
ing. "We'll continue this very in
teresting conversation out in the hall,
my son. and I'll engage myself for
Speaking part in it,"