The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-20
ARE NICE.
But Railroad Man Finds They
Are Sometimes a Bother.
And Well Meaning Reporters
Can Cause Some Worry, Too.

Rufus Wiltshire (that isn't his
name, so let it go) swung around in
his chair as a reporter entered his
office, and glared. Rufus is rail-
road man. and his office is part of
the regular days run" of the rail-
road reporter. The reporter liked
Rufus, who was the dispenser of a
certain brand of cynical philosophy
which was soothing to the disposition
of a fellow who has to keep in a
good humor all the time as matter
of business. Rufus had been sick and
absent from his Office for a time, and
the reporter had turned in an item to
that effect in his paper.
But Rufus didn't seem to be in a
very good humor on the first morning
that he was able to get back to his
office. There was an absence of the
welcome which usually was forthcom-
ing.
Top of the morning to you"
opined the reporter. Mighty glad to
see you back again. How yuh feelin' ~
Huh" responded Rufus. and con-
sidered for a moment before squaring
around and opening the attack.
You're a nice kid, and l amt got
nothing against your Intentions. You
mean all right, but I'm offa you"
Tho he really didn't feel downcast,
the reporter permitted a shade OF
=
Whats a natter" he inquired.
He Explains 1t All.
The chance for chat was too much
for Rufus crouch. He decided to
condescend to explanations.
You sure pulled the bonehead OF
your career when you wrote that item
about me being sick. 1 appreciate the
sentiments of fondness which drove
you to it, but it was all wrong, all
wrong And 1 amt got nothing against
my friends. understand me there
/ like my friends, and a friend is a good
/ thing. But
And 1 amt got nothing against
the modern improvements, including
I the telephone, either. Get me there
But the combination of bronchitis and
friends and telephone, and then you
getting them all together with that
fool story, has held me out of this
office three days longer than neces-
sary.'
! The reporter leaned on the counter
and prepared to listen. There was
something wrong He was not mis-
| taken.
The telephone out at our house is
I right down in the veStibule, and it:
cold down there. When you answer
the telephone you have to leave the
warm sitting room, walk thru the
cold hall and stand with each foo
raised off the cold floor, alternately
while you talk. And usually, with the
inside doors closed, you think thu
telephone bell is the door bell. an
swer the door first and let in all th'
cold outdoors that bally vestibule will
hold. Then when you find out there
no one on the porch you gotta stant
in that imported outdoors to talk t
whoever is on the phone.
Il wasn't sick enough to be in bed
Just had the bronchitis SO bad 1 didn'
; want to come down to the office thrl
the cold, and the office isn't any to-
well heated either. Nobody but your
self and the office knew 1 was unde
the weather, and / was figuring Of
getting some real rest for a coupl
days, and then coming back to work
And then you bust into print witt
, that sick-a-bed rhapsody OF yours an
blow the whole thing sky high Ev
cry friend I've got in the world start
ed calling up to see if L was dead yet
And every time a friend called up
went out into the vestibule and pu
standing and talking TO them.
1T went on for two days. and 1 &C
worse and worse. didn't know I ha
so many friends. We finally wedge
, the telephone bell with a wad of pa
per. and then the repair men came OF
: to see what was the matter, and mad
US take it out
Finally 1 got so I didn't dare g
to the phone. The wife had to do a