The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-02-21
A Lucky
Mistake
gA<D
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE
Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union.


fessiOnal antiquarian, the nephew had
been imbued with antique ideas. AL
most from the cradle up to manhood.
His baby rattle was a relic from an old
London Waterman, his toys were ivory
idols five centuries old. The house was
a vast StOrehOuse Of antiques. The
books ne was given to read were musty
old volumes, priceless in values, but the
contents dry, weighty and utterly i'm
preferable to the average mind.
His training and education had won
him q post as curator of famous pub
lie museum. The perquisites and sal
airy were quite liberal, but Amos had
an ambition to diffuse the information
he had gathered. He entered the lee
ture field in addition to his museum
duties. He yearly went the rounds of
learning. During the past year, how
ever, he fancied that he was following
a beaten track.
"There is not much new TO say of
the old" he remarked more than once.
brighten your discourse with some
thing modern as to style, then, profess
sOr,' suggested a close friend.
Once Professor Tyndall collected all
that was humorous along the line OF
ancient humor. He assumed a light
style in this especial work, sent the
article to a journal devoted to anti
quarian features, and was frowned
down. To the mind of the erudit edi-
tor the solemn dignity of age must not
be invaded with trifling wit.
For all that, Professor Tyndall made
the discovery that while old dyed-in-
the-wOol college heads nodded approx
ingly at the delivery of time honOred,
hackneyed themes, the young students
were distract and bored. Again, his
services were not called for so much
as previously He revised his old lee
lures, took the tattered, criss-crOssed
manuscripts to a city cOpyist, and
placed in the hands of Miss Lettie
Rose the task of their transcription.
The neat, pretty public stenographer
and typist was about his own age, un-
der thirty, and her interest in his lee
lures attracted him towards her. 1t
got to be a pleasure to Tyndall to call
upon and chat with the bright eyed,
pleasant faced young lady.
81 have learned so much from your
lecture on Ancient Pompeii,' Mr.. Tyn-
DALI" said Lettie Rose quite enthusi-
astically one day. "How very interest
ing your profession must be-always
surrounded by mementoes of ages long
since past, author, lecturer and ex-
pert. [ have finished copying the lee
ture you are to deliver next week, and
I copied also 'Humor of the Ancients,
Mr.. Tyndall, thought most of that"
"YOu did," questioned the professor
dubious as to the literary taste of his
amanuenSiS.
Eyes, professor" declared Lettie
doughtily. 81 mean as to its entertain
ing qualities. You will pardon me for
expressing my poor, inexperienced
opinion but if L were a young man at
college that article would give me a
most pleasant hour"
'H'ml'' commented the professor,
rather dryly. "The editor ] submitted
1t to quite-er-well, sat down on it. y
'Then he had no true senes of hui
NOR" asserted Lettie. "It brings out a
new vein in your literary ability, pro-
fessor. Really, would try it out some
time, just to see the effect"
81 have thought of doing just that, -
murmured Tyndall in his distracted
way. do you know I have often Won
dered if my routine lectures are not
too dry and musty."
'Oh! never that, professor" dis
claimed Lettie.
THAT friendly young lady is open
ing my eyes somewhat" reflected Tyn-
dali as he left Miss Rose and she was,
indeed, not only as to the current value
Of his production, but as well to a new
conception of the lighter moods of life,
without which existence becomes a
dreary routine.
a few days later Tyndall came in a
desperate hurry into the office over
which Miss Rose presided.
Il have just time to catch a train,
a quick date for a lecture. The first
copy you made, please, Miss Rose"
Lettie reached in the drawer of an
open desk where the copied manu-
scripts lay, neatly folded. She secured
the one labeled Ancient Pompeii''
taking out several others to select it
from. Then she became interested in
the explanation of her patron that he
was to deliver a lecture at a certain
town that evening.
The charm of her company made
Tyndall temporarily forget the urgency
of the occasion, and Lettie was so in
terested that she unconsciously mixed
up the manuscripts.
Il declare!" spoke the professor abb
ruptly, glancing at his watch, and he
Sprang to his feet.
Il have only five minutes in which
to catch my train"
He seized the manuscript Lettie
handed him, thrust it into an inside
pocket, caught up his grip and bolted
from the door.
"Good lucki'' Lettie cried out cheer
lily after him.
Professor Tyndall arrived at Cleve-
land that afternoon, to find, two emil
nent professors and two gentlemen
whom he did not know at the depot.
The college auditorium burned down
this morning, Professor Tyndall, was
advised.
you startle mel" murmured Tyn-
dali.