The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-07
Hot Weather
Tales

:
On one side OF the tran that was
only a few feet wide was a cliff
reaching TO the clouds. On the 9th.
er, asheer descent Of a thousand
feet to q raging torrent.
As th man and the bear caught
sight Of each other both stopped.
but only for moment. Then the
bear licking his chops came on at
q trot that ate up the intervening
hundrd yards at a fearful rate.
Seeing there was no escape and
the man lmelt down and said:
"oh, Lord, you know that / have
never been much Of q guy to pray.
I've never asked for help before and
! can't conscientio,1sly ask you Il
help me now, but Lord" he said
fervently, 'if you don't feel like
helping me, please don't help the
bear, and you'll see the dist
bear fight you ever saw"
According to our veracious infor.
mant-and who is there to impeach
the yeracity Of B q o fireman
Mike Horan. relief engineer on the
Wheeling division, F. q. sapp,
Chief crew dispatcher, and A. B,
Frum, caller, had left the round
house at 1875 a. m. and were pro.
ceeding up through the yards on the
way home when suddenly Frum who
was In the lead stopped and III.
marked as he stepped back a few
PAGES and got behind the other two
IL thought the Gentry circus cancel.
ed their engagement"
They did," gaid Mike, edging to.
ward the river, "But wherever It
came from It's a bear. Just the
Maybe it belongs to some poor
family around here Offered sapp.
wed better not hurt it,
By way Of answer he heard a
splash in the river and looking
around could see even in the dark
ness cloud Of dust being kicked
up on the Wheeling division every
foot OF which Frum Is familiar with
through long years Of continuous
service.
"Cowards,' Missed sapp through
clinched teth, drawing his trusty
penknlte, ''l'll show these guys how
a crew dispatcher can defend his
On came the ursine apparltlon,
looming larger and larger as It ap-
preached the valiant dispatcher I'm.
I'll 1t had come within about ten
feet. Then 1t stopped, stretched out
its neck and sal d"Mo-o-o.'
Along about daybreak jim Hard
way came down from Uztown and
was advised to add a ball and chain
to his cowshed equipment.
Frum is said to have come in
from Warrington on the first In.
terurhan car and Mike was able to
dispense with his usual bath when
he arrived home after making a de-
tour of the East Side.
"Am in favor Of government
ownership Of public utilities?" an
sweered a prominent Fairmont bus
mess man last night. "of the tele.
phone system, yes; OF the postof-
flee, no.,
! Here's what happened to me yes
terday.
IT was working late to make up
time lost on Saturday and the morn
ing after the Fourth and desiring
some information regarding the post
office, phoned. This is what was
handed to me.
"Hello!"
Us this the postotfice?'
who do you want?" with fall.
ing infection on the last word.
us this the postofflc?"
Eyes. who do you want?" rising
infection this time.
What time does the registry win
dow closer"
What's that?"
"Pell me, please, what time does
the registry window close"
Which of tho clerks do you
want?"
II don't want any particular
clerk. l only want to know at what
hour they quit work at the registry
window"
YOU"
AFTER a few minutes waiting or.
orator asks us sweetly as On I'M
please"
I'm talking to the postott!ce," !
answered,
! What's their number she asked.
i don't know now" said /, Il
gave you the number once. was
talking to someone at the postof,
ftce when you cut US off,"
4 beg your pardon"
Another walt, then Number,
please"
walked to the postottice and
learned that the registry window
closes promptly at six O'Clock, i've
minutes before my arrival,
Just then q clerk approached my