BROWN AND HIS TELEPHONE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 30, 17 April 1903, Page 7

BROWN AND HIS TELEPHONE.

HOW HE GOT IT BEPAIBED. Brown owned a telephone, at least the telephone company allowed one to lemain in his office while they collected every quarter one-half of Brown's income to reimburse them for this. great condescension. Sometimes Brown's telephone woiked and some*' times il didn't. It mostly didn't. Sad Brown been a rude man, he would have sworn; but Brown was meek and lowly and unused to strange oaths. So he meekly and politely requested the company to remedy the difficulty. *= Biit Brown was not aware that the telephone company considered its duty ended with placing the telephone in his office. Instead of using bad language and abusing . the company Brown only thought-and waited. Buzz-z'-z. It was the telephone bell, and Brown meekly answered. His telephone was No. 901 " Hello l" said a voice. "Is that you, Brown-No. 901?" "This isn't 901," answered Brown; " this is the I.X.L. slaughter-house. No. 872," Then the voice said something that caused Brown to blush and hang up the receiver. Brizz-ZtZ. -Brown meekly answered. '•lsthat No. 901?" It was the telephone girl, and Brown being a polite man, took off his bat before answering. "Oh, no; this is 853." * Then the telephone girl drew in her breath, . and said something that Brown would not allow himself to hear, and rang again. "Hello!" said Brown. '• Nine-hundred-and-one?" There was some doubt in the girl's voice. And Brown answered: . "Oh, no this is 702." ■* Buzz-z-z. " Hello!" Baid Brown. •' Nine-hnndred-and-one?" The telephone girl had giveu it up, and the superintendent had taken a hand. "This is 8,743," answered, Brown patiently. For the next ten minutes Brown was kept busy answering the bell, and he began to fear that his Btoek of numbers was,s;oing to run out, when (he bill broko, and Biown meekly i esumed his woik. Fifteen minutes later Brown's office was invaded by the superintendent, seven expert electricians, and nine linesmen, and Brown's telephone was repaired. Had Brown been a rude man, it would not have been done yet.