| Scene: Telegraph office in Houston. |
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Enter handsome black velour cape, trimmed with jet and braid, with Tibetan fur collar, all enclosing lovely young lady.
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| Young lady | Oh, I want to send a telegram at once, if you please. Give me about six blanks, please. (Writes about ten minutes.) How much will this amount to, please? |
| Clerk | (counting words) Sixteen dollars and ninety-five cents, ma’am. |
| Young lady | Goodness gracious! I’ve only thirty cents with me. Suspiciously. How is it you charge so much, when the post-office only requires two cents? |
| Clerk | We claim to deliver messages quicker than the post-office, ma’am. You can send ten words to Waco for twenty-five cents. |
| Young lady | Give me another blank, please: I guess that will be enough. (After five minutes’ hard work she produces the following: “Ring was awfully lovely. Come down as soon as you can. Mamie.”) |
| Clerk | This contains eleven words. That will be thirty cents. |
| Young lady | Oh, gracious! I wanted that nickel to buy gum with. |
| Clerk | Let’s see. You might strike out, “awfully,” and that will make it all right. |
| Young lady | Indeed I shan’t. You ought to see that ring. I’ll give you the thirty cents. |
| Clerk | To whom is this to be sent? |
| Young lady | It seems to me you are rather inquisitive, sir. |
| Clerk | (wearily) I assure you there is no personal interest expressed in the question. We have to know the name and address in order to send the message. |
| Young lady | Oh, yes. I didn’t think of that. (She writes the name and address, pays the thirty cents and departs. Twenty minutes later she returns, out of breath.) |
| Young lady | Oh, I forgot something. Have you sent it off yet? |
| Clerk | Yes, ten minutes ago. |
| Young lady | Oh, I’m so sorry. It isn’t the way I wanted it at all. Can’t you telegraph and have it changed for me? |
| Clerk | Is it anything important? |
| Young lady | Yes: I wanted to underscore the words “awfully lovely.” Will you have that attended to at once? |
| Clerk | Certainly, and we have some real nice violet extract; would you like a few drops on your telegram? |
| Young lady | Oh, yes: so kind of you. I expect to send all my telegrams through your office, you have been so accommodating. Good morning. |