Mr. Warold flushed.  He put his hand opposite to Flannery’s hand on the package and pushed with an equal firmness.

“I offer this package for shipment,” he said with a trace of anger beginning to show in his voice.  “I offer it to you just as it is; spelled as it is; and without change or anything else.  This express company is a common carrier, under the Interstate Commerce Law, and it cannot refuse to take this package, spelling or no spelling.  That is the law!”

“I have no quarrel with th’ intercommerce state law, Mr. Warold, sir,” said Flannery with dignity, “and ‘tis none of my business, sir.  But th’ spellin’ of th’ English language is, for ’t is my duty by gineral order number sivin hunderd and noineteen t’ spell three hundred worrds with th’ proper simplification, and spell thim I will, and so will all that does business with Mike Flannery from sivin A.M. till nine P.M.  Worrds that is not in th’ three hunderd ye may spell as ye please, Mr. Warold, for there be no rule agin it, and in conversation or correspondince with Mike Flannery, before th’ hour av sivin and after th’ hour av nine, ye may spell as ye please, and I will do th’ same, for thin I am off duty; but durin’ th’ office hours th’ whole dang list from ‘abridgment’ t’ ‘wrapt’ must be spelled accordin’ t’ orders.  Yis, sir, ‘polyp’ and ‘dactyl’ and th’ whole rist av thim.  So tek th’ package an’ change th’ address like a good man.”

Mr. Warold glared at Flannery, and then turned to the door.  He took one or two stiff strides, and then turned back.  Anger was well enough as a luxury, but the Phoenix Sulphur Company had telegraphed for the tags, and business was a necessity.  The tags must go out by the first train.  He leaned over the counter and smiled at Flannery.  Flannery glared back.

“See here, now, Flannery,” he said gently, “you don’t want to get into trouble with the United States Government, do you?  And maybe get yourself and your president and every employee and officer of your company in jail for no one knows how long, do you?  Well, then, just telegraph to your president and ask him whether he makes an exception in favour of the old spelling of names of companies, will you?  That will do no harm.  Tell him a package is offered, and tell him the address, and let him decide.”

Flannery considered a moment and then took his telegraph pad.

“President Interurban, Franklin,” he wrote, “Shall i take pakag for Phoenix Sulphur Company, Armourdale.  Anser quick.  Westcote.”

He ran across the street with it and came back.  The head office had a direct wire, and the answer came a minute after Flannery reached the waiting Mr. Warold.

“Westcote.  Give fuller particulars.  Name consignor.  Contents.  Objection to receiving. (Signed) Franklin.”

Flannery showed the message to Mr. Warold, and then took up his pen again.

“President Interurban, Franklin,” he wrote, “Consinor Westcote tag company, tags in it. o is in phenix and ph in sulfur and u in armordale.  Westcote.”