"Hold on here, my friends," cried Winters, "this is no joke. I say this is not a joke. Why, my friends, these here papers are Oregonians, and I have not seen a copy of the Oregonian for nigh onto 15 years. Yes, my friends, I appreciate all your presents, but these Oregonians are more precious than anything else." It therefore was apparent that Jim Winters showed where his heart was, for "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Illustration: End of Chapter 20. INADEQUATE CUSPIDORS. The Chicago office of the Western Union Telegraph Company (in 1877) had been noted for the manliness of its employes, who realized that they were men and women, and for this reason entitled to the consideration of the local as well as the general officials. It became necessary, sometimes, to have this fact impressed on the minds of those immediately in charge, who relegated to themselves authority not vested in them. It was considered the wise thing to hire a hall, and there to meet once a week to discuss the situation, and to determine upon the most businesslike manner of procedure to meet the exigencies of any case in hand. Platt's hall, on the south side, was selected for this purpose, and every Sunday, a meeting was held, to discuss the complaints and grievances of the employes assembled. Wm. J. Lloyd was the presiding officer on these occasions, and he was a glorious worker in the cause. Much good resulted from this "getting together" and it was found to be a simple matter to adjust the grievances, once they were uncovered and aired. There was present at one of these meetings, B. E. Sunny, who was night manager for the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company. This company never had any trouble with their employes, and if one were disposed to do half-way right, he would not be censured or reprimanded by his superiors, and the office was very pleasant to work in. "I notice we have Mr. Sunny, of the A. & P. with us today," remarked President Lloyd. "We would like to hear from him, and if he has any grievance against his company, we would like to have him state the nature of it and we promise to try and adjust the difficulty." Mr. Sunny protested that he came to attend the meeting merely as an on-looker, and knew of nothing that he could enter a complaint against. The president demurred at this statement, saying he could not conceive of such an earthly paradise as a telegraph office where all were satisfied and where there were no grievances.