Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-03-22
Dodging a Quarter.
BY DIR. J.. II. ROBINSON.

6f dis eccentricities are irresistably droll.
Not long since, while on a singing tour
through New Hampshire, the followin
scene occurred:
Mr.. Dodge always stands at the door and
takes the tickets, as the lovers Of fun pass
into tho exhibition room. This is ore of his
queer ~fancies, which no person can persuade
him TO abandon.
While thus engaged 10 the town of Clare.
mont, in the State we have mentioned, his
attention was directed by a respectfully
dressed individual, who appeared to be scan.
ming him with the greatest interest. After
this silent scrutiny had continued for a few
minstes, he stepped up to Mr.. Dodge, with
the air of a man who wishes to say some
thing In the deepest confidence.
Now it so happens that the comic man
wears q sort Of grey overcoat Of ample size,
chow long he has had it, himself Only knows
the collar Of which he draws up about his
face in such a manner, while taking the
tickets, that no portion of his face is wish lie
but the leading feature, that is, his nose
(Which, by the way, is a good sized one,
together with a very small part of his fore
head, and the most comic pair Of eyes eves
put into q man's head. No person not &C.
quain,ed with him would imagine for a
moment that the door tender and the sing
err are one and the same.
Laboring under this mistaken idea, the
stranger addressed Mr. Dodge in a serious
and confidential tone, as if fully under the
impression that if he appealed to the honor
OF the 'ticket.taker,' he should infallibly ar
rive at the truth.
'Mister'-and the tall stranger laid his
hand in a friendly manner upon the singers
arm, and brought his proboscis almost in
juxtaposition with the corresponding organ
upon the door.keeper's CONFERENCE.-The
ter, ia this ERE performance worth hearing
or is II all a farnal humbLg?'
For a moment, Mr.. Dodge allowed his
eyes to journey up and down the tail isute
Of the speaker, rs IL considering whether he
was q man he could trust, and whether he
should run any risk in telling him an non.
est truth. This scrutiny appeared s%a,isfac-
tory on the part Of the singer, and in n tone
equally confidential he whispered in the ear
of the questioner-
IN is all a humbuy!'
The look that accompanied this COM
munication s~ignifed far more than the
words.
'Humpn! | thought so,' replied the
stranger, with a knowing look. Il can al.
most always twig these strolling scam ps
yes, | suw that at a glance replied
Dodge.
Can he sing any'' added the stranger,
with a pa,ronizing air. just as though he
could do a iith in that way himself II he
should condesccnd to try.
'Sing!' reiterated Ossian, drawing the in
tcrogator toward him for the purpose CT giv-
ing emphasis and JUNCTION to his words;
Sing! he can't sing my more than 1 can.
'Sho, you don't say SOP
positive fact. | can go through with his
jimcracts as we i as he can
The varmint. IN have him printed in
the papers, retortcd the now indignant
stranger.
Right" r%cjoined Dodge. you are the
real New Hampshire grit. II the printers
ssk any thing for printing it. ri go half the
expense, for, between you aud |, | shan't
tend door for him much longer
well, they shy he makes some (un,' con.
,inued the questioner, gluncing w~istfully
toward the exhibition room.
yes, and that's about all he does make;
but II you want to 60 in, | shall have to
rake your quarter, nd IL many cope, and |
get 4 good many quarters, | will keep yours
and give il back to you when the perform.
ance is over, and say nothing TO Dodge
about II. Hang round the door a little
while after the concern Is over, and lll man
age to slip II into your hand
On these terms the tall New Hampshire
man went In. congratuiating himself on his
discernment.
When Dodge went In to perform, ant
start the hooks aud eyes and buttons, he
took good care 10 throw back the collar Of
his overcout, aud raise his cap from owe
bis brows to the position a cup should oc
cupy. Tho discerning HAMPSHIRE man die
not recognize the door keeper in the conf,
singer. Everybody there that right laughed
TO their hearts content, but none seemed tc
enjoy II better than tho stranger, whose
tremendous cachinas rose far above the dir
OF open throa,s aud the bursting Of dresses
and copts. Dodge observed that he los
more buttons than any other man.
When the l~augling-mutch was over, tht
tall mortal form of tho stranger was seer
lettering about the door, in tho expectation
OF seeing the man who took the quarter
But he was not there, and after looking
shout him for some time, no disappeared.
The next day, Mr.. DodS went to the
Yailroed Ia. take tho cara Tor --- The
arst man he saw at tho depot was his lrie nd
oil the nigh, before. Tho singer had his
collar up, and his visor down before the
stranger was aware Of His propinqnity. Mr..
Dodge walked by him in a way to attract
bis attention. In a moment tho tall Hamp.
shire man was beside him.
Il didn't see YOU last night when thelper.
Torrance was over, door keeper no said.
NO, I was no, there. went to the hotel
when | had got oil the tickets, but there
was q great many In. and ! kept a quarter
for you, and didn't let Dodge know my thing
shout Il. Here Il is.'
well, l don't know as I ought to take II,
Wouldn't II be kinder mean?' replied the