Montgomery County sentinel., 1874-02-27

UNDER THE SEAT.
An Unexpected Railroad Adventure.

Smoking car, sir ?" asked the polite
porter, as he bore my rugs and minor
packages along the platform. | said yes,
and he made me comfortable, and receiy-
cd his dime. Then the guard came to
look after my well-being, but got moth
ing more than innocent gratitude, which
was perhaps all he desired / have no
doubt that did him injustice in attribu-
ting his efforts to induce fat old GER
tlenan with cough--a lean old gentle
man who was snaffy, and midde-aged
gentleman cnveloped in wraps, the lower
part of whose face was covered up like a
female Turks, an evident window-shut-
ter--to enter my car in order to spite me
Duty to his employers alone made him
cndeayor to fill up but the anxiety to
get as much room as possible for my mo-
ney was strong within me, and stirred
uncharitable suspicious.
You may lead your horse to the water
or an anti-nicotinan old gentleman to a
smoking-car, but you can't make him
get in; and when each in turn put his
head into my compartment, he jibbcd.
for some late occupants Of it had been
cigar, not pipe smokers, and it was rath-
er strong. So | was apparently left alone
with all the comic wceklics, and Il mo-
dern poem.
The doors were banged to, the engine
whistled, the train began to move. It
would not stop again till we got to Pc
/ for 7 r. 10 H.
disturbed so far There were several
soats, and could occupy as many Of
them as the limited number Of members
permitted. almost wished myself an
Octopus, to take full advantage Of the
situation Calming down, ] hung up my
hat, put on gaudy piece of nccdle-work
won in bazaar rattle, lit my pipe, cut
ny papers, and began to enjoy myself.
sat in the left-hand corner, with my
back to the engine, absorbed in big
lawsuit. II is great fun to read a cross
examination, and watch how clever
lawyer will make an honest man pcrjure
himself 1T reads almost like crime,
| remarked aloud; but then it is an hon
orable. lawful and beneficial crime Sol. !.
diers kill peoples bodies. lawyers kill
peoples repntations-all for the good Of
society in the long run
While | was utterng the word "run"
my ankles were grasped suddenly and
firmly, then before could recover from
the shock they were jcrked backward un
der the seat with such force that | was
thrown forward sprawling. | tried to
rise. but my right wrist was seized, and
the arm twisted till | was helpless, and
presently found myself on the floor of
the car, face downward, a sharp knee
being scientifically pressed into the small
Of my back, both arms fixed behind me.
Ny elbows were tied together, and then
the knee was removed, and my ankles
we're secured. During the latter opera
ton | kicked and struggled.
''Hum p said deliberate voice, "that
will be awkward. Let's see; alb, these
will do"
These were my sticks and umbrella,
which some one proceeded to apply as
splints to the backs of my legs, using
the straps which had kept them in bun
die to fix them at the ankle and above
he knee. When he had done was as
helpless as a trussed turkey.
Then | was turned over carefully and
lenderly, and for the first time saw my
assailant.
He was gentlemanly looking man,
we'll dressed in black coat and waisteoat,
gray trowsers and neckcloth. His bair
aad whslers were just turning grizzly,
his chin and upper lip we're clean shaved.
His forehead was high, his eyes promi-
neat and fixed in their expression. bis
nose aquilinc, his mouth slit. He was
of middle height, spare but wiry; indeed
his muscles must have been unexception-
ally elastic and feline--for you would
never have thought, to look at bin, that
be could stow himself away under the
seato a railway ear SO completely.
He contemplated fne with his chin in