Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-11-25
Good MIR. Sprue.
Judge Clark.l

cts, gentlemen :" shouted a man in blue
coat and brass buttons, with the CON-
pany's badge on his coat.
There was general scramble for the
head of the line, and a hurried falling
back to less eligible places by those who
failed to secure the first.
l never had any luck in gaining a
good place in crowd. A tall man,
with a high hat, always would 60 in
between me and whatever sight was to
be seen. If 1t rained at the circus, the
inevitable fat woman, with the green
umbrella, always bounded my horizon.
In the rush to hear popular preacher,
have been fortunate enough to secure
a camp stool at the far cnd of the aisle,
but most commonly have had to put up
with "standIng roop" in the third or
fourth rank, catching here and there a
word of the'discourse, but not a glim-
mer of the sense.
This time | Jared as usual. Elbowed
out at every attempt to gain better
| lodgment, found myself ut last at the
extreme end of the queue.
"Hurry up, say!" kept shouting he
In brass and blue.
But in spite of all the line shortened
slowly. was getting nervous. The
next day was Thanksgiving, which had
agreed to spend at Deacon Patchin's,
between whose daughter Polly and my
self certain tender negotiations were
then in active progress. TO miss the
train involved the choice of either Civ
ing up my visit or waiting several hours
and arriving just IN time to find Polly
in the pouts and take longing lUok at
the cold remains of that especial turkey
of whose growth in fairness Polly's post
script had Kept me from time to time
| advised.
"Hurry up!-less than a minute till
the gate closes !" admonished the blue
and brazen Official as at last | reached
the ticket window.
s.'rieket to Hugginsport," said hur
riedly. -.-,.
aTwo dollars" replied the ticket
man slapping down his stamp on piece
of cardboard with the heel of his hand.
"I've lost my pocketbook," | ex-
claimed, withdrawing the hand sent IN
search Of it.
Here was fixI l had started with a
| liberal supply OF the one thing needful
for Thanksgiying-at least, so far as
material pleasures gO-and here l was
without penny to pay my fare, and
not half minute of spare time.
looked around helplessly.
81 perceive your embarrassment SIR"
said grave looking gentleman, whose
white choker and lOng-skirted coat left
no doubt of his calling-"I perceive
your embarrassment, sir, and shall be
happy to relieve you of it. Get your
ticket out of this; you can hand me the
change and remit the rest"
As he spoke he placed twenty dol
lar bill in my hand.
"But, nv dear SIR began.
"Pray don't waste time I'm compli-
ments. My name is Rev. Speedwell
Sprue, of Chapelton, to which address
you can remit the trifiing sum advanced.
I ask no better guaranty than your
countenance."
81 accept your favor" 1 replied.
"with warmest thanks. My name is
Hodiah Trimhly, white goods clerk with
Twist g. Bobbin, of this city,"
"COme, sir, do you wish the ticket or
not?" demanded the man at the WIN
dow, with his thumb on the spring that
held up the slide.
1 threw down the bill. lie hastily
counted out the change and handed
me it and the ticket. The former |
passed to the obiiging stranger, whose
hand had barely time to press in part
ing, as left him waiting for another
train.
The gate-man was In the act of
closing the passage and the last bell was
ringing as l hurried through and
jumped aboard, with views OF human
nature considerably elevated by the
trusting confidence shown by Rev.
Speedwell Sprue-though 1 doubted
whether it would do to sell white goods
on the same credit system.
From Mr.. Sprue and his ehildlike
faith my thoughts gradually turned to
Polly Patchin, and | had already laid
the ground plan of several fairy cot
tages, in which, with love and Polly to
lend their charm, could have laughed
at the proudest prince in his palace.
"Dickeryille!" sang out the conduo-
tor, as the whistle blew and the train
slowed up at the first stopping place.
Two men with lanterns-it was q
night train-came bustling through the
car, scanning the passengers closely.
''Hai this looks like him." said one
of them, holding his lantern to my
face.
"Fills the bill exactly!'' cried The
other, glancing from me at paper in
his hand.
"Come, sir" he continued, placing a
hand roughly on my shoulder. "If
I'm not mistaken it was you who bought
the last ticket for this train.''
s1t was" l answered, looking up
astonished.
.'And paid for 1t with twenty-dol-
lar bili," he added, 'sreceiving the
change"
I acknowledged the fact, but with no
abatement of surprise.
s'rhat bill," he proceeded, "was a
counterfeit, and we've been telegraphed
to arrest you."
endeavored to expostulate, and ex-
plained, as well as my confusion would
permit, the circumstances under which
| got the note.
! "a likely story." was the sneering
comment; ''there's so many good Mr..
Sprues you see going about lending
money to total stangers. What did
you do with the change, now?''
"Handed it back to Mr.. Spruce"
answered.
ga clever dodge" said one of the
men, as the two exchanged winks.
UCome alongp they commanded, and
|. without further ceremony / was hustled
from the train, dragged to neighbor.
ing calaboose and locked up.
4 Next morning 1 was taken before ,
/ jolly looking magistrate whose face wa
q guaranty that / should at least have |
Itair hearing.