The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-21
An Entertaining Companion.

Once during tour in the Western
c+otos writes Mr.. Florence. the actor, an
ON incident occurred in which L rather
think / PLAYED the victim. We we're en-
ro,ta from Cleveland 70 Cincinnati, an
a;gbt or ten hour journey. After seeingmy
wife comfortably seated, | walked for
ward to the smoking-car, and, taking the
onlv unoccupied place, pulled out my
s;gor-case and offered cigar to my next
neiobbor He was about 60 years Of
age gentlemanly in appearance, and OF a
Somewhat reserved and bashful mein.
He gracefully accepted the cigar, and in
few minutes we were engaged IN con
versatiOn.
'.Arc Won going far west ?" Tenquired.
s'Afcrclv so far as Columbus. Col
nmbus. | may explain, Is the Capital of
Ohio.) "And you, sir?" he added, inter
negatively.
Il am journcying toward Cincinnati.
| am a theatrical man, and play there to-
morrow night" | was young man
then, and fond of avowing my probes
sion.
"Oh, indeed! Your face seemed famiI-
lar to me as You entered the car. | am
confident we have met before.
Il have acted in almost every State in
the Union" said ], half patronizing.
Mrs Florence and 1 are pretty general
" known throughout the northwest. "
BLESS me.' said the stranger, IN sur
prise, Il have seen you act many times,
sir, and the recollection of Mrs. Flor
ence's Yankee Girl, with her quaint
songs, IL still fresh in my memory.
''Do you propose remaining long IN
Columhus?"
YES, for seven years, replied my
companion.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two.
At length my attention was attracted to
a little red-faced man. with small, sharp
eyes. who sat Immediately opposite MS,
and amused himself 10y sucking the knob
of a large walking-stick, which he car
RED caressingly in his hand He had
more than once glanced mt me III know
ing manner, and now and then given n
sly wink and shake of the head at me.
as much as to say, ''Ah, old fellow, 1
know you, too.
These attentions were so marked that
finally asked my companion if he had
noticed them.
That man acts like lunatic, said L,
soto roce.
"A poorhalf-witted fellow, possibly, "
replied my fellow traveller. In your
travels through the country, however,
Mr. Florence, you must have often met
such strange characters.
We had now reached Crestline, the
dinner station, and, after thanking the
stranger for the agreeable way IN which
he had enabled me to pass the journey
up to this point, | asked him If he would
Join Mrs. Florence and myself at dinner.
This produced an extraordinary series of
grimaces and winks from the red-faced
party aforesaid The invitation 10 din
ner was politely declined
The repast over, our train sped on to-
ward Cincinnati ! told my wife that III
the smoking-car l had met a most en-
Pertaining gentleman, who was well post
cd in theatricals, and was on his way 10
Columbus. She suggested that l should
bring him into our car, and present him
b. her. I returned to the smoklng-car
and proposed that the gentleman should
accompany me to see Mrs. Florence
The proposal made the red-faced man
undergo a species of spasmodic convul-
sions. which set the occupants of the
car into roars of laughter,
''No, I thank You" said my friend,
Il feel obliged to you for the courtesy,
but 1 prefer the smoking-car. Have you
another cigar q
Eyes, said I, producing another Par
taga.
1 again sat by his side, and once moro
our conversation began and we became
quite fratcrnal We talked about thea
tres and theatricals, and then averted to
political economy. the state of the coun-
try. finance and commerce In turn, our
intimacy evidently affording intense
amusement To the foxed-eyed party near
us.
Finally the thrill sound of the whistle
and the entrance of the conductor indI-
Gated that we had arrived at Columbus,
and the train soon stopped at the sta
ton.
Come" said the red-faced individual,
now rising from his seat and tapping my
companion on the shoulder, this Is
your station, old mau.
Ny friend rose with some difficulty,
dragging his hitherto concealed feet from
under the seat, when for the first time |
discovered that he was shackled, aud
was a prisoner in charge of the Sheriff,
going for seven years to the State Prison
at Columbus.