Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-09-14
WELL PLAYED.

WELL PLAYED.
AS stood at my door looking for a
passing cab, 1 could not help wishing
that had taken my wife's advice, and
gone to Downley by an earlier train
The weather had grown worse instead
of better. and not only did the wind
blow as boisterously as it had done all
day, but its gusts now drove before them
heavy rain which would have wetted
one through in very few minutes. AS
rule, disengaged cabs crawling slowly
past my house were a nuisance, and
now 1 had waited full quarter of an
hour without seeing one, and l knew
that the margin beyond the number of
minutes absolutely necessary for getting
to the station was growing dangerously
narrow. There was howl!-tbere was
deluge! could never walk to the
station in this. All! there was one. In
answer to the mans hail, 1 dashed thrO'
my little garden, and in a few seconds
was inside four-wheeler.
"Great Southern, sir?" said the man,
as he stood at the door, the rain pouring
from his Oil-skin in streams. "An un-
common nasty night, sir"
So it was, and 80 l should fancy the
poor fellow found it; for when he open
ed the door for me to alight at the sta
tion. a complete ring of water formed
where he stood. We we're in pretty
good time after all, and got my ticket
and was seated comfortably ia the car
riage for some minutes before the time
of starting. There were very few pas
sengers in any of the carriages, and in
the one by which / travelled. there we're
but two or three, and l was the only oc-
cupant of my compartment. The last
bell had rung, the whistle had sounded,
the premonitOry scream from the engine
had been given, and then, of course, had
followed the first tug, when 1 heard a
voice shout:
This way, sir, this way"
A guard tore along the platform, fol-
lowed by a belated passenger; my door
was unlocked, and the stranger jumped
painting in, the door slammed to, a shill-
ing changed hands rapidly and we swept
from the station.
"By Jove," exclaimed the newcomer,
wiping his forehead As he spoke, "by
Joye, that was close thing"
VERY" l assehted, "and the last train,
too"
"The last train, certainly" said my
companion, al believe there is no way
whatever of getting to Downley II you
miss this train"
There is none" replied, (which is
very incOnvenient."
"Oh, excessively so," returned he.
"Have you any objection?"
OF course, as he said this, he exhibit
ed his cigar-case, and finding had no
objection, he pressed cigar upon me,
which, may remark. was one of the
very best l ever. smoked, he reclined
with his eyes closed, as though in deep
thought.
He was tall, good-lOOking man, with
fine beard and mustache. very black and
full. But 1 could not help thinking that
his head was little too much like q
head from hair dresser's window, and
his attire was trihe too much like a
picture from fashion book. Somehow,
everything was too new and glossy to
please me entirely, and his jewelry was
also too profuse, but it could not be de-
MED that his cigar was capital one.
sank into revere as deep as his
own; indeed, l rather suspect l had be-
gun to dOZe, when l was reused by the
stopping of the train. My companion
reused himself. too. | was on the side
nearer the platform and looked out.
"a rough night still, isn't it?' he said.
at is, indeed" l replied. Just put
your head out and try how the wind is
blowing"
mo. thank you,' he returned, with
a smile; II will take your word for it."
laughed in reply, and was about to
close the window when the guard looked
in. The official passed on, but returned
in few seconds and stared somewhat
curiously, fancied, into the carriage.
The scream and tug came again, and on
we went.
"That fellow had good stare at you,"
said my companion.
"Well, fancied he looked chiefly at
you," said "but the fact was have no
doubt, he smelt Il powerful Odor of to-
baccO, and he wished US to see that he
did"
al shouldn't wonder" said the strang-
or, throwing himself back with the Ian
guild air Of one who takes no interest in
conversation. "Do We stop again be-
fore we arrive at the Downley branch ?"
"No," 1 replied.
"Very good, then" he continued; "let
us make ourselves comfortable"
And by way of doing this he unlocked
a black valise he had with him and drew
out couple Of bottles of champagne,
which proved as good in quality as his
cigars. He next produced contrivances
for glasses, which shut up in q mere
ring. With these appliances we very
merrily journeyed over the twelve miles
which remained Of the main line, when
"Downley Junction" was shouted now,
and as soon as we came to a stand our
carriage was detached from the train.
"All tickets ready. il you please" said
the collector. at thc door.
AS We handed our pieces of pasteboard
10 the man, the same guard who had