The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-08-18
The Engaged Seat Racket. =

1t vas a day when everybody was
tired and anxious to sit down that o
large man, carrying q gripsack,
bearded an eastern railroad train,
and, after walking through several
crowded ears, finally found the one
vacant seat, and, seating himself,
placed his bag on the cushion at his
side. Just as the train was about to
start another man entered and made
the same journey in search of seat.
AS he stopped inqulringly before
the large man the latter said: "This
seat is engaged, sir. A man just
stepped out, but will return IN a
moment; he left his baggage here as
claim TO the seat"
Well" said the second traveller,
frankly, "I'm pretty tired, and if
you don't object I'll just sit down
here and hold his bag for him till
lie returns" and without ceremony
this he proceeded to do. Then the
large man, who was bound for
Lynn, earnestly prayed within the
Utmost chambers of his little heart
that his companion might get off at
SomerYille, or Everett, or Chelsea
anywhere but Lynn or station be
yond. And the tired man thanked
his stars for even q moments rest,
expecting every second to be ousted
! by the owner Of the grlpsack.
The train moved out from the
station. In vain did the large man
try to read the strangers ticket to
see what his destination was.
S0meryille was reached, but the
stranger sat quietly in bis place, and
the large man grew nervous. The
train stopped at Everett, and still
the stranger gazed peacefully, ahead,
never budging, and the large man
began to persplre. Then came
Chelsea, but the stranger still held
fast to the bag, and never offered to
stir. The agony of the large man
was simply frightful, but he saw
that he could do nothing but grin
and bear it, and get out of the fix as
best he could. But the stranger had
by this time fully grasped the situa-
ton, and, though thankful for his
seat, determined to punish the I'M
accommodating pig for his selfish
| deception. So, when Lynn was
reached, the large man put
forth his hand for his bag, but
the stranger drew back the same
with an expression of surprise, say
| ing: 81 beg your pardon, sir, bat
this is not your baggage"
"But it isn't yours, stammered
the owner blushing.
ITO be sure; but [ propose to see
| it returned to the proper person.
Here, conductor, here's a man who
wants to run off with this baggage
that doesn't belong to him. Some.
body put it in the seat to secure a
place, and evidently got left at Bos-
ton, for he hasn't claimed it, and
now this man ants to run away
with If" and he gave the conductor
a wink, and. as that official knew
the stranger personally. he under
stood the wink, and promptly re-
Piled
"The only thing to DO is to return
the bag to BostJn, and store it
among the unclaimed baggage"
But" expostulated the large man
tHold on, there" said the conduc-
| tor, showing a police badge; "none
of this. What kind of a man was it
who left the bag?"
And then the stranger and the
conductor and one Or two sympa,
thiZing passengers combined to con-
| fuse the large man, and he, hating
m oNOfpGC RI hic TYT0uichDocS op1
not knowing what to do, precipi-
lately fed, amid the frowns and
signs of the observers at his wick
edness. But the stranger, with a
happy, contented smile, had the bag
returned to Boston, where the large
man had to come next day and iden-
tify it.
The moral to this true tale is
ObYious.-bostOn Globe.