The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-10-04
AN ENGAGED SEAT.
The Travelling Hog Properly Rch Ikrd

1t was day when everybody was tired
and anxious to sit down that large
man, carrying q gripsack, boarded an
Eastern railroad train, and after walk
ing through several crowded cars, finally
found the one vacant seat. Seating
himself, he placed his bag on the
cushion ut his side. Just rs tho train
was about to start another man entered
and mado the same journey In search of
a seat. AS he stopped inquiring before
the large man the latter said:
This seat is engaged, sir; q man just
stepped out, but will return in mo-
ment; he left his baggage here rs claim
to the seat" "a. - g. .
"Well," said tho second traveller,
frankly. "1'm pretty tired, and if Won
don't object I'll cit down here and hold
his bag for him till he returns"
And without further ceremony this he
proceeded to do. Then the large man,
who was bound for Lynn, earnestly
prayed within the inmost chambers OF his
little heart that his companion might
get off ut Somcrvillc, or Everett or ClIel-
sea-anywhcrc but Lyna or q station
beyond. And the tired man thanked
his stars for even moments rest, ex-
pecting every second to be ousted by
the owner of the gripsack.
The train moved out from the sta
ton. In vain did the large man try to
read the strangers ticket to SEQ what his
destination was. Somcrvilc was reached,
but the stranger sat quietly in his place,
| and the largo man grew nervous. The
train stopped ut Everett. and still the
stranger gazcd peacefully ahead, never
budging, and the large man began to
pcrspire. Then camo 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 he could do nothing but grin and
bear it, and get ort of the fix rs best he
could. But the stranger had by this
time fully graspcd the situation, and
though thankful for the seat, de-
tcrmincd to punish the unaccommodat-
ing pig for his selfish deception. So,
when Lynn was reached, the largo man
put forth his hand for the bag, but tho
stranger drew back tho same with an
expression of surprise, saying, II beg
your pardon, sir, but this is not your
baggage"
"But it isn't yours, stammerod tho
owner Flushing.
"To be sure but purpose to see it
returned to the proper person. Here,
conductor, here's q man who wants to
ruin off with this baggage that doesn't
belong to him. Somebody put it in the
scat to Eccurc place, and evidently got
left at Boston. for he hasn't claimed it.,
and now this man wants to run away
with it, and he gave the conductor n
wink, and as that official knew the
stranger personally, he understood tho
wink, and promptly replied:
"Thc only thing to do is to return tie
bag to Boston, and store it among the
unclaimed baggage"
"But," cXpostulated the large man.
"Hold on there" said the conductor,
showing n police badge, "none of this.
What kind of man was it who left the
bag?"
And then tho stranger and the con.
ductor and one or two sympnthlzing pas,
scngcrs combined to confuse the large
man, and he, hating to confess to his
niggishness, and knowing not what tt
do, prccipitately fled amid the frowns
and sighs Of the observers ut his wicked
ness. But the stranger, with happy
contented smile, had the bag returned tt
Boston, where the largo man had t,
come next day, and identify L. TIL,
moral Of this true tale is Obvious
ton Globe.