The Press., 1884-12-11
GOOD MIR. SPRUE.

to the less eligible places by those who failed to secure the first.
 never had any good luck in gaining a good place in crowd. A tall man, with a high hat, always would go between me and whatever sight was to be seen. If it rained at the circus, the inevitable fat wo- man, with the green umbrella, always bounded my horizon. In the rush to hear popular preacher, have been fortunate enough to secure a camp-staal at sthes-f far 1 end of the aisle, but most commonly have had to put up with 'tstandiug room" in the third or fourth rank, catching here and there a word of the discourse, but not glimmer of the sense.
 This time I fartd as usual Elbowed out at every attempt to gain a better lodg- ment, found myself at last at the extreme end of the queue.
 Hurry up. I say p kept shouting he in brass and blue
 But in spite of all, the line shortened slowly. 1 was getting nervous. The next day was Thanksgiving, which had agreed to spend at Deacon Patchins, between whose daughter Polly and myself certain tender negotiations were then in active progress. To miss the train involved the choice of either giving up my visit or wait ing several hours and arriving just in time to find Polly in the pouts and taking 8 longing look at the cold remains of tbat especial turkey of whose growth in fatness Polly's postscripts had kept me from time to time advised.
 "Hurry up !--less- than a minute till the 1 gate closes p admouishes the blue and brazen official, as at l.st I reached the ticket window.
 'Ticket to Hugginsport," I said, hur- riedly.
 ''Two dollars ?" replied the ticket man, skipping down his stamp on piece of cardboard with the heel of his hand
 'I've lost my pocketbook, exclaimed, withdrawing the hand sent in search of it.
 Here was fix I had started with liberal supply of the one thing needful for Thanksgiving-at least so far as material pleasures go-and here I was without penny to pay my fare, and not half min- ute of spare time.
 looked around helplessly.
 "I perceive your embarrassment, sir," said 8 grave looking gentleman, whose white choker and long skirted coat left no doubt of his calling. "T 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 re- init the rest"
 As he spoke he placed twenty dollar bill in my hand.
 "But, my dear sir" began.
 ''Pray don't waste any time in compli- ments. My name is the Rev. Speedwell Sprue, of Chapeiton, to which address you can remit the trifing sum advanced. I ask no better guaranty than your counte- nance."
 'I accept your favor," I replied "with warmest thanks. My name is Hodiah Trimbley, white goods clerk with Twist & Bobbin, of this city"
 "Come, sir, do you wish the ticket or not ?" demanded the man at the window, with his thumb on the spring that held up the slide.
 threw down the bill He hastily count ed out the change and handed me it and the ticket. The former l passed to the obliging stranger, whose hand had bare ly time to press in parting, as I left him waiting for another train.
 The gateman was in the act of closing the passage and the last bell was ringing as hurried through and jumped aboards with views of human nature considerably elevated by the trusting confidence shown by the Rev. Speedwell Sprue-though I doubted whether it would do to sell white goods on the same credit system.
 From Mr. Sprue and his childlike faith my thoughts gradually turned to Polly Patchid, and I had already laid the ground plans of several fairy cottages, in which, with love and Polly to lend their charm, could have laughed ct the proudest prince in his palace.
 "Dickerville P sang out tho conductor, as the whistle blew and the train slowed up at the first stopping place.
 Two men with lanterns-it was night train-came bustling through the car, scanning the passengers closely.
 "Ha ! this looks like him." said one of them, holding his lantern to my face.
 "Fllls the bill exactly p cried the other, glancing from me at paper in his hand
 Come, sir, he continued, placing 8 hand roughly on my shoulder "If am not mistaken 1t was you who bought the last ticket for this train. |"
 'It was," I answered, looking up aston- ished.
 "Ard paid for it with twenty dollar bill, " he added, receiving the change" T I acknowledged the fact, but with no abatement of surprise.
 'That bill, " he proceeded, "was coun- terfeit, and we've been telegraphed to ar rest you.''
 I endeavored to expostulate, and explain ed as well as my confession would permit the circumstances under which I got the note. '-.
 "A likely story p was the sneering con- ment "there's so many good MT. Sprues you see going about lending money to to- tai strangers. What did you do with the change, now? ?"
 Handed it back to MT. Sprue," I an- swer, d..
 "A clever dodge" said one of the men, las the two exchanged winks.S
 "Come along!' they commanded, and without further ceremony I was hustled from the train, dragged to neighboring calaboose and locked up.
 Next morning I was taken before jolly looking magistrate whose face was guar anty that I should at least have fair hear ing.
 "Well, young gentleman, what have you to say to this ?'' he began.
 was proceeding with my story earnest ly when to my great joy who should enter but my kind friend, the Rev. Speedwell Sprue, in company with a stranger of a Very different appearance.
 "Oh, MT. Sprue, how glad am to see you P I exclaimed. ''A word from you will clear up this unfortunate affair"
 To my great chagrin MT. Sprue, instead of promptly answering my appeal, turned aside and quite ignored my presence. But his companion promptly stepped forward. | ssDo ynu recnoniza this ?" he asked