The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-12-12
IT WAS NOT DEAR JAMES.
DISTRESSING EXPERIENCE OF A sEDUc-
TIVE DRUMMER ON A WESTERN
nAIIWAX

TIVE DRUMMER ON WESTERN
RAILWAY.
have friend who is commercial
traveller, and on his return from a trip
he always comes up to see me, and en-
liven my existence by a recount of his
experiences on the road.
''Well, Charley, anything newP" said
], as Charley tilted back my best chair
against the freshly papered wall and
puffed vigorously at one of my stogas.
''Not much," said he, "I'm sick OF
the road Too much of dogs life.
Pm going to quit and settle down.
/ expected this. Charley has been
going to quit during the four years l
have known him, but he never quits,
and, in common with many more drum
mers, will shake the hand Of many
hotel clerk yet before he finally settles
down.
"What's the matter, trade dull?" /
asked as Charley mechanically looked
around for the bell button. you're
not in hotel, my dear fellow" and l
drew forth bottle and glasses from my
cupboard.
"Well, here's LUCK" said Charley, as
he lifted his glass to the light. "No,
trades pretty fair, but it isn't as it used
to be. Why, when / first went on the
road there was some fun in it. only
carried one trunk, and could generally
get the trade TO look at my samples.
Now carry three, and it's the hardest
kind of work to get man into sample
room. You don't know Billy jackson,
do you? Travels for Chicago house.
Always registers with a toothpick."
replied that hadn't that pleasure.
pleasure! Humph! 1t would afford
me the most unbounded pleasure to get
even with him for little trick he played
on me the other day over in Illinois.
II was going to Effingham on the
Vandalia. / got on at Casey, and the
first fellow 1 saw was Billy. You're
just the fellow was looking for said
he. There's pretty girl in the front
car, and think you can get acquainted
if you work the thing right. I've tried
1t myself, but didn't seem to catch on.
GIVE got quite reputation among
the boys in this direction, so easily
swallowed all Billy said, and followed
him into the smoker. l thought il
mighty strange that girl should be in
the smoker, but there she was, sure
enough, and you can bet she was daisy
She was seated by herself when entered
near two gentlemen. l thought they
eyed me rather more than was neces
sary. However, | didn't say word, bu
quietly seated myself opposite the dame
and commenced tactics.
"After l had looked at her once Of
twice she began to smile. Great Scott,
said | to myself, this is easier than
thought for So l smiled back. Thi:
was all the girl wanted. She began tC
move nearer to me. Then she nodded
her head and smiled several times. II
all my experience l never had girl ac
tint way toward me III such short time
and l saw there was something wrong
although for the life of me l couldn'
imagine what it was. i wasn't going t
back out, however, SO | smiled at he
| In, nd ~ cl,a -,
sat down beside me. Then she callet
me her dear James, and threw her arm
around my neck.
cat this juncture one of the gentle
men l had noticed came up and cX
planned. He was one of the keepers il
an asylum along the road somewhere
and was in charge of the girl, who hat
gone crazy over love affair Sh
imagined every fellow who took an
, notice of her to be her dear James.
"This was all wanted to know, am
started for the door, but it wasn't an
use. The girl hung on, and got NOR
and more excited every minute.
"In the mean time one or two of tn
boys had gone through the train, an
Q when they came back they brought witt
: them quite "a number of interested spec
tators. The keeper advised me to hu
!. mor her, and l did. l humored all
could. Every time | tried to get ava
she would get violent, and didn't lik
to excite her more than could help, a
] saw was making my audience IN
comfortable. Such remarks as Julie
has found her Romeo and the like wer
frequently passed around, and was bC
ginning to think it would be great r,
lief to meet a train going the same wa
when we drew up at Eflingham.
"Then made break, and got o
, the train. The last thing heard as III
train pulled out, was: Come back I
me, dear Jamesp l haven't hear
much else since. Where was Billy? OF
he got off at Tentopolis."