The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13
1T WAS NOT DEAR JAMES.
Distressing Experience of o Seductive Drum
mer on q Western Railway.


mer on q Western Railway.
New York Sun.
have friend who is a commercial traveller,
and on his return from a trip he always comes
up to see me, and enlivens my existence by g re-
count of his experiences on the road
WELL Charlie, anything newi' said l., as
Charley tilted my best chair against the freshly
papered wall and pulled vigorously at one OF my
stogas.
Not much" said he I'm sick of the road:
Too much of dogs life. I'm going to quit anc
settle down.
expected this. Charley has been going to
quit during the four years / have known him.
but he never quits, and, in common with many
more drummers, will shake the hand OF many a
hotel clerk yet before he finally settles down.
Whats the matter, trade dull" 1 asked, as
Charley mechanically looked around for the bell
button You're not in hotel, my dear Tel
low and drew forth bottle and glasses from
my cupboard.
''Well, here's luck said Charley as he lifted
his glass to the light. mo. 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 q
man into sample room. You don't kno"
Billy Jackson, do you? Travels for Chicago
house. Always registers with toothpick.'
replied that hadn't that pleasure.
Pleasure! Humph! 1t would afford me the
most unbounded pleasure to get even with him
over in Illinois
81 was going to bingham on the Vandalia.
got on at Casey, and the first fellow saw was
Billy. You're just the fellow was looking for,
said ne; There's pretty girl in the front car
and think you can get acquainted if you work
the thing right. I've tried it myself, but didnt
seem to catch on
1--we got quite reputation among the boys in
this direction, so l easily swallowed all Billy
said, and followed him into the smoker.
thought it mighty strange that a girl should be
in the smoker, but there she was, sure enough,
and you eau bet she was a daisy. She was seated
by herself when / entered, near two gentlemen.
l thought they eyed me rather more than was
necessary. However. l didn't say word. bu,
quietly seated myself opposite the dame and
commenced tactics
After had looked at her once or twice she
began to smile Great Scott, said 1 to myself.
this is easier than thought for. So | smiled
back. This was ali the girl wanted. She began
to move nearer to me. Then she nodded her
head and smiled several times. In all my eX
perience never had girl act that way toward
me in such short time, and / saw there was
something wrong, although for the life of me
couldn't think what ii was l wasn't going tc
back out. however so smiled at her again, and
this time she came over and sat down beside
me- Then she called me her dear James, and
threw her arms around my neck.
AT this juncture one of the gentlemen had
noticed came up and explained. He was one of
the keepers in asylum along the road some
where and was in charge of the girl, who had
game crazy love affair She imagined
every fellow who took any notice of her to be
her dear James.
This was all wanted to know. and started
for the door. but it wasn't any use. The girl
hung on, and got more excited every minute.
in the mean time one or two of the boys had
gone through the train, and when they came
back they brought with them quite a number
of interested spectators The keeper advised
me to humor her. and l did, / humored
her all l could. Every time | tried to get away
she would get violent. and didn't like to excite
her more than could help. as saw was max
ing my audience uncomfortable. Such remarks
as Juliet has found her Romeo and the like,
were frequently passed around, and was be-
ginning to think it would be great relief to
meet train going the other way on the same
track, when we drew up at bingham.
''Then made break, and got off the train.
The last thing l heard as the train pulled out
was Come back to me, dear james, ! haven't
heard much else since. Where was Billyl Oh,
he got off at Teutopolis."