The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-22
TT WAS O DEAR JAMES.

IT WAS NOT DEAIt JAMES,
Distressing Experience of . sedussaSo
Drummer on ~ western Railway.
have q friend who is a commerclai
traveller, and on his return fromauriP
he always ome up to see me- ana en-
livens my existence by asrecount oihls
experiences On the road.
"NYell, Charley, anything new SAD
I, as Charley tilted my best char
against the freshly papered wall ana
pulled vigorously at one OF my sto'
gas.
Not much" said he. "Tm sick OF
the road. Too much OF n dogs lie.
I'm going to quit and settle down.
I expected this. Charley has been
going to quit during the four years !
have known him, but he never ours,
and, in common with many
drummers, will shake the hand
of many q hotel clerk yet be-
fore he finally settles down.
"NNhat's the matter, trade dull!' l
asked, as Charley mechanically looked
around for the bell button. you're
not in a hotel, my dear fellow" and l
drew forth a 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 1t
used to be. Why, when first went
on the road there was some iun IN
it. | only carried II trunk, n l
could generally get the trade to look
my samples. Now ! carry three, and
it's the hardest kind OF work to get q
man into II sample room. Iou don't
know Billy Jackson, do you? Travels
for a Chicago house. Always registers
with a toothpick."
l replied that l hadn't that pleas.
ure.
"Pleasure! Humph! 1T would afford
me the most unbounded pleasure to
get even with him for q little trick he
PLAYED on me the other day over in
Illinois.
1 was going to bingham on the
Vandaiia. Igot on at Casey, and the
first fellow / saw was Billy. You're
Just the fellow l was looking for said
he. There's a pretty girl in the front
car. and | think you can get acqualnt-
ed if you work the thing right. I've
tried it myself, but didn't SCENT to
catch on
give got quite a reputation among
the boys in this direction, so | easily
swallowed all Billy said, and followed
him into the smoker. l thought it
mighty strange that a girl should be-
in the smoker, but there she was, sure
enough, and You can bet she was @
daisy. She a seated by herself when
l entered, near two gentlemen. !
thought they eyed me rather more
than was necessary. However. didn't
say n word, but quietly seated myself
opposite the dame, and commenced
tactics.
After L had looked at her once or
twice she began to smile. Great
Scott said Ito myself, this is easier
than thought for SoIsmiled back.
This was all. the girl wanted. She be-
gan to move nearer to me. Then she
nodded her head and smiled several
times. In all my experience | never
had a girl act thnt way toward me ini
such a short time, and ] saw there
was something wrong, although for
the life OF fine Ioouldn't imagine what it
was. / wasn't going to back how
ever, so smiled at her again, and this
time she came over and sal down be-
side me. Then she called me her dear
James, and threw her arms around
my neck.
At this i%uncture one OF the GENTLE
men had noticed came up and ex-
planned. He was one OF the keepers in
an asylum along the road, some
where, and was In charge of the girl,
who had gone crazy over a love affair
She imagined every fellow who took
any notlce,ofher to be her dear James.
This was all l wanted to know, and
l Observation-Disclosures, butt wasn't
any use: The girl hang on, and got
more excited every minute.
SIN the meantime one or two Of the
boys had1gone through the train, and
when they came back, they brought
quite a number of interested specta-
tors. The keeper. advised me to hum
or her, and | did, | humored her all I
could. livery time Itried toget away
she would get violent, and l did't like
to excite, her any more than could
help as saw that was making my
audince Such remarks
as Juliet has found his Romeo, and
the like were frequently passed around,
and was beginning to think it would
be a great relief to meet train going
the. otEier way on the same track when
We. drew up at bingham.
Then made a break and got off
the train. The last thing l heard as
the train rolled out was, Coma back
to- me, dear James!' l haven't heard
else since. Where a Billye Oh, he
got off ut Tentopolis.n