Connecticut western news., 1890-11-12
AN INCIDENT.
A Simple Tale of Some Men. Some L.S.
 and a Ticket.


 A Simple Tale of Some Men. Some Lis.
 and a Ticket.
 He was a thin, sallow faced man, with :, large, dropping mustache, a square jaw, bright, restless eyes fringed by thick, black brows. He placed his smoothly brushed silk hat on the rack, and occupied the place at table opposite me. At length he ad- dressed me:
 "Are you in the picture business, too?"
 Uniformed him "No," without any at tempt at studied civility.
 "Perhaps some of the other gentlemen are," he persevered.
 Afew shakes from as many heads were the only replies he received, but even those encouraged him, for he continued:
 '"Those are my samples in the office. l tell you'-effusively, he had found list ener at his riglf-"the picture business is the thing there's money in. You'd be sur prised to know the amount of orders I take. You're atraveling man, suppose?'
 The party at his right nodded.
 "Us travelling men should be more socia- ble," continued the picture agent. "What's life without sociability?"
 By dint of a tenacity which was forced to admire the fellow raised quite conver- sational breeze. He was in love with his profession. The expression travelling man. had for him fascination, and he used it frequently as he related exploits in which he had participated while on the road.
 "Oh, us travelling men get on to all the snaps that's going," he declared, and then related with considerable esprit an expe- rience of his on the Southern Pacific road.
 t1 took the overland at Roseburg," he said Sticking on the back of the seat in front of me was 8 conductors check. made a bet with friend-also travelling man-that could use that check as pass to my destination. I put the thing in my hat. The conductor came through the car, looked at my check and passed on. l won the bet and also the price of the ticket, for here it is, unpunched," and he held aloof the bit of pasteboard.
 At the conclusion of this narrative the portly gentleman who occupied the head of the table was regarding him with some attention. This so pleased the fellow that he inquired of the gentleman if the trick had not been we'll carried. Admirably" was the answer. And is that the ticket in your hand?" "Yes," in unconcealed glee. Want to see its"
 The gentleman's face still denoting in terest the ticket was passed to him. Dur ing its passage the picture vender offered to dispose of it to any one south bound for half its value.
 "You're ahead of the company this time certainly" the portly gentleman declared.
 'aThat's the size of it," with chuckle.
 'sYou did it very well" in a dignified tone. "You're successful canvasser, I'll wager"
 Decidedly so," profusely. The mans head was fairly turned by the attention given him.
 "What house do you representa-" was the portly gentleman's next question. Immediately the mans card was forth coming and passed down the table, while the person whom it advertised principally sat enjoying the situation, fully imbue6 with the idea that he had attained the acme of popularity. '1ndeedp' the gentleman exclaimed, and read the card. Then he placed both card and ticket in his pocket. You'll honor me by keeping the card, , the man said jocosely; "but there's money in the ticket, and I generally get out al the money there is in anything" His was the loudest laugh at this sally sI beg you'll excuse me-" the gentleman returned quietly. "I would like to retain this ticket, as it bears my autograph" "Your autograph" There was evidently something less comi cal in the situation, for the man had ceased his hilarity. His face was considerably flushed A piece of meat he was masti- eating bade fair to choke him. ''I am the general passenger agent of the Southern Pacific road" was the answer. The man had evoked degree of atten- tion really painful by this time. We were all staring and grinning. ''S6 you evaded your fare?" came the measured tone from the head of the table. 'sWell, if you call it that" with a gulp He looked i'll.
 Pretty serious offense, isn't it?" asked the gentleman at my left, who had beer one of the original three at the table. ssNot less than six months nor more | than three years Imprisonment" replied ! the agent. "I have your card, sir, to tht ! thoroughly discomfted picture man; ''rl wait on you later"
 | The picture man made few attempt! | at his dessert. At last he rose abruptly | upsetting his chair, and reached for hi | hat, but on account of excessive nervous | ness he only succeeded in knocking it to tn floor. Scrambling after it he dashed iron the dining room.
 | When we filed into the hotel once Gn gaudily painted pictures with the pictur dealer himself had departed the house The imperturbability of the s. P. agent countenance when informed of this fact attributed to the excellent facilities in hi possession for capturing his man at an time. Consequently I was not a little SUI ! prised about an hour later to be waited ol
 by the company with whom had dined- | minus the picture vender.
 1.-The s. P. passenger agent, you know!
 the crowd explained.
 Amid much hilarity 1 was conducted t
 that portly parsonage.
 Hasn't he tumbled?" inquired the $. f
 man. "Come, boys, do the agreeablep
 In answer to this request was presente
 to MT. Blank, farming implements, Os
 kosh.
 "Oh, see," said, for it began to daw
 on me that an Oskosh man would have
 free ride to Roseburg.-C. E. M. in Yves |