Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-23

in the dead of night. After the first few
melOdiOus notes had agitated the air, an
intoxicated citizen walked up with start
and shouted: Say, boss, quit that and
sing something we all know. Sing Annie
Laurie"
The inebrIate started his favorite song in
a voice much the worse for liquor, and
both he and Drano We're having q very bad
time of it when Billy, thinking 10 his duty
TO help his partner in distress, came to the
rescue with concertina accompaniment,
fortissimo. which passed from one KEY to
another like a gentleman struggling with a
series of epileptic fits. Several persons
near the door escaped. and others were on
the point of following their example.
| Drane kept his tune and his temper for
about minute and then, turning sudden-
| ". he kicked Billy's concertina clear to the
roof of the cabin and fled in disgust before
| il came down.
When he reached the bow Of the boat
she was Just making landing, and IN an
other minute the gates were opened and
he walked ashore. He fingered moment
IN the ferry-hOuse with the idea of apollo
glZing to Billy and pleading temporary in
sanity. but that individual did not appear.
The crowd sruged OF the ferry-bOat, and
hurried by Drane. One lady evidently re-
cognized him, for he heard her saw TO her
trfDIk. 1 OlI ltliONt HIS Nbi'b lihNb nav 2
been wonderful before he ruined it by
drink"
Riddled by this double-barrelled insult.
Drane hung ms head and made off up
street, which runs parallel with the Penn
sylvania tracks for few blocks. At the
first crossing he turned TO the right and
passed over the confusion Of rails at the
imminent risk of his life. There IL no more
dangerous place on the face Of the earth,
/ 1
where collision with ashlfting-engine would
have been a relief TO his feelings.
A freight train was being made up on a
side-track, and Drane crawled along in the
shadow OF il till he came to "A car which
! looked a. if il might be entered. He was
on the point Of trying 1t. when q figure ap-
peared from the shadows. Drane was
about to run, bat pcrceiying that the other
man had a similar intention he understood
| the case at once.
Hold on" said he. 81 won't hurt YOU
| Pm looking for free ride on this train, and
SO are you. Isn't that sOIp
You've called 1t, boss," said the fellow,
that's my game"
"Well, Pm in with YOU" returned
| Drane You know more about this bust
ness than do. What shall we dor"
The tramp answered by deeds not words.
| He prled open the door Of the car and
crawled in. Drane followed. The car ap-
| peared 10 be freighted with pig-iron or some
| other heavy ~ distance of which very little
made a load, for there was plenty of room.
| Drance and his companion found the
most comfortable place they could in the
! darkness. To the formers great relief the
| train soon started and ran with no stop for
nearly an hour. Then there came a halt.
| Presently Drane heard a man stop Just
outside the door by which they had en-
| tered.
jimmy" said a voice, somebody's
| been getting into this car"
Thunder and turf" whispered the
tramp, we're in t9r it now. They'll send
| us up. There's Just one chance for rs. You
| stand on one side of the door and I'll stand
OH the other. When they climb in well
make break"
That was exactly what they did: and as
! Drane happened to Jump out directly upon
| the head OF the brakeman on guard, they
escaped.
in the lea of fence. a few minutes later.
| Drane was joined by his late acquaintance,
whom he had outrun with ease. Two or
three Others struggled up Immediately
after.
They've cleaned all the BOYS of the
train" the tramp explained Were hung
up here for sure"
There was o hasty consultation, and from
1t Drane learned that they were,near an old
barn which was well known to the pro
| fession' as harboring- place. 1t was de-
cided that the best thing to do was to put
up IN this place for the night Drane fell
| into the line, and aftera march across some
| fields he entered the tramp's hotel with
the motley crew.
Counting those already in it, who were
aroused by the entrance Of his party. there
were nearly q dozen in all. Throrgh q
! great hole high up in the wall the moon
light streamed, and in the circle thus
! marked OUT the strange company sat down
and prepared TO exchange soma friendly
gossip before going to sleep.
take 1t you're new 10 the profes-
sion?" said the man whose Acquaintance
Drane had made in the freight ward.
whats your name?"
Drane told him.
"Do you, spell it just like any other
drain!" called out one of the men.
There was some good-natured laughter
at this, and then one of them asked Drane
where he came from. He endeavored 70
sketch briefly and accurately tho events
which had led him 10 his present situation.
| He thought 1t might interest them N did.
| They regarded him as a first class hnmor-
list and liar of great natural endorsements,
"Oh, yes, we've all been there u aid one.
/ was a gentleman and q scholar day be-
fore yesterday. It seems 10 me that | met
you in MIR. Gould's Office. / dropped In 10
sell him a couple Of railroads; don't you
remember"
1t was utterly impossible for Drane to
convince them that no was telling the
truth uaer thew su closely he stuck to
variety Of his genius for faisehood.
lied make agood delegate for the CON.