Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-01
DIDN'T DESERVE 1T.
A Drummer Has Experience Which
Made Him sleepy.


A Drummer Has Experience Which
Made Him sleepy.
The Pullman section of the New York
express had just pulled out of the
Grand Central Depot in Pittsburgh
when a drummer dashed through the
gateway. He sighed as he saw the last
sleeper disappearing in the distance,
and then walked with detected air
over to the track where the second sec
ton of baggage cars, smokers and day
coaches lay. In few moments the sig
nal was given and the train moved
slowly out of the depot. The drummer
glanced around him. Among the pas
sengers he spied several of his ilk. but
they were travelling statesmen of a
grade that do not usually take Pulle
mans, consequently he needed them
not. In the front of the car sat a. little
girl with her head buried in her arms,
which were spread on the window sill
beside her. A mass of golden ringletS
fell upon her shoulders. A large man
sat beside her, evidently her father.
At the next station the man rose with
out word and left the train, leaving
the little one alone in the seat. She
still slept. Half an hour passed and the
ringlets moved. A piteous, haggard
little face was slowly raised, and two
large, frightened eyes looked strangely
around the car. Then the little head
sank down upon the arms again and
the child went 70 sleep. Later, when
the drummer tried to doze, he kept
thinking of those fearful, lonely eyes, and
often during the early part of the night
he glanced at the mass of golden curls
before him. Two o'clock in the morning
found him wide awake. The little girl
moved again. Once more she looked
around with the same scared expression
on her puny face. The other passengers
were curled up in their seats, and no
one but the drummer saw her. Ills heart
was touched. He pitied the child In hee
loneliness. Walking to the front Of the
car, he sat down beside her and lender
ly stroked her cur1s. When he asked
further away from him. Where was she
going? at this question she looked suis
fen end cross. Would she like some.
ching 60 eat? No she shook her heal
and pouted. :.
"Well, my DEAR" said the good-nat.
ure2 drummer, 81 will see that Sou dc
Aot get lonely before daylight. at any
rate. Would you like me. to tell you a
story that my mother used to tell me
when was small like you?''
The drummer then proceeded to tell
the child a fairy tale, and followed
with another. AMI still another, before
he stopped. The title face did not
brighten. The child : t. ed through the
window aS the dim outlines Of che
mountains past which the train was
speeding. The drummer tried another
plan. He told funny story about q
little boy who built fire in his fathef's
silk hat, and he laughed so heartily when
he had finished that the little girl look
ed up in astOnishment. Then brigh'
smile stole over her face. The drum
| mer felt encouraged. He had begun an
other funny story when the child. still,
| wearing the same amused look, drew
from her pocket card, which she held
/ up before her persevering entertainer
On it was written:
! ''This little girl is on her way co Phil
| adelphia, where friends will meet hes
She is deaf and dumb"
] The drummer took one sheepish g1anc<
| around him to make sure that none o
his fellow passengers were looking. ant
then skunk back to his seat. curled him
! sels up with his Oveycoat for pillow
/ and went 60 SIeep-N. L. Sun