The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-24

chinery.
But had left something out of my
calculations. Now, what had I left out?
To help you to guess, I'll say figure.
Come. Make guess, and guess right.
Naught? No. Nine? No. Eight? No.
Seven? No. Six? No. Five? No.
Four? No. Three? No. Two? No.
One? No. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do
with you. I'll say it's another sort of fig
ure altogether. There. Why, then, says
you, it's mortal figure. No, nor yet a
mortal figure. BY such means you get
yourself penned into corner, and you
can't help guessing immortal figure.
That's about it. Why didn't you say SO
sooner.
Yes. 1t was immortal figure that
I had altogether left out of my calcula-
tions. Neither mans nor woman's, but
child's. Girls or boy'ss Boys. ST,
says the sparrow, with my bow and ar
row." Now you have got it.
We were down at Lancaster, and I
had done two nights more than fair
average business Though / cannot in
honor recommend them as a quick audi
ence) in the open square there, near the
end of the street where Mr.. Sly's Kings
Arms and Royal hotel stands. Minis
travelling giant, otherwise Pickleson,
happened at the self same time to be
a-trying it on in the town. The gen.
teel lay was adopted with him. No
hint Of van. Green baize alcove
leading up to Pickleson in an auc-
ton room. Printed poster, "Free list
suspended, with the exception of that
proud boast of an enlightened coun-
try, free press. Schools admitted by
private arrangement. Nothing to raise
blush in the cheek of youth or shock
the most fastidious." MIN swearing
most horrible and terrific, in, a pink cal
leo pay place, at the slackness of the
public. Serious handful in the shops,
importing that it was almost impossible
to come to right understanding of the
history of David without seeing Pickle
son.
l went to the auction room in ques-
ton, and I found it entirely empty of
everything but echoes and moldiness,
with the single exception of Pickleson
on piece of red drugget. This suited
my purpose, as l wanted private and
confidential word with him, which was:
"Pickleson, owing much happiness to
you, put you in my will for fypun-
note; but, to save trouble, here's four
punten down, which may equally suit
your views, and let us so conclude the
transaction" Pickleson, who up to that
remark had had the detected appearance
of long Roman rushlight that couldn't
anyhow get lighted, frightened up at
his top extremity and made his acknowl-
edgements in way which (for him) was
parliamentary eloquence. He likewise
did add that, having ceased to draw as
Roman, Min had made proposals for his
going in as a converted Indian Giant
worked upon by the Dairymans Daugh-
ter. This Pickleson, having no acquaint-
ance with the tract named after that
young woman, and not being willing to
couple gag with his serious views, de-
cllned to do, thereby leading to words
and. the total stoppage of the young
mans bee. All of which. during the
whole of the interview, was confirmed
by the ferocious growing of MIN down
in the pay place, which shook the giant
like leaf.
But what was to the present point in
the remarks OF the travelling giant, other
wise Pickleson, was this: doctor Mari
gold"-I give his words without a hope
OF conveying their feebleness-''wh is
the strange young man that hangs about
your carts?" "The strange young manY'
| gives him back, thinking that he meant
her, and his languid circulation had
dropped a syllable. 'sDoctor," he re-
turns. with a pathos calculated to draw
tear from manly eye, 81 am weak.
but not so weak yet as that don't know
my words. l repeat them, Doctor. The
strange young man." It then appeared
that Pickleson being forced to stretch
his legs (not that they wanted it, only at
times when he couldn't be seen for moth
ing, to wit, in the dead of the night and
toward daybreak, had twice seen hang
ing about my carts, in that same town
of Lancaster where / had been only two
nights, this same unknown young man.
1t put me rather out of sorts. What
it meant as to particulars no more fore
BODIED then than you forebode now. but
it put me rather out of sorts. Howso-
ever, made light of it to Pickleson.
and took leave of Pickleson, advising
him to spend his legacy in getting up
his stamina, and to continue to stand by
his religion. Toward morning kept
for the strange young man, and
what was more-I saw the strange |
young man. He was well dressed and |
well looking. He loitered very nigh my |
carts, watching them like as if he was |
taking care of them, and soon after day
break turned and went away. sent a
1ail after him, but he never started or
ooked around, or took the smallest no
ice.
We left Lancaster within an hour or
wo, on our way to Carlisle. Next !
morning at daybreak looked out again
or the strange young man. did not
ZEE him. But next morning I looked
'ut again, and there he was once more.
sent another hail after him, but as be-
ore he gave not the slightest sign of be-
ng anyways disturbed. This put a
hought into my head. Acting on it,
him in different manners and