The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-11-13
miscellamenms.
JENKINS EXPERIENCE.

JENKINS EXPERIENCE.
"Has Jenkins gone home yet p
The question, and Mr.. Metcalfes bald
head, were precipitated simultaneously into
the office l started from my post, on tall
stool at the desk.
mo, sir; l am here yet. l thought would
Just go over the Messingham account before
I went home" said alphabetically.
land good job" said Metcalfe, beckon-
ing me into the private office. Look here,
JeDkins"
Eyes, sir"
He held up an oblong package, sealed with
two splashes of red wax, and tied with pink
Irvine.
Jenkins" said he, 81 am going to put a
great deal of confidence in you. Janney Jour
head clerk is sick, and want to send this
money to Afford tonight, by special messen-
ger. l might send Duffer, but Duffer can't
hold his tongue There is Owlefield, but
Owlefield isn't always to be trusted. So /
have selected you. Mind, you are to give it
into the hands of Farboro 81 Dusantoy your
self, with this note," handing me buff en-
velope.
eyes, sir. l shall endeavor"--
81 dare say. dare say But don't stand
talking here. Time is precious. It's past 8
already, and the night express goes at o.
Make all the haste you can, and remember
that have trusted you'll"
bowed and sped away, the precious OBJ
long package safely buttoned into my breast
pocket, over heart that throbbed with pride
and self-gratulation.
From old Metcalfe, this signal mark flavor
was freighted with meaning. There was no
tolI;nr bora rniuhf NOT load
What would Duffer have given for an OPP
portunity like this! How would Owlefeld
have rejoiced in such chance
Mr.. Metcalfe should see that his confidence
was not ill placed.
In half dozen breathless sentences I re-
lated my extraordinary luck to Mollie, who
was waiting supper for me.
Pack the little black bag, Mollie," said I,
waving away all her offers of food, except a
cup of scalding coffee, which very nearly took
the skin off my tongue. Lay out my pep
per and salt suit No, no, l can't eat I'll
| Just get bite on the train. Don't tell you
I've got to catch the night express?"
Mollie's admiring eyes followed me as
| hurried onward.
"Oh, Tom," said she, II always knew you
would live to be partner in Metcalte q
Col"
Nonsense, Mol say, hasn't old Awley
sent home those boots yet? These CATERS
aren't fit to travel in"
'I'll Just run down for them, Tom. l know
he can't have shut up yet"
"No, you stay and sew up this rip in my
gloves !" said ], impatiently. "1ll go myself.
Old Awey, the cobbler, was fast asleep in
his stall, but luckily the boots, newly soled
and heeled, were ready for me; and when the
train steamed out of the station was seated
therein, my ulster buttoned to the throat, q
little Scotch cap which had purchased of the
train hoy perched on the side of my head, and
a huge paper of sandwiches in my hand.
The car was not especially crowded. had
decided not to take a sleeper, in spite OF Mol
| lies recommendation.
YOU'D better take BERTH" she said
"You know you have never travelled in 8
| sleeper, and it would be such fun"
II dare say" dryly reioined. "But yor
see, Pm not travelling for fun and dom
mean to risk going to Sleep"
"Ob, Tom, shall you stay awake all night Z
"One night won't hurt me, Moll."
But after I had read the evening paper
through, and eaten two sandwiches and {
piece of Molie's delicious home made cake,
began to succomb to the rocking motion
the train and feel sensation of most allur
ing drowsness.
Two stout men in the corner were snorlng
a lady at the other end of the car had made
up an impromptu bed for her bullet-headec
boys with travelling shawl and two bags
the train surging to and fro with the regu
lar "Rockaby baby" effect.
"This won't do" said 1 to myself Pm
bound to keep awake somehow. I'll eat tht
rest of the sandwiches"
| was not hungry, however, and even Mol
lies dainties palled upon my appetite.
/ was just about to throw the sandwiches
out of the window, when caught the raven
GUS glare of q pair of eyes opposite.
Have some ?" said l, instinctively.
"Thank you, sir 7" said the pale youngman
opposite, muff1ed to his chin in shabby trav
cling shawl, and wearing boots the dead
match to those that had contemporary be
slowed on old Awley's eldest son the day be
fore. II am little hungry, if you DON
mind"
He devoured my leavings like famishec
wolf. | proffered my neat little wicker GOV
cred flask of sherry. He drank eagerly.
"You don't look well" said |.
81 am just up from long siege of intiam
matory rheumatism" said he. I'm going u
Afford to look for work, and I've had NJ
supper" ..
"The only work Pm fit fora clerkship
some sort"
He related a simple tale of sickness, priva
ton, fruitless search for employment.
remembered that had heard MIR. Met
calfe tell Owenson, the bookkeeper, lev
days previously that it would soon be neces
sary to employ two or three new clerks IL
the down stairs department.
perhaps" said /, II could help you 10 ge
work in New York"
| The hiu cunkan aUps sDarklpd.
at would be salvation to me ii you could,
said he. Pm penniess and almost starV
ing" ,.m
al suppose you can bring references 2"
"Oh, yes, | could do that"
well, I'll see what can be done, said
with pleasant sense of patronage.
His hollow cough interrupted US it racke'
him from head to foot.
Look here" said. l, "youIe not fit to 81
up all night Suppose we see If there ism
accommodation in the sleepers. heard IN
conductor say the train wasn't extra full"
NV companion raised his thin hand with
: deprecatory motion.
"The sleepers are dollar extra" said ht
Didn't l tell you was penniless ?"
"Oh, I'll treat" said laughing, land 20
shall pay me out of your first weeks salary.
He acceded somewhat unwillingly, and to
gether we made our way into the sleepin
car Deodora, where we found a section dir
engaged.
, / lay down in the lower berth, not uncon
: scious OF certain citation, both in the chal
acter of being of service to man still pool
er and more insignificant than myself, and
this my first experience of the unknown luz
s ury of sleeping Car.
"l'll only stretch myself out a little an
, rest" thought ]. II won't go to sleep"
D AS composed myselfunder the blankets,
heard the pale young man tell the porter
y call him ut Hunsdon.
Hello p said 1. Aren't you going bac
on the return trip to New York;"
MNn " said he .As I've mid my fare.