Evening journal., 1891-12-23
BETTY AND THE BEAR.
CONSERVATION Ia - Pullman Sleeper on the
Maryland Division of the r, w. a -
Railroad

division Of the p. w. h B. railroad one
The train was in charge of Conductor
Charles Thompson, one Of the well-known
railroad men Of that division. It was
composed Of baggage cars, several pas
senQer coaches and Pullman sleepers.
When the train reached Baltimore
man cook berth In one of the sleepers
He was accompanied by pet bear Many
Of the inmates Of the car were wrapped
in slumber, and but one Of the porters
knew that the animal was In the sleeper
All went well until the train ueared
Hayre de Grace One Of the porters hap
uilv unconscious Of the close proximity
Of the brute was sitting In his seat
dreaming Of home and mother. Mean
slme the master Of the bear had gone to
sleep. The bear slipped his leash and
began 9 tour Of investigation. Being IN
. playful mood It approached the sleeping
negro, and sitting on its hauacnes IN
front OF him, gave him a hearty slap on
she shoulder. This was nothing unusual,
a. passengers have frequently done u
before. He opened his eyes and they fell
upon the opened mouthed monster before
him Il looked to him to be as big as a
house. The kinks In his hair Strengthened
out, his jsunty cap raised slightly,
mealey whiteness overspread his face,
and no parts Of his eyes could DO seen
but the whites.
he sprang bolt upright from bis seat.
The bear made another playful slap ~
him and he bolted, crying;
Hits the debbill Hits de debbill Oh
my bod, legs. even goin' ter do me duty
do me duty nowF
BE sprang through the oar door and
slammed It TOO so quickly after him that
the bear could not follow he ran
through the train until be found Con
ductor Thompson, and long before be
reached him yelleo excltedly;
'Foah de Lawd, Massa Thompson, the
debbll done gone got inter Dc sleepin'
cab and God pity de passengers, SEE l.
''Why. Niger, you're crazy, SAID the
conductor, you must have been drink +
ing too much, aud now you have the
rams.
ono, hain't teched drap.
"What did he look likef' asked the
conductor.
"He done took de foahm OBJ bar and
id ef he hain't as big as the gaoule
end OBJ big balm.
The conductor saw that the negro was
really frightened. and he debated ~ ms
mind for some time as to what he could
say to reassure this over superstltious
sen Of the Dark Continent.
In the meantime the bear like Alexan
der the Great, plned for other worlds 70
conquer. he began walking up ana
down the aisle between the berths, with
an utter disregard for the good order OF
the tapestry hangings
VA r.
tracted by the strange shutting OF feet,
and smiling that sounded as Il the
owner Of II was in the last stages Of
the grip He had been sufferer him
self. and pushed his head out between
the curtains with heart full Of condo
lence at his tongues END. The bear was
lust opposite his berth when he parted
the curtains. As soon as the animal saw
him he arose to his hind legs and made
two or three Sullivanlc passes at the
would-bo CONSIDERS face
This was TO much The man from
Baltimore never wasa boxer, anyhow,
but he could beat Mitchell, when u came
10 lodging. This only made the bear
more frolicsome. He backed of short
distance for one grand rush and clin ch
and thereby lost his opportunity. The
Batimorean made grand rush for home
and native land de didn't have any
thing on but short night-shirt, and L
the rear end or II had had the stars and
Stripes woven into itin silk embroidery
il could not have waved more grace fully
10 the breeze.
Down the aisle he rushed, he made
one frantic grab for the doorknob, tore
the door open Jumped through the YES
ribule and slammed the only barrier be-
tween him and Bruin, with a force that
shook the car from end to end.
On he sailed. his main sheet flying TO
the breeze with a recklessness that
shamed even Adsm's primitive hg-leaf.
The conductor saw him coming.
''Oh. my God Here comes another
man with the rams / wonder Whist
kline Of whiskey they're drinking IN that
sleeper, anyhow be calculated.
The Baltimorean lowered his main sheet
and lib. and came TO anchor right in the
face Of the gale.
whats the mattelf asked the con
ductor
"Tbere's a - Of lot the matter
What are you doing, running menagelie
On this trainf'
"Well, no, guess not. What's the
matter with you-bed-bugsf"
'Thunderation, mol There's o bear IN
our sleeper"
'Why man, you must have been eat
Ing railroad fried oysters, and had q ba'
case Of nightmare,
mo, haven't. say there Is bear Il
that sleeper ("
Now you'se a-talldn' boss, chimed Ii
the negro porter.
The conductor was nonplussed Before
he could do anything, however, Phtla
delphisn, wearing red flannels, dashed
into the car eyermore impetuously thar
had either OF his two predecessors.
"Good co., l4y-. he howled, zeal
ont the city troop and charge that car
or every passenger viii De eaten alive 1
stThis Is q genuine case Of mania
potu,n was the conductors menta
ejaculation. But. aloud he asked;
What have you seen to frighten 20
why. jumping Jehosophat there ar
four bears In that cal as big as cows an
they are iust literally tearing things {
pieces
well, these men certainly have
bad, for g week before Christmas
wouldn't have been surprised had 1t o.
curred during Christmas week. I'll (
and see what the matter Is.
he marched boldly to the front. III
other three followed. with q respectful
space Intervening. Opening the door
the sleeper Conductor Thompson wake
In with a grand flourish. He had on
taken few steps when the bear bobbs
mp aerenely-right before him. I
.. ~. n