The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-25
ISocF nst Pubtshedl
MY VALISE.
BY EDMUND
Copyrighted. 1892, By the author.

ayes: Int You ought TO be a better author
ity than l on the stoppages OF this train
surelyp
things of that kind. Chester 1857. o
saidF'
mo, 1 didn't.o
Ion. of course; but that is so, isn't itf
Fact is, | have got Chester well into my
head" he explained, "as / expect q telegram
there. Might / ask a favor-thaty you will
rouse me as We get into Chester IL do hap
pen TO be snooZingf"
II will IL i am awake"
Thanks. Where do q stop in Dublini"
i was about to- return q hasty answer to
the question when my inqulsitlve friend
observed: You don't mind me being so
free, l hope, but Pm a nervous sort Of cove,
and Pm afraid i like TO hear the sound of
my own voice. Ii keeps me company like.
/ put up usually in Dublin at q little hotel
in c. street. Poor sort of q place. but
clean and cheap. Pm not q great swell,
counts. That's my whole stock-in-trade,"
pointing to the leather valIse over his head.
1t was difficult to be churlish in the face
of such condolences; SO l thawed a bit. and
the stranger right into Chester Station.
"Ahp he cried, jumping to his feet. and
stretching his Arms as the express began
to pull up. Il am on tender hooks until l
have a bit of refreshments There Is about
fifteen minutes to wait here" putting on
his o~vercoat."
Yes. Pm going to have o cup of tea and
q sandwich" :
"AII right. pl be off to the telegraph of
flee. and pick you mp in the refreshment-
ROOM" And then he bounded out of the
carriage.
1 proceeded to the refreshment-room, and
succeeded in getting q cup of tea In about
three minutes-au incredibly short walt
for q traveller by an express train. just as
/ bad swallowed my tea the sporting iour.
nalist rushed into the room ana almost
dragged me out on the platform.
DO overlook my rough way, like q good
chap" he exclaimed. Pm in . regular
hole / find 1 have to stop here. may be for
the night. Fact is. I've got to wait for q
friend who Is going to join me here. She
TO have met me here and travelled on with
me; but there's been . breakdown, and she
can't get here In time-perhaps not until
early tomorrow. That's the telegram l
was expecting"
l was secretly glad 90 be rid of the man
for the remainder of the journey. but l
could not avoid saying was sorry to lose
his company-a polite fiction which / am
sure the Recording Angel will blot Q tear
over.
Yes. 1 know you are. old chap" The ex.
claimed. with as much cordially as If we
had been bosom friends and boon compan-
Ions; and know you won't mind helping
- An4uilOas - AlttA0
ly. l was confident was going to be asked
for "a small temporary loan"
We'll, LOOK here" said he; Its this way.
Pm no blooming journalist. didn't want
the haberdashery way-and cheap haber.
dashery, too. That valise of mine contains
Q shirt. and some collars. anddsocks and
samples-my whole stock In ira o. Women
are queer cattle. This friend of mine may
not turn up in q couple OF hours; she may
not turn up until tomorrow evening, or. at
the latest. the next morning. III not, I'll
get the sack, old chap"
You surely don't mean to ask me totake
your goods roundf"
Hang it all, old mani What do you
take me fort Ask you to take round my
samples! Heavens, no! ! suppose you
think l ought to be doing it third-ciass,
and not passing 1t Oft as a professional man
in q second; but Pm allowed second-class
fare, and, blow me-. if Pm mean enough to
have it out of the governor in that way.
Blu time Is flying. Do You mind taking
that valise of mine in charge. and leaving
it at the Griffin Hetel, in c. street. One
hotel is as good as another to you, accord
ing to yourself, and 'tis easy TO change Digs
If you don't like them. IL would DO q ire
mendous favor If you'd oblige me by put
call for 1t tomorrow. hope to be able to
push on, by the mail, which arrives here
about 1890. If not I'll telegraph to q friend
in Dublin to relieve you of my baggage.
Don't say no. We haven't q minute to
spare. Your train is due out In less than
four minutes by the clock"
"Al right" said l. asserting readily
enough when found that o temporary loan
was not in request. But how am l to
know II l am giving the vaiise mp to the
right persona
That will be all square. No one else
will call for it but the right person. Look
here. Give me your card. I'll wire. that
Is, 1t L can't turn up In time my self-'Give
baaror parrGof Ennr- 4-...lt
Quick! or you'll be losing your train"
he added. laughing, presumably 1t his joke
about his Geographic message. Thanks.
awfully. old chap" taking my card. BLESS
warm grip with his jeweled hand.
caught my train easily, ana found / had
q new travelling companions slender,
sQuare-shouldered man of about forty. five
to fifty years of age. He was sitting ON my
seat as l entered the Compartment.
Il beg your pardon. SIR" said l but you
are occupying my corner. / wouldn't
trouble you, only that | like to sit with
my face to the engine and In the ~nelRhbor-
hood of my own traps"
IL didn't know IL was anyone's seat.p he
rejoined grutfiy.
There was a rug there SAID /, "and.D
pointing. my vallse and hat-box are over
your head.n
lise over the opposite seat and your rug
was In the Tar corner when came in." SO
it was, l saw now. IF you like to scatter
your luggage ali over the carriags its noue
Of nv business. surely"
He rose as he spoke and eyed me mar
nowiy. Where shall / still" he asked.
wherever you please, except In my cor
ner."
well. would you oblige me by putting
your traps togetherf FIJI sit opposite. and
don't want to lie down and have your va
disappointing to my h~aberdashery friends
baggage"-falling down on me first time
the train pulls up suddenly"
removed the valise and placed il under
the seat at my side of the compartment.
Then i fetched my rug from the far corner.
and tried TO keep my temper and to CON-
pose IN yself for a sleep.
/ dozed most of the way to Holyhead. and
then 1 got my traps collected and asked
that the two vallses q my hat-box shOuld
be taken TO the cabin. ididn't want to let
my haberdasher's luggage out of my sight,
If | could help IL.
My new fellow-traveler followed me into
the ref-reshment-room at Holyhead, and /
fancled he was st my heels when | walked
on board the steamboat. found had to
engage a sleeping berth-I intended to lie
down crossing the chameleon board the
boat. and to pay some excess fare for the
accommodation.
When | got into my cabin / Invested N.Y.
self of boots. coat and waistcoat. and was
about To lie down on my narrow bed. when
the door or my cabin was opened and my
sruh tellow-traveler entered. 1 did not
like the man nor his manners, and / thought
IL would be no harm to make him feel a
trihe uncomfortable.
Perhaps you will decide now. SIR" said
j. (which OF the two berths here Won wonId