Evening journal., 1892-08-31
gMaAaRAssEo eY A HgApLIeHT.


quisitive Small Boy.
The Alton limited train for Chicago had
just pulled out OF the Union depot whena
round faced, red checked boy about six
years old stood up in a reclining chair and
surveyed the crowded car.
isn't it funny, mamma, he observed TO
a pretty woman Of thirty, who sat by his
side, "that all these people took a notion
to go same day we didW
ut is the same every day, darling" the
lady answered.
where do they go, mammaw
Everywhere. Some will get of at In.
dependence, some at Slater, some at Glas-
gov, some at Centralia and"-
"Say, mamma with great vigor). just
look at that man with the funny nose.
What makes il so red?p
"Shl Hush"
"But, mammal See him smile"
"Donit talk any more, darling"
The youngster got up on the seat, and
leaning against the back of It looked hard
at the red nosed gentleman behind. He
was quiet for two minutes, when he OBJ
served:
"Say, mister, what makes your nose so
redg"
The pretty woman Of thirty blushed until
she was redder than the dubious nose.
"Come here, my little man." said the
gentleman softly, "and I'll tell you all
about it."
The boy jumped down, and before his
mother could catch him he was in the red
nosed gentleman's lap.
"Do you want bananag" the gentleman
asked
"Oh, yes said the boy, "but want you
to tell me what makes your nose red first"
His tones were very distinct. The
mother blushed furiously and once or
twice the travellers thought she was about
to apologize to the gentleman with the
red nose. but she sat still and looked at
her hands.
Here comes the fruit man." said the
gentleman softly. Don't you want an
orange toog"
Eyes, and some figs. Have you got lit
tie boyg"
Eyes, have three little boys.p
is all their noses redf"
Somebody behind laughed and the gen.
tleman looked sour. Even the pretty wo-
man Of thirty, now red faced, smiled liz
tie.
"And say, mister don't it feel funny &c
have a red noseW
"Shl Don't you want this orangeP"
Eyes, but I'd think il would be hot there
on the end"
"lsn't this a nice bananaw
LET me feel the end Of your nose, mis-
ter"
The little woman ahead could stand IL
no longer She jumped from her seat and
went back to the youngster.
Ppm afraid, sir" she said TO the gentle
man with the red nose, "that my little boy
is annoying you"
"Oh, no; not at all, p said the gentleman.
con the contrary, 1 am enjoying his COM
pany very much"
"Say, mamma" chirped the youngster,
"this gentleman says he's got three little
boys with red noses"
"Herbertw
'Ain't you, mister"
"Hal hal Oh. yes" the gentleman re-
returned with evident effort
Come with mamma, dearie. You must
! 60 to sleep soon."
"I'd rather stay here"
; The gentleman was silent.
"Well, you must keep quiet" said the
pretty woman Of thirty.
Il viii, mamma"
Two minutes later the traveller heard
!. faint whisper from the boy.
y "Say, mister" he said, "ain't you GLAD
you've got such red nose"
There was a smoker across the aisle.
"No,n whispered the gentleman hoarse
a ly; keep still"
There was more silence, while the boy
@ slowly ate his banana He felt rebuked
and inch by inch he slid from the lap Of the
gentleman with the red nose. Then he RAJ
TO the pretty woman of thirty.
5 "Say, mamma" he said, after he had
o nestled in her skirts a msment, "you dom
s know how funny that gentleman's red nos
feels"
just then the conductor happened in
He was instantly hailed by two persons
s who chorused;
b "IIave you a lower berth in the Chicag
e sleeperY
"Just two" replied the conductor.
81 want to go back with my little boy,
said the pretty woman Of thirty.
s. "And you, siri" queried the conductor
4 81 have concluded not 20 go to Chicago
J. but / will take a birth in the St. Loui
sleeper If you have one left"
II was the gentleman with the red nose
Kansas City Times.