The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-11
A DRUMMER's STORY.
He Tells Why He Gave Up His
Chosen Vocation.

am commercial traveller; that is,
was once. Circumstances over which
had no control prompted me to seek
another method of livelihoodI this,
combined with my wife's wishes,
which of course / am bound to respect,
as every married man ought where it
doesn't conflict too much with his own
natural desires and sentiments.
l don't know as / can blame her for
thus sdesiring a change in my then oc-
cupation, as few women would like to
be tied for life to raving maniac, or
one who possessed physical peculiari-
ties in the shape of hair which is
bound to stand on end like ''quills up
on the fretful porcupine." And either
of these results would have been OBJ
tanned, I'm sure, had / ever run the
risk of passing through similar expe-
rience to the one am about to relate.
1t was quite number of years ago that
the incidents l am about to relate hap
pened, yet so wildly were the facts i'm
pressed upon my mind that it seems
but yesterday.
The firm with whom I was employed,
in one of the large eastern cities, de-
sired me to make change and travel
in a western circuit, drumming up
trade as went along. A wild, lawless
element at that time prevailed In the
west, and 1t was almost as much as
mans life was worth to go there under
respectable pretenses, unless well
equipped with firearms.
MY wife tried to prevail upon me not
to go, but that was one of the instances
where my own natural inclinations led
me to disrespect her wishes, as she has
often since informed me-
But would not confess to being chick
en-hearted, so making careful prep
arations, and kissing my wife fond
good-by, soon found myself en- route.
The journey was without special in
cident. / enjoyed the trip immensely,
the scenery being entirely strange and
everything altoge thor novel. Stopping
at few min or towns during the latter
part of my trip, eventually found my
self in the vicinity of Leadville. Hav-
ing heard so much about the peculiar
lawlessness Of this town, | determined
to take birds eye view of it. even II
/ did not transact any business.
l did not believe the element pre-
dominating there would be especially
interested in eastern dry goods, but l
was bound to see the town at any cost,
if only to convince my wife that was
not a man easily trihed with. or afraid
of any danger.
To give a description of the place
and its inhabitants during my brief
ride through it until reached the no.
tel was destined to stop at would be
impossible; it surpassed my widest ex-
pectations.
The driver Of my conveyance landed
me at various hotels, which were too
full for another occupant, until saw
the hour was drawing near midnight,
and determined to make halt some
where. At last the driver drew up be-
fore a dilapidated looking tavern
signed the Golden Eagle"
After brief survey of the exterior l
sent the driver In to investigate the in
terror; he soon returned, followed by a
heavy thickset man with CLEAN of
latent humor in his eye, who said
he was sorry, but the house was full.
Noticing my disappointment, he finally
asked:
Have you any objections to bed
fellow"
IF there is no help for it I suppose
must" I replied, though far from
agreeable" Mentally l heaped an
athemas on myself for my reckless
venture.
..Your bedfellow is a quiet fellow,
when he is asleep, although must say
he is rather violent when annoyed. He
sleeps very soundly, and all you have
to do is to be careful not to wake him.
He has been in bed some time"
Now might as well make comics.
sion. am not brave man, humiliat-
ing as it is to say 1t. My wife knows
this / have often tried to convince
myself that am, but truth compels me
to say am an awful coward.
The landlords description OF my bed
fellow was anything but assuring, and
l was on the point of declining, when
the landlord, evidently reading what
was transpiringin my mind, exclaimed
you are afraid, are youP"
Afraid? l should think not, In
deed" returned, for was too much
of a coward to brave being thought
one. 81 accept your offer of half bed.
Bring me some brandy and water anc
cigar"
L sat down at one of the little tables
in the barroom and pulled away at my
cigar tried to persuade myself thai
was very jolly; it was feeble at
tempt, however.
The landlord finally made his ap
pearance, and with the aid Of tallow
candle escorted me up narrow, rick
ETY. old staircase. The room he ushereC
me into was comparatively clean, bu
low ceilinged with poor furniture
He placed his hand between th'
candle and the bed as If to shield tbs
occupant from the light; setting i
down upon an old stand he said, o.
whispered:
BE sure and don't take the ligh
near him; nothing wakes him sooner
| than that You see don't know how
he might like my putting another mai
with him, and he's very ugly Gus
toner when he is riled."
This was very reassuring. Il shal
be very careful, I replied.
"All right. Good night"
He had no sooner left the room thar
1 cautiously sat down, taking care no
to make the least noise calmly sur
veyed my position. According to thu
landlord, my companion was OF any
thing but an amiable disposition. II
should chance to awaken him / knev
not what might occur. He might as
! sault me dangerously before l coul'
explain. half resolved to pass tn
| night in chair, but it was such high
backed altogether uncomfortable chair
| that / soon got discouraged.
glanced toward the bed. One con
ISOLATION, my companion seemed to b
in a deep sleep. for he did not eve
move. could see the ridge made b
his feet at the end Of the bed, and tha
was all. The bed was a very wild
one. The man who had possession OF
lay near the wall. and there was pier
ty of space between him and the ou
side without touching him at ALI
screwed my courage up, and bega
to undress. Before finishing, however
determined to make an experiment
see whether he slept soundly or no
had left the bedroom door open, 80
could make run for 1t Unnecessary.
fixed my eye on the bed as l let M
boot fall.
The man. whose clothes, by the wa,
lay on chain at the foot Of the be-
from the quality of which ! imagine
he was a miner never made the Sigh
est motion. He was evidently q SCUM
sleeper. This decided me, and hastil
finishing undressing, crept into bed.
OF course / was careful not to touc
my companion. / do not know no
- r.