Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-07
AN EPISODE.


was crowded with people going west. Train
No. A gave shrill whistle, which indicated
that there was no time to spend in fare
wells, and after kissing the others goodby
the passengers took their seats iu the car
and waited for results.
There were three persons in the carriage
next to the smoking car who would hnNe
attracted the attention of any extraordinary
observer One was very green country
fellow, who moved uneasily and SAT un-
gracefully in his scat. There was no doubt
that he was fresh from the pillow, and he
carried about with him the peculiar but
not unpleasant odor that the husbandman
invariably receives from mother earth.
He was the deserved of all observers, but
especially or two observers on the other
side of the aisle-the other two passengers,
who would naturally be the cynosure Of
neighboring eyes in any neighborhood.
They eyed him askance from time to time,
and at last one of them said
I'm burned il he amt the worst green
horn ever seem"
"Just get on to him now, will yers" ex-
claimed the other, manifesting a maximum
of excitement for an adult. Both men be
came excited.
dell at q rate that fairly took away the
breath Of the excited travellers and afforded
them no opportunity of admiring the beau
ties of the picturesque country through
which they were passing, II they had been
inclined to do So The songs of the birds
were drowned by the rattle Of the cars. The
wild flowers which enameled the earth
| looked like white nebul@ in the distance,
and for the first time in the history Of rail
roading the telegraph poles skirting the
railroad, track really did present the .ap-
pearance Of a board fence, so completely
did the engineer annihilate space with
steam.
| While science was effecting this phenom.
enon, which often has been alluded to In
lest before, the two excited travellers turned
their eyes upon the countryman. He bad
in his hand big roll of greenbRcks, which
he displayed in reckless manner.
He counted them over several times, and
it was plain that many Of them were OF O
large denomination.
''Well heeled," said one Of the traveieri
on the other side of the aisle.
"You bet, )" answered the other
"If he flashes his money in that way, he'll
get robbed" suggested Traveller No. 1.
"You bet, )" responded Traveller No. 3,
1--WE are honest fellows" remarked Trav
eler No. l.
you bet, answered Traveller No. e
Now, the fellow is bound to be robbed
He don't know nothing"
mot a thing"
Suppose we get him into game, get hi
money from, him and"--
"And whati" asked his companion.
Send his money home after we've wol
It,"
There was q sigh from one traveller and
wink from the other. and they both crie'
agreed"
It was an easy thing for them to get tn
conductor to turn down the seat opposit
the green countryman, and they knew
would be an easy thing to turn down th
countryman If he consented to play card
with them. They took their seats opposit
to him and opened up conversation.
Travelling fari"
Pretty far" said the eountryman.
what time do you get therep
Tomorrow morning."
Ever play cardsf"
USED to play on the farm sometimes" ("
"Any particular camel"
Poker"
"Like to play now"
Don't mind little game to pass awa
the time" remarked the countryman, wit
yawn.
One of the two travellers produced a dec
. of cards. The countryman picked them U
and shufied them Awkwardly. II was
small game, quarter ante, no limit.
"Puddin, |" Whispered one OF the travele
laconically.
"You bel, y hoarsely murmured his frden
The countryman was looking at his har
and did not notice this exchange Of views
On the first hand he dropped u, and {
the second he dropped IS. Then the gan
, went along steadily for awhile. At last Il
countryman picked up q hand which mat
, him very nervous The travellers both hi
. good hands, and they looked mysterious
3 at each other The betting began to gro
E heavy for the travellers The ,countFyms
I seemed 10 have nerve. Fortune had /
doubt smiled upon him. There was q larI
sum on the table The travellers laid dow
The countryman won so He only had
pair Of deuces.
The travellers were becoming nervous ar
: kicked each other quietly under the tabl
o They were getting the worst OF It, Th'
5 were accomplished poker players. and
0 was mortifying to be beaten By a fello
a that did not know anything about q
game.
h The countryman had steady run OF luc
and In a few hours he was $50 ahead.
Suddenly the brakeman cried out, "Fi'
minutes for refreshments" The two pla
ers were nervous and excited. The cou
tryman drew one card. The others DIRE
y one card each,
I make your bet. said Traveller No l.
}! lam not in It," said the countryma
a and rising he added, "Pm going 70 get
3 cup Of coffee"
. He left the car, aud the travellers ups
y examining his discarded hand discover
that he had laid down four kings, viii
's had been dealt 70 him. They looked
each other in blank astonishmept 81
started out TO find the e0untryman.
Rut he was nowhere in the vicinity
He took away with him $50 OF the ~
nhilanthropists. who wanted TO win
money 10 save II for him.
Moral--In free country the end DO
NOT iustify the means.