Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06
HE MISSED THE FINISH.
hut the Drummer Had All He Wanted
of the Race.

But the Drummer Had All He Wanted
of the Race.
From the Lewiston Journal.
A prim man with a shimmering silk hat
alighted from the train at one of our Maine
villages and got into the hotel pung on the
rear seat. After the hotel proprietor had
carefully tucked the mans grips beneath
the seat they started. The landlord owns
some good horses and SO does the rival
liveryman. who just then came spanking
up behind with a high-headed nag. The
landlord gave one look over his shoulder
and then whipped up.
The chunks of frozen snow commenced
to whiz past as the big horse quickened
his Stride and the pung slammed into the
"thank-you-mam ms with q violence that
scared the little runner on the back seat
Holding to his hat he leaned forward and
lisped:
''Thay mither, I don't care to ride 80
fatht"
The driver turned his head over his Shout
der and his beard streamed behind like q
banner at the fore..peak.
"Do you know who that Is behind?"
"No. thir," replied the passenger, dodg-
ing a chunk Of snow that came like a stone
from a catapult.
well that fellow is trying to run me
out OF the livery business in this ere town
and he tries to whang up by me every
time catch passenger. I'm holding the
ribbins over boss that amt never been
beat yit. and you can just bet your neck
tie that cuss amt going to crow over me
yet awhile" And he gave the horse an
other slash. braced himself and away the
turnout tore down the village street
All OF the villagers know Of the contest
that is going on this spring, and SO the
drummer, through the haze of his blurred
visions saw the grinning storekeepers at
their doors Knots of people were out
yelling announcement to both sides; wo-
men laughed from windows.
Now you're Off. Zane"
"Give 1t to him, Ike"
"A little more whalebone speedw
1t was sensational advent into town
swore Intellectually into the tangle of the
drivers whiskers. The pitches were deeper
and more frequent.
The drummer had to cling to his hat
with both hands. and when he struck the
crossing at the post Office he was unpre-
pared. The pung gave mighty flop, and
out bounced the passenger high in air,
striking on his back and rolling in the
slush.
The crowd shouted Justify to the hotel
man. but he was too busy with his rival
to notice that he had lost off his man.
He mistook the yells for further encour-
agement, and, standing W in his pung
he commenced pounding and yelling. too.
At last around d bend in the Get, dis
appeared the racers. although their shouts
and the whick! whick! of their whips could
still be heard.
The bystanders picked up the little run
ner, some one slicked up his hat as clean
as possible and kindly farmer, with a
corner OF his horse blanket, wiped on the
thickest of the slush.
But he still looked pretty dragly when
he started to trudge on toward the hotel,
He met the hotel man driving back look
ing for him.
wal. there" said that Individual, BEAM
ing on him with. bland Inconsistencies.
L yum I never thought to ask you IL you
wanted to stop down to the stores But
you hadn't ought to got off. for you missed
seeing me whale that Teller out in good
shane" - e~oN