The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-12

ing his arms round in most reckless
fashion and singing in a shrill voice:
This is my story this is my song,
Praising the Saviour all the day long"
Over and over again the man sang
the couplet, sandwiching it with strings
of oaths which sent chills chasing each
other up and down Mr.. Inch's spinal col
umn. He attempted to talk with the
man, but he might as we'll have tried to
converse with a log of wood. Others
with whom he started conversations
looked at him so blanlly that he soon
realized it was hopeless task, and, set
Ting down in his seat he resolved to
say no more.
when we get to Parlor City he fig
ured to himself, ''I'll just wait until
they get this crew out of the car and
then I'll go out myself and go home"
Mr.. Inch's resolution was the result of
little speculation as to what would |
happen to him if the keepers discovered |
that he had entered the car and mingled |
with this crew of violent and irresponsi- |
BILE men.
At the station in Parlor City on the |
same morning that Mr.. Inch boarded |
the train 20 miles away stood Is keepers
from the state asylum waiting for the
consignment of lunatics from New
| York. With them was vnnr~ Dr. lanls )
on whose shoulders rested the respon-
sibility for the safe transportation Of
the lunaticS from the station to the
asylum. DR.. Blank was worried. 1t
was the first expedition of the kind he
had commanded, and he was nightly
afraid that something would go wrong
Only a month before ne had received his
appointment TO the asylum, and an es-
cape or revolt due to lack of proper pre-
cautions would. he knew. mean the loss
of his place. He was relieved when the
train rolled in and a keeper jumped
from the steps of a car touched his hat
and announced that all was well.
"a hundred. altogether, [ believe?"
the doctor remarked.
Yes, sir; 80 in each car" said the
keeper.
We'll march them out as soon as you
can, said DR.. Blank. and he hauled ont
a notebook and prepared to check off
the men as they were handed over 10
his keeping.
They took the last car first, and Dr.
Blank drew a deep breath of relief
when the fftieth man stepped to the
platform.
"Now for the other car" he said,
cheeri1y, and the keepers commenced
to hustle the unfortunates out.
Mr.. Inch crouched low in his seat and
was passed by. DIR. Blank, notebook in
hand, sang out: "Forty-nine," just as
the keeper escorted a man to the plat
form and called: THAT'S ali
There must be another" said the
Goctor, ncrvously.
You counted wrong" said the
keeper.
NO, I'm sure I'm right, but I'll count
them again" said DR.. Blank, and he did
so, with the result that his first figuring
was correct.
..S,l4 Ian was missing. = ,ess' I'D
I be no doubt about that. The car @ndd
only yielded 40 mcn.
search the car called out the dec
tor, and the keeper proceeded to 10 so.
The first man he encountered was Mr..
Inch. who, having made up his mind
that sufficient time had elapsed to rem
der it safe for him to leave the car, bad
risen and was making for the door.
Hello" exclaimed the keeper, how
did You get here"
81 just walked in from the other car,
replied Mr.. Inch, with dignity.
Didn't see a man hide himself around
this car anywhere, did you?"
Now it happened that some minutes
before the train reached Parlor City
the red-headed man who sat next 70 Mr..
Inch had slid to the floor and cuddled
himself up under the seat. Mr.. inch
had seen him do it, and had marvelrd at
the mans ability to stay i'll one posi-
ton 50 long. TO tell of this incident,
however, was to admit that he had been
in the car for some time, which would
scarcely do, so he simply said in a tone
of mild establishments:
See a man hide himself? How
ridiculous," and the keeper, impressed
by his tone, passed by and started
searching at the upper end of the car.
Mr.. Inch continued toward the door,
reached the platform, and stepped
slowly down. Mr.. Inch's personal &P-
pearance was not what it usually was.
A night in country hotel, with neither
hair brush nor comb in the morning,
showed on him. Contact with the
elbow OF n lunatic behind him had put
most disreputahle looking dent III his
derby. His appearance was altogether
bad enough to justify DR.. Blanks ex-
cIamation Of
'Ah, here he is. This way. my
friend" which he made when he saw
Mr.. Inch descended to the platform
Mr.. Inch heard the remark, but paid
no attention to it, Instead of obeying,
he quickened his pace toward the other
end of the platform, but before he had
gone dozen yards DR.. Blank was along
side.
"This way, my friend, said DIR. Blank,
swinging Mr.. Inch around by the arm.
What do you mean, sir?" said Mr..
Inch.
Keep quiet, now, keep very quiet"
said the doctor, soothingly. It'll be
ell r.iUht if Won keen uIipt -