The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-01-24
THEDRUMMER'S MISTAKE
BY A. CREssY MORRISON.

BY A. CRESSY MORRISON.
81 stopped during one of my trips"
said the drug drummer, at one of the
oldest hotels in New England, for sew
eral days. have often fattered myself
that, backed as l am by constantly
meeting new faces and the opportu-
mites for reading character, which it
is necessary for a fellow on the road to
improve, there are few persons who
can size a man up more quickly than l.
l had noticed several times, during my
stay at the hotel, a fine-looking man,
who always came into the dining
room just at the close of the dinner
hour. He was about 45, with iron
gray hair, dark complexion and very
quick and piercing black eyes. He had
queer scar on one cheek; the flesh
was torn in three parallel lines, and in
healing had left three white marks
about half an inch apart and two
inches long. | never saw him tip the
walters, nor did | ever see man re-
ceive more obsequious attention from
them. He had but to turn his eyes on
one of those darkies, and they would
fairly jump to show their alert devo-
ton. He had rare taste in the selec-
ton of his repast, and when that was
chosen and placed before him it always
looked as if it had been guided by in
tuition, for it was invariably the best
there was in the house.
zone morning l sat opposite him,
struggling with a very tough piece of
steak, when, with kindly smile, he
said:
"'Will you permit me to send for
better steak for you? You notice, per-
haps, that | have had some success in
obtaining good one for myself and
he pointed to his juicy bit of tender
loin.
"'You may said 1, for you always
have better luck than anyone else
"He looked up-every waiter was in
AN instant ready for instructions. Sc
,lecting one with his eyes, he simply
pointed to my much-mangled steak
and quietly resumed his breakfast. He
had scarcely done so, when the darky
returned, bringing the most delicious
piece of meat have ever seen before or
since.
''The next day was Sunday, and after
dinner l was wandering aimlessly
about, when l espied my friend in the
reading room alone. His feet were on
IA low window-sill, and, with his chair
tipped back, he was looking thought
fully into the street. l entered, and
taking seat beside him, fell into con-
versation. We had chatted some time,
when l said:
"'You will pardon me, sir. l have
some reputation as a physiognomist,
and, having noticed your marvellous
control over the walters, have formed
an opinion of your character and voca-
ttion which is very complimentary
1ndeed?'
eyes, l replied, and with your per-
mission l will tell you what it is, for l
Jam curious to know if 1 have reached
the right conclusion
"1 would like you tell me very
much he replied, for 1 am always
Icurious to know how impress stran-
gers
"'Well,' said l, your quick, quiet
step, your absolute GOODNESS, your pow
Ter of enforcing obedience and the
strong outline of your nose would in
dictate the general but your eye is
too quick, and your mouth, with the
corners indicating curiosity, tempt me
to believe that you are a great traveller
] will even venture to say you are
hunter who has sought the largest
game. Shall call you an Allan Quar-
itermain, or an explorer who has striv-
;en to benefit the world by discovery in
African
"'WeH DONE, he answered. y am
neither an Allan Quartermain' nor an
explorer, but l have been to Africa.
did not go to hunt or find anything
more attractive than dyewood. OF
course, l met with some animals and
became good shot, but not hunter,
by any means. Stanley told me once
that he could trust me alone with
gun if it wasn't loaded, which was his
QUAINT way of admitting that l could
defend myself
Come said l, do you not think
that my remarkable guess is worthy OF
"a story of some adventures"
CT will tell you one.
"'Before / begin l want to say that
l am much amused at the lion stories
Tread in the papers. The writer's have
never seen tropical landscape, Zulu,
or wild lion, and yet they describe
them all at great length, and the
papers devote their space to them |
admit they are sometimes very cleverly
written, and will do very we'll for those
who do not know where they are at
fault, but how can they describe cor
Irectly what they have never eXpe.
irienced? give those writer's credit for
a marvelously vivid Imagination. l will
tell you one of my experiences, and you
will see that it takes a man who has
been there to get the true ring out Of
ieven a slight adventure.
"T had penetrated farther than
usual tina; year, and having met with
! much success was on my way to the
coast, when one day we came unex-
lpectedly upon a Zulu village. The
people were in great excitement. and
iimpelled by curiosity indicated by
the turned corner of his mouth
thought -, 1 moved my boats under
bluff and sent one of my men to as.