Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16
the old story has to be improvised on the
spot, so to speak.
How They Worked Ii.

How They Worked 1t.
The following personal experience illus !
trates under what circumstances gags" !
are invented. 1t also shows how even the |
professionals forget themselves and their |
pose on occasions
one morning, about eight years ago, |
arrived in a small town In the Mohawk val |
ley In company with a tramp called In
dfanapolis Red. We had ridden all night in
a boX car In the hope of reaching New
york by morning. but the freight had been
delayed on account Of week, and we
were so hungry when We reached the town
In question that we simply had to get off
and look for something to eat II was net
place, well knew where tramDs
were welcome, but the train would not
stop again at a town of any size until long
after breakfast, and we decided to take
chances.
We had an hour at our disposal until the
next freight was due. The great ques-
tion was what story should tell. and we
both rummaged through cur collections to
find a good one. Finally, after each of us
had suggested number of different stories
and had refused them in turn. on the
ground that they Were too old for such a
hostile place; Red suggested that We
try the def n dun gag" 1here are
several gags" of this description and |
asked him which one he meant
Let work it this way ne said, and he
began to improvise I'm your def n
to New York, where I'm goin to get a Job
I'm clerk, and you're seem me down to
the city sost nothin'H happen to me. our
moneys given out an we've si,nplv eoT 10
ask fer assistance. We're terribly hungry
an you want to know if the lady o the
mouse II be good enough to help yer brother
along. See?"
1t Worked TOO Well
saw all right enough, and accepted
the proposition, but the odds seemed
against us because the town was one of the
most unfriendly along the line We picked
out house near the track. As a rule such
houses have been begged out but We
reasoned that if our story would go at
all it would go there, and besides the
house was convenient for catching the mex
freight train.
As we approached the back door ] W..
careful To talk to Red on my fingers think
ing that somebody might he watching Us
motherly old lady answered our knock
tod her Reds story in my best manuer,
ll1ilng II out with convincing details She
heard me out and then scrutinzed Red in
the way that We all look at creatures: who
are peculiar or abnormal. Then she smiled
and invited US into the dining room, whcra
the rest of the family were at breakfast
1t turned out to be a Free Methodist
clersyman's Household. We were given
places at the table. and ate as rapidly as
We could, OF rather Red did | was contin-
qal1y being interrupted by the family ask
ing me Questions about my unfortunate
brother
Was he bern that way?" they asked IN
hushed voices How did he learn to write
Tan he ever get well?" and other like que
rles which l had to answer in turn. BY
the time l mad finished my meal however
saw by clock on the wall that we had
SUN n1teon minutes to catch our train and
gave RED a nudge under the table as 4
mint hat We ought TO ho going. We wer,.
about TO got up and thank our hostess
ltf llrF kindness when The IN IF b..