The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-06
THE DYNAMITE DRUMMER.
Dangerous Profession That BrinGe
In q Good salary.


Dangerous ProfcsBtOn That RrinEe
In Good salary.
The little man who scribbled illegibly
on the st. james register bore an in
nocuous name. 1t was Pink Firkin.
New York. He bore also an innocuous
appearance, for he was not more than
five feet four II height, with slim
frame, narrow shoulders and ewes of
the mildest and most appealing blue.
Notwithstanding all this. Pink l'iriin
Is Il dangerous man. This dangerous
ness rises not from the inward man.
but from his occupation. When he
stepped up To the desk 10 put his name
Oh the register il WAS with the most
painstaking care that he placed upon
the marble counter Il l:ttlc black bag
which lie carried in his left land. Care
fully, gcntlYs hr placed it by his side.
and between almost every letter hr
wrote he looked out of tile corner of
his eye II the little black bag To see If
it were really there
travelling for Il jewclry firm. sup
p0sc! Questioningly remarked the
professional lounger. who had grown
curious.
~. Dynamite answered Mr. Fir
kin, with Il faint smile. 1t was the
loitcrer's turn to start. lie recovered
himself. AMI ns the rest of the lounycrs
In the rotunda, including the clerks.
made rapid exits in both directions.
put on Il bold front
"Oh, dynnmitc?" lie returned, with Il
show of unconcern. only dynamite.
IIunph.'
Yes, my firm In Now York makes
the best dynamite III the word-gorS
off at the slightest shock. Great stun.
Want to see some?" inquired the drum
mer, his professional training getting
the upper hand. lie took the satchrl
in his hand with some roughncsS, and
the professional loungcr set himself in
position for Il quick sprint Nothing
happened, and the loungcr hastily dis
avOwed any interest in dynamite
"Yes, 1t Is n ticklish profession" smil-
Ell the travelling gentleman as he slov-
ed the satcle! uniicr the lounge where
he had invited the interrogation to sit
and chat with him. "a little danger
GUS and inconvenient-ycs deuced in
convenient at times. We have to ln
careful" and his eyes wore Il hunted
look
but we get pnid for tive get paid
for it. You would not believe that L
get the biggest salary Of any man on
the road, but do. 1t is n big risk
and we have to lay up something. The
companies will not insure u.s.
He grasped thin knee in both
hands ns lie crossed His legs and con.
tinued:
THAT liz not the worst of it-incon-
venient. Travelling around with this
stuff exposes us to all sorts Of dis
cOurtesies from hotel managemcnts
Sometimes we can't get rooms in n
town for love or money, for people
won't have the stuff In the house, and
the guests come In body and COM
plain when they find out that one Of us
is registered. There are only three In
my line. you know. Under those cir
cumstances, as we dare not leave our
samples, the police station is the only
recourse. I'm registered as a sleeper,
In a good number Of towns. In. this VI
entity.
He paused minute for this: state
ment to take effect. '"Then there are
the'railroads to buck up against. Some
Of them have rules against carrying ex-
plosives. Sometimes L get caught, and
then of l go at the next station or
foot 1t the rest Of the way. am not
particularly fond Of railroad travel ut
any rate. With the cargo l carry n
wreck is something to be afraid Of.
Even tue jnrring OF tile cars on d rough
road makes me SO uncomfortable that
1 have to take up my satchei and pace
the aisle to reduce the shock
The one thing that fear Is u wreck.
II 4 ever get into one. 1t means goodby
to Pink Firkin. Just imagine that
stuff going off underneath youw-Den-
yer Republican.