The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-16
JOHNSTON'S ADVENTURE
BY GEORGE WARNER WHiTTOCk.

\ KNOW this story is true, for John
stou told it to me himself, and he has
Il not Imagination enough to invent an
untruth.
He told me that il you should attempt
TO enter into conversation with fellow
passenger in Chicago train he probably
would present you with the card in ques-
ton as delicate hint that he wanted to
be left in peace.
q" Il am going down to Warwickshire to-
morrow,' said "-continued Johnston
q to spend few days with Scoble, and
I'll take this card with me. If some one
insists on talking to me when Pm reading
my paper I'll try what handing him the
card will do.
Il took the train az Euston, travelling
sccond-c!aas.
"My fellow passenger was fine looking
woman Of about thirty. The heat of the
day and the excitement Of catching the
train had given her tlorid color, and | could
sec that the desire OF condemning the
weather and exposing wickedness of cab
man Has trong within her.
Presently the woman caught my eye
and said: y beg your pardon, but will you
Tell me the exact time? My cabman-'
''But here ! handed the woman the
Chicago card had received she day before.
'She read it, and then said ooh, in
deed, So sorry. Pray excuse me, and
then lapsed in silence, while | resumed my
newspaper and congratulated myself on
Che efficiency of the American plan of
dealing with railway hores.
at is true that my conscience did give
me an occasional twinge, for the distinction
between telling lie and handing person
q ready.made lie printed on a card was not
very perceptible. l asked myself whether
i'll giving the woman card with the
words 4 am deaf and dumb had not
been guilty Of lying as certainly as should
have been if | had told her the same thing
IN as many words.
cat Willesden Junction another passen-
ger got IN. This time it was young lady,
who was evidently expected by the elder
lady.
''By and by my attention was aroused in
spite of myself by hearing the elder lady
mention my name. You see, she said,
Il had to come down today because John
has asked that tiresome Johnston to spend
a week with us, and, of course, it would
not do for me to be away.
g But Auntie said the other, how do
you know that he is tiresome if you have
never seen him?'
II know it, for one thing, because John s
friends always are tiresome. 1t does seem
as if he deliberately selected the most
stupid men he could find and asked them
down to Greencroft, just to make life a
harden 30 me. And, then, my dear, for
able Johnston's books. Anything more
stupid aud silly you can't possibly i'm.
agine.
so | was actually travelling in the same
Carriage with Scoble's wife and niece, and
the former was dreading my arrival at her
home and looking upon me "a a tiresome
nuisance.
''I'be Two ladies TALKED on, but happily
seemed TO forget the existence Of the I'M
fortunate Johnston. Once Mrs. ScOble
came 10 the window where | was sitting,
e point out something to her niece, and
the 3waying Of the carriage nearly threw
Der On my lap.
Just then the elder lady began one of
those neI vous and hurried searches for her
purse which women when travelling are so
prone to make.
1T is gone, she exclaimed and am
sure that fellow in the corner picked my