Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-29

''After a while the two Of us decided
mentally that the younger man had a
good deal the better Of us in this talk
| Ing game, and we confined ourselves
to listening to his remarks with good
deal Of attention. He was distinctly
bright and neutrality-suspicious. in
fact. He had been around a good deal.
| not only in this country, but on the
other side. and in a subdued, amused
sort of way he told a number Of stores
| of humorous experiences he had had
on railway trains in Europe, especially
in Holland. After awhile we got on
the subject of the United States re-
Gently acquired possessions. The young
fellow had spent some time couple
of years previously in Cuba and oPrto
| Rico-he didn't mention what he had
been doing down there and we didn't
ask him-and he spoke of the foolish
ness of a lot of friends of his who were
going. or had gone. to those new colo
MES without a cent of capital, but Just
to hustle.
They might just as well go to
| Shanghai and try to compete with the
coolies there for 'longshoremen's jobs
he said. They'll go broke. good
many of them. and try to win out by
crooked work. and then they'll land
where-well they'll find themselves in
all coiors of trouble
| When We had made about half Of
the journey I dug my flask out OF my
| grip and handed it first to the older
man. who sat facing us. He took a
good nip. and then returned the flask
TO me. extended it to my seatmate.
| Dry work to talk well without a
| lubricator, eh:' | said to him Try a
bit Of this goods. It's all right
| The young mans eyes sparkled. and
he looked as If he would have enjoyed
drink immensely. l thought by the
rustling of the newspapers in his lap
that he was going to reach out for the
flask, but he appeared to suddenly
change his mind
| Thanks, no. he sald-and I won
dered some over his rather queer habit
of flushing over the extension of ordl-
nary travelling courtesies-I'u have to
pass that up. too I'm going to give
up drinking for five years. at least
| Drink has caused me great deal Of
trouble. ! never could drink with mod
GRAFTON. | have never been able TO
take one drink of liquor. or two. or
three. and stop there. Drink has got
me down and hammered me a great
many times I'm pretty sore on it
AS we drew into Jackson l remark
ed on the prcttiness Of the towns out
skirts.
1T does seem 10 be rather a pleas
ing little place. said the young man.
don't expect TO see much Of it,
though. although I booked to live here
for matter of five years or So
Then the train pulled into the sta
ton. | rose from my seat and took up
my grip. The young man got up at
at the same ime and the newspapers
slipped from his lap. Then l saw the
| polished steel chain joining his hand
| cuffs. | pretended not to have seen
them.
We'll. so long. | said clutching nv
| grip and canes, so | wouldn't have to
| embarass the young fellow by Offering
to shake hands with him.
'Good-by and good luck. the young
man replied. and he turned away.
When the older man got alongside
Of me. he whispered in my ear:
1 saw that you noticed the irons
or wouldn't say anything about it.
I'm taking him to the pen here for a
fve-year stretch for forgery