Evening star., 1901-02-16
CLOTHES. MAKE The MAN

The smooth-faced, chubby-looking man
OF forty, whose long and fashionably cut
overcoat was ornamented with q heavy
mink collar and equally heavy mink cuffs
entered the smoking car at Philadelphia
deposited his bag in the rack overhead and
as the car was somewhat chilly, kept his
overcoat on while he pulled out a pretty
good cigar and started in on the enjoyment
Of smoke
The man Ia the seat across the aisle
seemed to be pretty comfortable, owing to
the attention he'd been paying to his big
silver flask since the departure Of the train
from New York, and when he saw the
smooth-faeed., genial-looking man with the
fur-trimmed overcoat he handed the flask
over to him, saying:
Have pull at that, chum. It's chilly
in here"
Thanks" said the man with the fur
trimmed overcoat, smiling amiably, but
I've just had luncheon
After while a fashy-looking chap came
In from one of the day coaches and took a
seat alongside the man with the fur-trim-
med overcoat He sized up the man with
the fur-trimmea overcoat out of the tall OF
his eye. lit cigar and inquired OF his seat
mate: >s
!. Well, how are they running for you!
Picking the winners?"
II don't believe quite catch your mean
ing" said the man with the fur collar and
cuffs, good naturedly.
His questiOner grinned.
"Ah. come off, he said, banteringly. Il
mean. are you mailing the babes that are
getting over the plate first?'
STILL" said the man with the fur-trim-
med overcoat, Il think fail to apprehend
YOU
''oh. quit your joshin'." said his seat
mate. Are. you playing the ponies that
are running at San Francisco or at New
Orleans, and how're you making out?
"Oh. now I think L understand YOU" said
the man with the fur-trimmed overcoat,
beamng. 1.-The running horses, l take it,
you allude to? Well, 1 am not playing
Them as you put 1t, at all.
Passed the game up, eh? said his seat
mate
well. can't say that I have, really,
seeing that 1 never did engage in the prac-
tice Of wagering money on horse races
said the man with the fur-trimmed over
coat, quite amiably. It's a practice OF
which I scarcely approve.
His seat mate pulled out a flask and Of
fered it to the smooth-faced, genial-look-
Ing man.
"Hit this up-its the right goods" he
said, cordially.
II think not" said the man with the fur
trimmed overcoat, quite beamingly. ASIDE
from the fact that I've just eaten, don't
use spirits in any form y
'Ah. say. pal, cut out that stringin, -
said his seat mate. Anybody could see
tudl you re Il uedu game, dii llSht, w Soui
make up. Like to Join in a little game OF
hearts or seven up, or even ten-cent limit
poker. Just to pass the time away! can
soon get bunch of fellows together"
well" said the man with the fur collar
and cuffs, Il hardly think SO, today. 1
never play cards"
"Say now I know you're a kidder," said
his seat mate. ''You don't expect me to
swallow a con like that. do you-that you
don't ever hit up the old red-eye, or juggle
the pasteboards, or put little piece of
change down on the ponies-When you've
got front on you like that-man with a
coat like you're wearing?'
The man. with the suspected overcoat
smiled.
my friend" said he permit me to put
you right 1 am a minister of the gospel.
and live in Baltimore. My own overcoat
was stolen from me in a hotel in Philadel-
phia yesterday, and one of my Philadelphia
friends who is somewhat addicted to things
of this world loaned me the overcoat you
now see me wearing until 1 could have an
other one made Tut, tut! No harm done
Don't mention it! Here is my card. and
the address of the church in Baltimore Of
which I am rector, and if, at any time, you
should feel like renewing your spiritual
strength while you sojourning in Bal
timore, 1 should be delighted to have you
call upon me. = Er-come to think of 1t, my
card case was in the overcoat that was
stolen from me. But never mind. You
shall find me whenever you feel disposed
to seek the consolation of religion, and
But Nat GoodWins S seat mate had already
fed In dismay into the coach whence he
had come, and the comedian unfolded
dramatic weekly and was soon imbedded
in the dongS of the stage.