The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-13
The Gentleman in
the OTHER Bed.
By A. NJ. Barnes.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
~ HAT had been the greatest
game year South Carolina
sportsmen had known since

sportsmen had known since
the President had come down
as the guest of General Ashley and
the Palmetto Club; more than two
score deer had been seen at one stalk
ing. l got together my guns and
dogs. and attended by Amos, my serv-
ing boy, repaired to the field.
I hunted for three days, then some
what surfeited, for l had great luck
from start to finish, Il determined to
rest for a day or so at the tavern at
Monck's Corner. I found the inn
crowded, and. to my dismay, learned
there was not a single spare room. In
addition to the sportsmen, the lawyers,
too. had gathered. for court had
opened only the day before.
Sorry" said the host, "but there
isn't room could give you"
He stopped, seemed to consider a
point for a moment or so, then asked
hesitatingly:
"You wouldn't care to share room
with another, would you?"
. Decidedly not" 1 returned.
"Well. then, suppose sir, there's
nothing else but for you to take it sit
ting up in the main room. A fire will
be kept burning all night. You are
welcome"
thanked him and walked away. I
knew there was no other resource,
since this was the only public house
in the town. passed through the
door Of the rather small Office, and out
and some portions Of the company
therein assembled were not Of the
best. I very soon saw that if I pro-
cured even comfortable sitting space,
/ should have to elbow for it. I
stood it until II o'clock; then. thor
oughly worn out, came to the deci-
sion that even a strange bedfellow,
however disagreeable, was vastly
preferable to this miserable make
shift of sitting up to sleep.
I walked back to the office.
"I'll take the bed with the other
fellow" I said to the landlord, as
meekly as could
"Why, I didn't expect you to share
the bed with another" returned he
quickly. 81 was going to have 4 Sec
ond bed put up"
I could have hugged him in the eX-
cess of joy the news gave me.
"Why didn't you tell me so at first?"
I cried.
"Why, my dear sir, thought you
understood it. l said nothing about
sharing bed, but sharing a room."
"All right, I'll share the room, no
matter whether the other fellow be a
tramp or gentleman"
you'll find him a gentleman. de,
cidedly; though a little off in his
ways, and rather irregular as to hours.
He may be in at II o'clock, or again
he may not make his appearance until
2 or o'clock in the morning. Some
times he is out the entire night. At
any rate he isn't here now. I will ask
you to leave the door unbolted. He
has his key-or, rather" correcting
himself, at Is here in the office. But
the key, Of course, would be useless
If the inside bolt is shot IT," he con-
tinued you feel the least uneasiness
you can leave with ME. for deposit in
the Office safe, any valuables you may
have"
81 have nothing Of special value" I
replied, except my watch and pocket
jook." AS I spoke handed them to
him. He called a servant, and l
heard an order given for an extra bed
In No. II, Mr.. Barcroft's room, as it
was designated. In the course of
twenty minutes or so the servant re-
Burned to show me up. 1t was a
room, l judge, about sixteen by four
teen feet, and on the second floor of
the house. The ceiling was rather
low, and the apartment had a crowd
ed appearance. Mr.. Bancroft seemed
to have quite a lot Of belongings.
Some Of them had been pushed rather
hastily together to make room for the
other bed. The two beds stood almost
foot to foot. I wondered why they
had been so arranged, and supposed
that, in the haste with which the other
bed had been added to the room very
little thought had been taken as to po-
sition. There was just room enough
to pass between them. At that time
paid but little attention to the de-
tails of the two beds, beyond the
point that they were somewhat SINH
lar-low footboards, high headboards
and Of rather modern make.
''At what time do you suppose Mr.
Bancroft will come in ?" I asked some
what carelessly of the servant.
"There amt no tellin', sir. He's
likely to 0e in one minute, an he's
likely to be in the mex. Him 8
ge'mon of great uncertainties, sir
a strange ge'mon. too," he continued
without further solicitation. "alweyE
talkin' to hisse'f, an maxim mo-
tions with his hands. An when yor
speak to him, sir, many's the time BIZ
doan never answer"
These remarks were certainly mo-
of q nature to attract me to my pros
pective roommate. I told the negro
ito close the door as he went out
That was the one thing about which
i must confess, I felt really nervous
why had this promise been exacted
r 4ha