The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-08
DIPLOMACY OF THE PORTER.


The girl, it appeared. would not flirt.
Four of the men in the car, says the
New York Sun. had experimental, and
had afterward disconsolately united i'll
game of bridge.
There was a fifth who wasn't sure.
Nor was his uncertainty without basis.
For the girls eyes had met his more
than once over the top of her maya
zine, yet there lacked that challenge
which provokes courage to the point of
action.
And he was not one of the pachyder-
matous drummer type, to risk rebuff
in the vision of the bridge quartette.
On the other hand. he was unwilling
to give up. He had the impression
that the girl would be glad of COM
partnership, but for the SAVIOR of reck-
lessness in the proceedings. Besides, she
was pretty.
The fifth man retired with sigh in
to his own magazine after the twen-
tieth hopeful but disappointed emer-
gence. Then he rose and walked to-
ward the far end of the car. The por-
ter stood there wearing a tentative
grin, which bespoke the entertainment
of the pleased spectator, perhaps some
thing more.
Dat lady, uh?" he observed, choos-
ing a form of words essentially nom
committal.
The grin. too. took a quality of
watchfulnes. There might be occasion
to dodge.
"Well what of herr" asked the fifth
man, Ooking hard at the grin.
"She-she-ain't nothin bout her."
the porter FASTENED to say. in depre-
catory accents. What are you getting
at them"
"Nothin', boss, nothin'" The grin
had given place to a look of injured
innocence. "Ony, l thought l saw you
kindah lookin' at her"
Whats that to you, you bullet
headed son of Darkest african"
mot a thing in de world, boss. On'y
thought 1 saw her kindah lookin' at
YOU
you're certainly got the courage or
your opinion. Go right on"
II amt meanin' no offense, boss. But
l thought 1 might kindah hep things
on"
There was now in the voice that ring
of eager appeal, characteristic of the
promoter of a scheme. The fifth man
was interested. .tr.ls. L,seas
"Oh, you thought you might did you.
You ought to be kicked off the train
for your impudence. But I'm curious
to see a sample of your diplomacy. I'll
make a bargain with you. If you can
made good, you'll have something to
put in your pocket. But If you get me
into any unpleasant position. I'll make
report of your offer to your COM
pany Does that suit you?"
"Yassir. All right. Yu jess do as 1
talI cir RI tho naxf
station. We stop there jess a few sec
onds, jess long enough for you to get
Off"
But I'm going to the end of the line.
I'm not getting off at the next sta
tom
"Yas, you are, boss. Watch out, 1
think them gemmen playin' cards Is
kindah prickin' an eah this way. Come
back this way little.
There was a brief conversation, di-
dactically punctuated by the porter's
forefinger At intervals the fifth man
nodded.
The girl glanced up once or twice
with interest. Perhaps there was a
CLINT of regret in the bright eyes when
the porter began brushing asiduously
at the good-looking young man who
had been gazing at her so annoyingly-
at least, so intently.
He was obsequiously inserted in his
overcoat and walked to the front end
of the car. The train slowed up
stopped-and went on, as the fifth
man, jauntly bearing his grip
stepped to the ground.
The girls face was close to the win
dow now. Down the platform came
the fifth man past her window. He
raised his head; his eyes met hers. lie
raised his hat.
The face in the window dimpled,
smiled, and the girl nodded brightly to
him. Why not? 1t was only a bit of
good fellowship, and as he was leaving
the train, no consequences were to be
apprehended. That was what the girl
thought.
What she did not see was the light
step with which the supposed Depart
ed swung upon the rear platform of
the car. The door was conveniently
open; the porter had seen to that. The
fifth man walked down the aisle, bent
over the seat where the girl was sit
ting and said in mildly reproachful
tones:
II hoped that you would eventually
recollect me-"
But | thought you were getting off
at that station" she grasped
Wrong place" he explained, briefly
Didn't, care for the scenery. 1 sup
pose | may sit down now?"
well. / am jiggered!" observed the
dealer in the bridge game, III his dis
comfited amazement.
The fifth man sat down beside the
girl and made himself promptly and
persistently agreeable. And what could
the poor girl do? When the train
reached the end of the line two hours
later they seemed to be pretty good
friends. As he helped her from the
train she said:
Gracious: Do you always give the
porter that kind of tip?"
"Only when I've employed him in a
diplomatic capacity" said the fifth
man.