The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-14


compartment was manifestly at ease with
himself and the world, He was taking
solid comfort and didn't care whether
The train made sixty miles an hour or
sixteen.
The smoke Of his fat cigar filled the room
with it's fragrant aroma. His long legs
we're stretched out 80 that his feet rested
on the edge of the seat opposite him. His
right elbow was supported by the window
edge and bis head leaned against his right
hand. just near enough to tho open window
so that the cool breeze that shot in as the
train rushed along tossed his long hair.
The skirts of his frock coat were gathered
into his lap and on them lay huge black
soft hat. With his free hand he OCCASION
ally stroked caressingly the ends OF his long
mustachs.
Satisfaction with his condition and sur
roundings radiated from him, and 1t was
evident that the service and the meal IN
the dining car from which he had just come
had been without suspicion of fault.
That different men find their enjoyment
III different ways is no more trite than
true. This gentleman from the South
one would have said Kentucky without
second thought If 1t had been necessary
10 make the guese-had no need OF any
other element to insure him pleasant
journey.
Companionship was apparently the one
thing which would he distasteful to him.
Evidently his thoughts we're entirely suffi.
ci,nt. The natural perversity OF things was
reason enough. therefore. for the arrival
of a Quartet of gentlemen from the dining
car who were quite of the other mood.
The notion Of a good time in travelling
common TO them all was to talk and laugh
as they ate and drank and smoked, and
that was certainly why they had now co"4s
TO the smoking compartment The MAI
in the chair across from the tall. silent
gentleman from the South wondered what
the outcome would be, held his peace and
listened.
The first roar arose when one of the four
attempted to light cigar He used a
parlor match, and the head flew on ana
burned hi, hand severely Jokes like that
have the rare merit of appealing with great
force to such men as the quartet, and tine
laugh WAS prolong, vi and loud.
Then story telling began. Each yarn
WIS received with a gale of laughter. and
the smaller the point and harder to ma
it was the louder was the reception it got.
They slapped one another on the back
and poked themselves in the ribs and had
no end Of fun.
Through it all the tall man from the
South maintained silence and kept on with
his cigar. But no man could be IN the same
commandment with the four iokers without
hearing what they we're saying, and II
soon became apparent that they we're try
ing to draw the silent man in the corner
into their game.
The stories were told directly A. him,
with mid narration glances toward MS
corner and all the overtures OF that sort
which the practised story-teller knows
how to make. But the silent man coulo
not be drawn.
The run of the tales so far had been on
the broad order, and it was enough Tor any
man to stay and hear them without taking
part in the telling. One OF the greatest
arguments agains, smoking is the com
pany it will sometimes lead man to en-
dure for the sake of his cigar.
AT last the jokers changed their line.
The train ran across q river and by the
shore of a little lake. and the sight OF the
water suggested fishing. Away they went
on the new tack. and there was imme-
diateIy noticeable an evidence Of atten-
ton on the part of the tall man in the corner
sea, that had not been observable before
His expression had been maintained al
g, old Indifference for long time during
the assault Of vulgarity, changing toward
the last to disgust and indignation. AS the
fishing yarns went on he showed more and
more signs of waking up 10 what was &C.
curing around him.
These signs were not lost on the quartet
and they began TO aim their Efforts directly
Al him. II was the fat, bald-headed man
with the huge Masonic charm on his watch
chain who finally brought down the game.
ANY of you ever try these Colorado
trout" he asked.
There was a unanimous response in the
We'll, they're great" continued the fat
man. Never saw anything like some OF
them. You take it up here on Clear Creek,
now Never been up on Clear s..s Creek ,,n,.on
that they had never had that pleasure.
ever heard or declared the fat man
aThey grow real trout UP there, none Of
these little. spindly, picayune things you
have to carry six-inoh rule around WITH
will come along and chuck you in Jail for
catching minnows. They measure EN-
up there with yard stick. and sometimes
that amt long enough.
A shout of approval greeted this state,
ment, and the tail man in the corner shifted
almost moved TO get into the discussion.
Bnt il he had that impulse he restrained 1t.
and settled back into his comfortable corner.
The fat man returned to the tale with re-
newed energy.
.aid' II got on to the queerest thing ever
heard Of about trout. Nobody needs to