The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-27
A Hobo Ticket speculator.

Gimme a good seat" said the frayed
looking individual as he reached he
box Office of a Newark theatre. accord
ing 10 the New York Press. The ticket
seller looked up and tool a rapid sur
vey of the applicants raiment, when
seemed to pass muster.
ANY preferences IN price!' he asked
THE prices are all right friend. But
| want a seat somewhere in the middle
of the first or second row." said the
purchaser decisivaly.
Having obtained the seat desired the
dilapidated individual entered the Play
house, passing the voluble press agent
who used this as an example 10 pOiuI
ont that the fascination of this drama
often overruled the desire for a good
meal.
The individual under discussion took
his almost inaccessible eat n sat
there -decorously until the orchestra
was playing the last strains OF me
overture. Then he arose and with
! great elaboration removed his coat and
vest, thereby exhibiting a tattered shirt
OF barber pole design and a pair CT
grimys suspenders whose original color
had been green. TO cap the climax just
as the curtain went VI he produced 4
dirty clay pipe and filled it with the
odocous brand of tobacco known as
Ditch Digger's Delight" Scratch"
went a sulphur match and this patron
of" dramatic art began TO exhale little
puffs of heavy smoke. Two ushaTs
were already mancuvering to get close
TO the man without causing any excite
-,o-r hut Tho toSl- u-oS iiffipp1v
Excuse me, SAID a gentleman whose
fair companion was slowly asphyxIat-
ing, but 90 you know that smoking
is against the ~rulcs?"
Sure" said tn man, thrusting out
his lower jaw; Il know I'm breaking
them, but don't let that worry you
I'll report you to the management"
muttered the gentleman wrathfully, as
he made his way up the aisle with his
companion. A group in the family cir
Gle had begun TO litter at the comedy
below them, and the murmur Was
spreading. The star was .waverinS in
her lines just as the excited head usher
slid into the vacated seats alongside
of the human volcano.
Here. Here!" he said in a tense
whisper. You'll nave to cut that out
anu SeJ Out SOul Skill III d huiA
The smoker looked him calmly in the
eye, winked derisively as he CALCULATED
the one word "Tush!" Whereat he
emitted a cloud of smoke that SAVIOR
ed of Barren Island on a summers
day.
Come on out" said the usher per-
back"
Don't want it. said the man tersely.
Then we'll get a policeman" said
the usher.
GO ahead my boy. There'll be a lot
of torn dresses and a theatre panic be-
fore I'm hauled out. Now, il you want
to talk money to me hurry up, cause
l feel like smoking and people think it
is a fire."
"A dollar" said the usher, land no
arrest"
A dozen rumors were spreading
among spectators in different parts of
the house, and put for the reassuring
note in the laughter of a few persons
who saw the fun of the situation the
condition of affairs would have been
extremely serious.
Mike aid the man decisevly.
my price is SIS, right here in my hand,
and a promise not to prosecute"
Here it is, you scoundrel," Kissed
the manager, who had joined the head
usher. Then as the man put away his
pipe and donned mis- coat, the manager
winked a cold, cruel tip to the usher,
who hurried out and marshaled he
employees in battle formation in he
lobby.
A few moments later the victorious
hobo was propelled into the gutter by
a dozen vigorous punches and kicks.
but the SIS went with him.