Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-08-14

W thS biNhNAS at wien tle con-
ductor came round. He sat alone at first,
but after a while lady got in who rode
thirty miles or more, and then got out.
little later young man passed through
the cars, looking about him on either side.
He paused at Walters seat, and inquired,
as this seat taken?"
mo, SIR said Walter.
Then, with your permission, will
take it, said the stranger "TiresOme
work travelling, isn't it?'
II don't know" said Walter 81 rather
like it; but then'I never Travelled much"
II have to travel a great deal on busi-
ness" said the other, 'and I've got tired
of it. How many times do you think l
have been over this road?"
Couldn't guess"
This is the fifteenth time l know it
like a book. How far are you going?"
ITO Cleveland"
SCOT relations there, l suppose?"
NO." said Walter; II am going oh
business"
He was rather glad to let his compan.
ion know that he, too, was in business.
You're young to be in business" said
his companion. what sort of business
is it?"
81 am agent for Flint & Pusher, a New
York firm
Publishers, amt they"
"Yes, SIR
Walters companion was a young man
of twenty-five, or possibly year or two
, older. lie was rather fashily attired,
with a cutaway coat and low-cut vest,
double-breasted, across which glittered a
massive chain, which might have been
gold, or might only have been gilt since
all that gltters is not gold. At any rate,
it answered the purpose of making a
show. His cravat was snowy, and his
whole appearance indicated absence of
good taste. A cautious employer would
scarcely have selected him from a crowd
of applicants for confidential position.
Walter was vaguely conscious of this.
| Still he had seen but little of the world,
and felt incompetent to judge others.
Are you going right through to Cleve-
landY' inquired the stranger.
"No; think shall stop at Buffalo. l
want to see Niagara Falls"
That's right. Better see them. They're
stunning"
Il suppose you have been there?" said
Walter with some curiosity.
"Oh, yes, several times. I've great
mind to go again and show you around,
but l don't know if l can spare so long
time from business"
Il should like your company" said
Walter, politely; ''but | don't want to
interfere with your engagements"
"I'll think of it, and see how l can
arrange matters" said the other.
| Walter was not particularly anxious
for the continued society of his present
companion. He was willing enough to
| talk with him, but there was something
| in his appearance and manner which pre-
vented his being attracted to him. He
turned away and began to view the seem
cry through which they were passing. The
stranger took out a newspaper, and ap-
peared to be reading attentively. Half
an hour passed thus without a word being
spoken on either side. At length his COM
panion folded up the paper.
do you smoker" he asked
NO." said Walter
IL think Ill go into the smoking car
and smoke a cigar. | should like to offer
you one if you will take one."
mo, thank you," said Walter; 81 don't
smoke, and | am afraid my first cigar
wouldn't give me much pleasure"
''I'll be back in few minutes. Per-
haps you'd like to look over this paper
while | am gone"
THANK you," said Walter.
He took the paper-an illustrated week.
ly--and looked over the pictures with con-
siderable interest. He had just COM
menced reading a story when boy pass
ed through the car with a basket Of
oranges and apples depending from his
arm.
"Oranges-apples !" he called out, look
ing to the right and left in quest of Gus.
toners
The day was warm, and through the
open window dust had blown into the
car. Walters throat felt parched, and
the oranges looked tempting.
"How much are your oranges?" he In.
quired.
"Five cents apiece, or three for dime,"
answered the boy.
''I'll take three" said Walter, reflect
ing that he could easily dispose of two
himself, and considering that it would
only be polite to offer one to his compan-
ion, whose paper he was reading, when
he should return.
"Here are three nice ones," said the
boy. picking them out and placing them
in our hero's hands.
Walter felt in his vest pocket, thinking
he had little change there. He proved
to be mistaken. There was nothing in
that pocket except his railway tickets.
Next, of course, he felt for his pocket
book, but he felt for it in vain. Hs
started in surprise.
~ thought my pocketbook was in that
pocket" he reflected. Can it be in the
I'll