Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-22
Lower Eight
Copyright. by ). b. Lippineott Coz
BycaroIine Lockhsss

| himself for a comfortable nap. having
snugly tucked away the last OF his
charges. including the fat man In
Lower Eight" and the timid young
thing who had boarded the train al
Norfolk. The porter stirred uneasily
in his nap. for the snoring that was
arising from Lower Eight" drowned
the roar OF the train. The snoring
came In gurgles. means and whistling.
the like OF which had never been
heard In heaven above or on the earth
beneath. The curtains OF Lower
Eight" had swung slightly open with
the iurch of the train, and the fat
man could be seen lying on his broad
back. with his mouth gaping wide.
AS his slumber deepened. he was
apparently In the last throes of chok-
ing when a neatly rolled umbrella.
held In a slender white hand. crept
out from Lower Seven" where the
timid young thing was shrinking. and
made vicious iab between the cur
tains OF Lower Eight"
Porter Porter" came q whoop
from Lower Eight and the bell
trilled wildly.
What is Il, sah?" cried the startled
porter as he bounded down the aisle.
did you stab me In the side?" de-
manded the fat man In dire wrath.
"Oh, no. sah!" replied the porter.
II never done no thing like that. You
must have been dreaming. sab"
"Confound you! I'm not dreaming!
growIed Lower Eight"
We'll. sah." argued the porter. his
black hand concealing his cleaning
iycries, you know that when you
turned u you had took little noah
than was jess good 10 any gemman."
Its mighty funny" muttered Low
err Eight" but he was not In a posi-
ticn to contradict this statement. so
he subsidized The porter returned to
the smoking room. Illuminating on the
strange Authorizations produced BY
too long dallying in the dining car.
The shores began again In rising
crescendo. Just as the teeth OF nerv-
GUS passengers were well set. the UNI
brelia stole again from Lower Sew
en-" and another vicious lunge made
the snore change to a howl OF rage.
"Porter!" yelled Lower Eight" Il
tell you some one is stabbing mel"
KANT be nuffin' like that, sab" re-
piled the porter. coming up soothingly.
81 amt slept a wink. and nobodys
been movin' in this car. or Id a-seen
them. You're Jess havin' a bad
dream"
ITS no dream!" shouted the fat
man. why, my side is sore. Feels
like there's q hole there you could
stick your fist in"
Now you go to sleep again. sah."
coaxed the porter. and I'll watch
that you amt fetched"
The rumble OF the train was once
more lost 10 the vocal exercises from
Lower Eight" and the porter. pull
ing his cap over his eyes. mapped In
the smoking compartment.
Ouch! Ouch! Help Help" and
red face shot out of Lower Eight"
The porter slouched up the aisle. dis
gust written on his countenance.
"Gawd. porter" groaned the fat
man. rs there doctor on board?
I'm horribly punctured, Did you see
the villain when he stabbed ms?"
"Kain't nobody stab you. sab" re-
monstrated the porter sternly, NO
body amt moved In this car. You've
got the delerIam trimmins. that's
what's. the matter VIII you. II you
don't lie still and stop your holierin'.
me and the conductor is goin' TO strap
you down"
y don't see what they mean by
putting drunken brutes In the car
with ladies'" exclaimed an acid voice
from Upper Ten"
Put him on. at the next station
This Is supposed 10 be a sleeping
car" growied Lower Four" He
hasn't done a thing but keep every
body awake with his infernar grunt-
ing since he turned In"
From all along the lire OF curtains
came uncomplimentary comments.
but there was silence In Lower
Seven" where lay the timid young
thing who had got on at Norfolk
Never had such bad dreams in ny
iife," said Lower Eight" addressing
the car In general Dreamed the
same thing three times in succession
I believe it Is a warning II any &C
cident Is going to happen tonight.
die with my boots on. I'm going to
get up"
A thrsshins about told the other
passengers that the "a; man vas as
! good as his word. A sigh Of relief
was breathed through the car as the
fat man numbered by the curtains to
the snokingroom. TO spend the rest
Of the night broodlng over the mys-
terry.
When the t.mid young thing crept
from her berth the rext morning.