Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-09
An InterniSSion
for Trouble
4.
BY w. S. ROGERS


said the lOng-legged Brill. "Well. I
Should demonstrate. secretly hope
so. Ii you'd seen me DEMONSTRATING
In Jersey once you'd believe in it. Tx
element? Don't mention it.
THE gentle East may be gentle to
them that understand 1t, but III take
my peace and quietude on the back of
an Arizona cyclone and be satisfied
with that. No East for me. It's en-
tirely too strenuous.
1T was in New Jersey. and I was
waiting for a train. I had surplus
time on my hands amounting to three
hours. and not being restricted with
remorse or anything. thought I'd nat
urally move around through some of
the jay precincts next adjacent, and
see what there was. If anything, COM
ing to me.
$50 I rummaged up a long village
studying the outlook. till came after
while to tobacco Establishments
layout, you know, where they had mag
azines to sell In the window and lot
of disastrous truck for effete people
with weak teeth; and I went In and
spoke with the young-looking gazelle
In charge Of these preparations. and
asked him for something Injurious but
smokable. and all the latest news.
"'Shnke hands with sympathizer,'
says l. DO you live in New Jersey all
the time? If So
"'Say.' he says. as IL 1t was bright
inspiration that had just come in to
him from the shores Of nowhere in
particular, If you haven't got anything
useful to attend to right away. maybe
you wouldn't mind holding down this
diversion here for minute or two
while go out and see to something.
Would you favor a man like that?' he
says.
"Well, it sounded reasonable, and I
couldn't freely object right off quick
to such thing as that. only asked
him If he didn't think 1t might be I'M
lawful to trust perfect stranger with
n fifty-dollar outfit on such short no.
tice.
"'Wcll, all right. Willyr says. I
didn't come East looking for imprOmp-
tn adventures like this, but Of course
I'm not going to throw down nice
looking young man like you just from
baShfulness and unknown scruples. So
hit the warpath whenever you're
ready I says. and I'll stay behind,
and keep perfect order for you
$50 he went, and I was left there
all alone with that messy little cargo
Of misplaced confidence in the amateur
pipe and tobacco line. And I wasn't
especially afraid of it nor puffed all
up with rapture on account Of the way
I was suddenly getting on in the world.
"But then, pretty soon it got different
and lantern-jawed cuss in a white
vest and gold-trimmed nose pinchers,
wearing considerable Of big brown
looking trunk that they call grip, was
responsible for it. 1t was him that
started things, and says he:
"I'm the collector
such a thing.
"'You areY I says. What's that7
I never heard Of you. What do you
make speciality of collectIng?' says I.
"Well. he didn't approve Of that way
Of coming hack at all.
"'DOn't mOnkey!' says he. Amt
your accounts ready?'
'Accounts?' says I. 4 don't think
so. This Is too sudden. don't seem
to remember you at all. What did you
say your particular line wasp says.
"That man begun to jerk himself
around and look irrltated.
"Tm not here for conversation he
says, but money. Pony up he says,
'and be little soon about 1t, too!
"'You're trife overheated, amt
your says I. Or applying to the
wrong address? Hadn't you better
take a mild cigar and walk down the
street and try to forget itT
But he wouldn't.
"I'm after the money! he snorts
up. The money! Don't you know
what that Is? If you don't I'll spell
1t. I'm after the weekly money he
says.
"'Oh, the weekly money! I says
I hope you'll excuse me, but it's little
too premature and unexpected. I'll
have to think some before I can ac-
commodate you. Would you mind TAX
ing chair for a few minutes while
we both renect7'
But he wouldn't do that, either.
''He glared at me for about second,
and then he broke loose.
"'HellT he says. I can't deal with
lunatics. Get out of herel I'll close
this damn place upr he says.
II thought he must be pretty badly
afflicted by that time, and when he
give me shove by the shoulder and
was going to throw me out in the
street, 1t seemed to me he showed en-