Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/23

 A yail Adventure. 13

��A JAIL ADVENTURE.— Part II.

By William O. Clough.

"You should have seen tlie min- ously ejected me from the car, and

gled expression of surprise and con- when I gathered myself up and of-

tempt which stole over his counte- fered to show him my credentials, he

nance ; and then, to appreciate my laughed in my face and said he had

embarrassment, 3'ou should have good and sufficient reasons for be-

heard him say, — lievingthera to be bogus. I attempted

" 'Young fellow, that is an old and to reason with him. He would not

very gauzy device, and if you don't listen; he simply said, in a gruff

disperse yourself in double quick voice, 'Young man, I've got about

time, I'll see to it that you have safe out of patience with you ! You look

quarters at the station-house.' to me like a crank. Yes, sir, and if

"You may set it down as a cer- I were not under positive orders to

tainty that I 'dispersed m3'self' with- go with this train for the protection

out any more ado, and I kept dis- of the party from just such unprinci-

persed until the hour arrived for the pled intruders, I would run you in for

party to move on to the next city." investigation.'

McVeaigh's countenance now took "You may set it down as a cer-

on more of earnestness, and his voice tainty that I was greatly embarrassed,

became hard and belligerent. and that I hesitated concerning the

"My troubles," he continued, "as next move, and whether or no it was

it turned out, had but just begun. In prudent to continue the evidently un-

a confident and joyous manner I went equal contest.

on board the special train that was to "In my dilemma I appealed to the

take the party on its journey. When conductor of the train. He proved

in the act of making some inquiries to be an unusually important and dis-

of a palace car conductor, a colored obliging public servant. In fact, my

gentleman, a hand was placed rudely pathetic story had no more effect

and heavil\' upon my shoulder, and I upon him than it would have had

was felled into a corner with unneces- upon the Old Man of the Mountain,

sary violence. The policeman who He was travelling on a reverse curve,

'dispersed' me had me by the coat and he curved opposite to my humble

collar." person with great dignity.

McVeaigh paused. An irrepressi- " 'I cannot do anything for you,

ble emotion of indignation momenta- my friend!' he said, giving me a

rily overpowered him. He nervously withering and scornful glance. 'If

changed the position of his body, and you are particular about continuing

when lie spoke his voice was harsh your journey to-day, the proper thing

and belligerent. for you to do will be to purchase a

"He shook me for all the world as ticket and secure a passage on the

a terrier shakes a rat !" he exclaimed, accommodation train, which follows

indignantly. "He then ignomiui- us in thirty minutes.'

�� �