THEIR LITTLE JOKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 742, 3 February 1915, Page 7

THEIR LITTLE JOKE.

A pompous old gentleman had secured a compartment to himself by bribing the guard to label the compartment "engaged," but was surprised to find himself observed of all observers when the train drew up at the platform of the terminus to which he had booked. Moreover, to his great indignation, he discovered that he had been locked in. His efforts to attract attention were eminently successful, but the remarks, from tbe gaping throng which speedily collected were certainly not calculated to soothe the mildest of men, and when both guards arrived and refused pointblank to unlock the door and liberate him the threats by the old gentleman were terrifying. Now,, it chanced that neither of these guards was the one the passenger had tipped, and asking for him he found that for some reason or other a change had been effected at the last moment. This would not have mattered in the least had not someone, either by way of a joke or revenge—probably tb.3 latter—written in chalk upon the caii'iage door, "The gentleman in this compartment is orj,*no account to leave until the arrival of bis attendant, who follows by the next train," thereby creating the natural impression that the old gentleman was a lunatic, whose attendant had been accidentally left behind when the train started.