THE PUT HIM OFF, AIL RIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 478, 9 September 1909, Page 4

THE PUT HIM OFF, AIL RIGHT.

“Now, see here, porter,” said the bagman briskly, “I want you to put me off at Syracuse. You know we get in there about six o’clock in the morning, and I may over-sleep myself. But it is important that I should get out. Here’s a dollar for you. Now I may wake up hard. Don’t mind if I kick. Pay no attention if 1 behave ugly. I want you to put me off the train no matter how hard I fight. Now do you quite understand ? You are to put me off or you’ll get into trouble.” “Yes, sah,” answered the sturdy negro. “It shall be did, sah !” The next morning the bagman was awakened by a stentorian voice calling, “Rochester! Rochester ! Rochester!”,’ “Rochester !” exclaimed the bagman, sitting up. “Where on earth’s that infernal porter ?’’ Hastily slipping on his trousers, he went in search of the negro, whom he found, after some inquiry, in the porter’s closet. He was huddled up, with his head in a bandage, his clothes in shreds, and his arm in a sling, looking as if he had had a very hard rough and tumble with someone. “Well,” say the drummer, “you are a pretty sight! Why didn’t you put me off at Syracuse ?” • “Wha-at i” gasped the porter, jumping up, as his eyes bulged from his head. “Was you the gem man dat giv’ me a dollah last night ?” “Of course I was, you idiot.” “Well, den, befooh de Lawd, who was dat gemman I had such a fight witn when I put him off the train at Syracuse.