A GOOD STORY.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 513, 19 May 1879, Page 2

A GOOD STORY.

Referring to a well known professor of theatricalities, the Ashburton Mail gives th« following amusing anecdote :— " Strolling players, especially when they happen to be Yankee, have a reputation for smartnest, but occasionally they meet in with more than their match. Quite recently one of these gentlemen had an adventure in Ashburton, which, if ever he writes his biography, he will be able to include amongst bis bitter experience*. Ho had occupied the Town Hall for a couple of evenings, when it occurred to him that he ought to retain possession of tbe key of the side door The keeper was spoken to on the subject, Jonathan pointing out that bh object for retaining the key was to be able to remove his valuables in case of a fire at night. Although yielding, the hallkeeper thought he smelt a rat, so after the hall h».4 been locked up for the night he returned, and quietly barricaded the side entrance. About six next rooming an express stood in readiness opposite tha do«, and Jonathan was to be seen vainly endeavoring to gain admission with the view of removing his effects to the railway station in time for the down train to Dunedin. The keeper was also on the alert, and like an early bird caught bis worm. " Hulloa," he said, •' I didn't bear the cry of fire/ " No, I guess not," replied Jonathan ; " but something's wrong with this here door; the darned thing won't work." "No, friend, I believe it wants a seven guinea key to open it just now. When you settle for the hall you can get your traps." " Why, you don't tblnk me a rogue, do you?" said tha other getting a little excited. "Oh, no!" was tha cool reply, " bnt I'm not a new chum. We never leave these things to chance in these parts." There was a slight discussioo, ending in the would-be Mr. Sloper offering the hall keeper five guineas in payment, and the other insisting on a settlement in full. " Why, you

see, we've done rather badly," (aid the persuasive stranger, " take the fiver, and if the directors tay a word about it, I'il remit the rest." "Ah, no," was the resolute rejoinder, " that's not my way of doing business. Pay me the seven guicas, and if the directors allow anything off, I'll send it alter you." The money was paid, the luggage was released, and with the exclamation, " tarnation cute people In these parts," Mr. Jonathan winged his way to the railway station.