A CHEAP BLANKET.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CHEAP BLANKET.

? Tommy Atkins always finds a way to raise the wind, but the most artful method was carried out by a party of soldiers travelling by rail in India. As the train drew up at a small station one of the soldiers leaned out of the carriage window holding a blanket in his arms. '•Who wants to buy a blanket?" he shouted to a party of natives, who were standing on the platform. A rush was made towards the soldier, and several offers were made Tommy held the blanket close to his body, and asked a greater price than any would give, but just as the train was about to start he resolved to sell it to the man who made the highest offer. As the train moved the money was handed over, and Tommy pushed the blanket into the arms of the native, whose face was lit up with smiles at his excellent bargain, but the smiles gave place to a look of horror as -the blanket jumped out of his arms, ran up the line after the departing train, and disappeared into the carriage window, to bo sold again at the next station, for Tommy had a rope fastened securely to the blanket, the other end being tied to the carriage seat. This trick was carried out at several stations, but at length an old fellow, who had evidently bought cheap blankets before, whipped out a knife, cut the rope, and Tommy sailed up the line with a disgusted look upon his face, minus his blanket.