An Artful Dodge.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 December 1885, Page 6

An Artful Dodge.

Theee or four commercial travellers were seated in the smoking-car amusing themselves as commercial travellers are wont to do, says the Chicago "Herald." The conversation was not altogether of the price of goods or probabilities of orders, but occasionally turned to the fair sex. " By the way," said one of the drummers, "before you boys came aboard I waß back in the next coach, and I saw there a magnificent girl, as pretty as a picture. I was crazy to get acquainted with h6r, but she wouldn't have any foolishness; Run back and look at her." Of course, the other drummers sauntered back, and on their return were loud in their praises of the strange beauty. "Boys," said the first speaker, "I'm willing to confess it's a clean case ' of love at first sight with me, and, just to get up my courage, I'll wager any one of you or the whole party "sdols. that before we get to Indianapolis I'll be sitting beside that girl, and she'll be resting her head lovingly on my shoulder." - The other drummers were so eager for the "snap" that they quarrelled as to which one should hold the stake. The four $5 bills were deposited with the fourth man as a stakeholder, and the smitten wagerer threw away his cigar and started for the other car, telling his companions to keep watch of him. ' They watched him. As he entered the coach the fair stranger was reading a novel. He walked boldly up to her side and spoke to her. She looked up, smiled, moved to one, side to make room for him, and when he had seated placed her pretty head upon his shoulder as if she had a right to. In half an hour the lucky, commercial travellerdrew from his pocket another cigar, , the beauty raised her head and he returned .to the smoking-car. "My wife has excused me long enough for another smoke," he eaid to his amazed companions. " She did not want to come with me'on this trip for fear it would cost H;oo much,* but I told her we'd make money if she'd come along. So far we are about $40 ahead of expenses* and by fail expect to to have enough to buy a sealskin sacque. Those $5 notes, please."