up over his spectacles, said:

"Conductor, aren't we almost to Pocahantas?"

"Almost where?"

"I mean--I mean, well dang it! never mind, never mind," he stammered.

At this, he jumped to his feet, starting for the front car, turned and
looked at me, and while shaking his cane, yelled as he passed out:

"Laugh! you infernal fool, laugh!" And the door slammed.

On arriving at Pontiac, just as the train was stopping I looked into the
front car and saw the Doctor rising from his seat. I opened the door,
and changing the tone of my voice, sang out, "POCAHONTAS!" and dodged
back into the car and took my seat.

The Doctor came out onto the platform, and looking in, saw me sitting
there, apparently asleep.

He opened the door and said:

"Come on, Johnston; we are at Poca--come on--come on, you dang fool;
don't you know where we are?"

I jumped to my feet and went out sleepily, rubbing my eyes, and told him
I was glad he woke me up.

"Yes, I should think you would be; but I was a fool that I didn't let
you stay there. The devil knows where you would have landed."

I suggested that I might have brought up at Pocahontas.

"Great Heavens! don't mention that name to me again."

After registering at the hotel and settling in a room we began
discussing our prospects. But in a few minutes the Doctor said:

"Johnston, we have simply raised the devil."

"How so?"

"Why, do you know, the whole dang Railroad company have got to calling
this town Pocahontas!"

"I guess not."

"But, by the Eternal Gods! I know it is so. When our train stopped at
the depot, the brake-man opened the door and yelled, 'Pocahontas!' at
the top of his voice."

"O, thunder! Doctor; you have been so excited all night that you
couldn't tell what he called."

"I couldn't?" he thundered out. "Don't you s'pose I could tell the
difference between Pocahontas and--and--well, Johnston, you cussed fool,
I'll never be able to call this infernal town by its right name again. I
am going to retire."

We remained at that hotel but one day, not being able to make
satisfactory rates, besides being dunned for our board in advance.

We then called on an elderly widow lady who was running a fourth-class
hotel. She seemed favorably impressed with the Doctor, which fact made
us feel quite comfortable, for the time being.

I "hus'led" out with a lot of hand-bills, which I scattered over the
town, and returned to the hotel to await results.

The first afte