“I have the honor. We were passengers upon the same train.”
“Clean through, you mean?” queried Bill.
“Yes. We happened to get on together, at Omaha.”
“I congratulate you, suh,” affirmed the Colonel. “We were not aware, suh, that you had an acquaintance of that nature in this city.”
Again congratulation over my fortune! It mounted to my head, but I preserved decorum.
“A casual acquaintance. We were merely travelers by the same route at the same time. And now if you will recommend a good eating place, and be my guests at supper, after that, as I have said, I must be excused. By the way, while I think of it,” I carelessly added, “can you direct me how to get to the Big Tent?”
“The Big Tent? If I am not intruding, suh, does your engagement comprise the Big Tent?” 83
“Yes. But I failed to get the address.”
The Colonel swelled; his fishy eyes hardened upon me as with righteous indignation.
“Suh, you are too damned innocent. You come here, suh, imposing as a stranger, suh, and throwing yourself on our goodness, suh, to entertain you; and you conceal your irons in the fiah under your hat, suh. Do we look green, suh? What is your vocation, suh? I believe, by gad, suh, that you are a common capper foh some infernal skinning game, or that you are a professional. Suh, I call your hand.”