Even the ladies jostled him as he lingered on the crossings to ascertain whether the teams on the right or the left were the most likely to run him down; and the gentlemen had no hesitation in pushing him to this side or that, as best suited their convenience.
“Seems to me folks are in an awful hurry here. It must be there’s somethin’ goin’ on. I’ve come to town to see all there is, an’ reckon I’ll foller the crowd for a while. There’ll be plenty of time to find Baker’s Court after I’ve had a look at the show.”
Josiah followed the pedestrians with no slight difficulty, owing to the weight of his valise.
He failed to see any evidence of a “show,” other than such as was obtainable from the shop windows.
Changing his valise from one hand to the other at short intervals, he continued on until it seemed as if several miles had been traversed, when he stopped in dismay.
“This won’t do! I’ll get lost the first I know, an’ then there will be a muss! I reckon I would have to spend as much as twenty-five cents if I wanted to stay all night in a hotel.”
It was time he made some inquiries as to the location of Baker’s Court, and he began by attempting to stop the next gentleman who passed.
“Get out of the way! I have nothing for you.”
“But I want”—
The gentleman had hurried on without waiting to hear the explanation, and Josiah eagerly turned to another.