One evening, as he sat in the public room, reading a New York paper which he had picked up from the table, he was accosted by a young man of thirty or thereabouts, tall, and rather loosely put together, who was smoking a cigar. He tendered another to Tom, with the remark:
“Will you try a cigar, young man?”
“No, thank you, sir, I don’t smoke,” answered Tom, politely.
“You’ll learn by and by. Been long in the city?”
“Not long.”
“Going further West?”
“I expect to go to California.”
“Indeed! Anybody with you?”
“No, I am traveling alone.”