| Show CROSSING THE LINE once upon a time s there came to philadelphia a young kentuckian Kentuck ian lan for the purpose of learning the sciences of medicine and surgery he was tall and athletic shrewd apt and intelligent with a little sprinkling of waggishness he was inducted in the charity hospital and a room in the third story given him as a study on entering into his new quarters he helas wab was introduced to a young french gentleman who it seems was very frank in hia hig man ner ners courteous yet cold thus addressed dregs drets ed his companion bir sir I 1 am indeed pleased to seo eee you and hope that we may prove mutually agreeable but in order that it may he the case I 1 will inform you that I 1 have had several former room mates with none of whom I 1 could ever agree we could never pursue our stu studies eiles clies together this room contains two beds as the old eat occupant claim the one nearest the window the kentuckian Kentuck ian fan assented snow enow now 3 says bays the drench French frenchman marly maily all uli drew draw daw the boundary line between our terri tories and we hall hali each agree not to encroach upon the tho others other rights nud and taking a piece of chalk from his pocket he made the mark of division divisions midway from one side bide of the room to the other asir hir sir he added 1 I hope you yon have no objection objection to the treaty none in the world sir air answered the stranger 1 I am perfectly satisfied with it he then sent bent down for his baggage and both students eat down with their books the frenchman wall waa soon deeply engaged while oid old kenta kentuck ck was watching him and thinking what a queer genius he mus must it bo be and how 10 might nix fix him thus things went on until dinner time came the bell was rung the frenchman popped up adjusted his cravat brushed up his whiskers and moustaches mou staches and assayed to dopart depart tand stand air said baid the stranger suddenly placing himself with a toe too to the mark directly in front of the french student if you cross that lino iino you yon are a dead man s the frenchman stood pale with astonishment the Kentuck kentuckian lan moved not a muscle of his face both remained in silence for some bome moments ino ments when the frenchman exclaimed is ia it possible that 1 I did not reserve the right of passage baj w no sir bir indeed you did not and you pass this line at your peril but how shall I 1 get out of the room where ethere is the window which you yon reserved to yourself you may use that but you pass not that door my door which you generously lett left me the poor frenchman Frenc humn was wag fairly caught he was in a made all sorts of explanations and entreaties the kentuckian took com compassion pasion on him and thinking that going out of a third story window was not what it was cracked up to be 0 said to his hla friends friend sin sir csir in order that we may way be mutually agreeable ill ull rub out that hateful chalk line and let you pass pau the frenchman politely thanked him and since the settlement of that boundary question they have been the very best friends |
