Southerner.

THE BARBER. (_Fastening the sheet_) I thought so. I'm from the
country myself.

THE CUSTOMER. What part?

THE BARBER. Oh, that would be difficult to say. You see, I've
moved around so much that I'm neither a Southerner nor a
Northerner. I'm just an American. (_He mixes the lather._) I
lived in a little town near Savannah for a year.

THE CUSTOMER. Did you? Why, so did I.

THE BARBER. Yes, indeed. I used to see you--quite frequently--
though you never came into my shop. Then I went to Philadelphia.

THE CUSTOMER. What year?

THE BARBER. Let me think. It was April, twelve years ago.

THE CUSTOMER. April, twelve years ago? _I_ went to Philadelphia
the same month!

THE BARBER. I saw you there, too, sir. (_He lets down the chair
suddenly._)

THE CUSTOMER. (_Startled_) What are you doing?

THE BARBER. I'm hurrying, sir.

THE CUSTOMER. Well, you needn't break my neck about it.

THE Barber. No, sir. (_Lathering._) From Philadelphia I went to
Newark.

THE CUSTOMER. To Newark?

THE BARBER. And from Newark to Indianapolis.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Much surprised_) What?

THE BARBER. And then Muscatine--for a few months--and Chicago--
and Louisville.

THE CUSTOMER. Why, one would think you had been following me
about! I've lived in every one of those places.

THE BARBER. Have you, sir? It's a little world, isn't it?

THE CUSTOMER. You've been a barber right along?

THE BARBER. I couldn't do anything else, sir. It's my trade.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Smiling_) Well, this is the first time you ever
shaved me.

THE BARBER. Curious, isn't it? But it may be the last.

THE CUSTOMER. That's so. I'm going to leave town right after the
auction.

THE BARBER. If I may ask, sir, where are you going?

THE CUSTOMER. I don't know yet. (_Jocularly._) Are you going to
follow me?

THE BARBER. Sooner or later, sir. It's going to be a long
journey, isn't it?

THE CUSTOMER. What makes you think so?

THE BARBER. There's a long journey we all take--sooner or later.
Eh?

THE CUSTOMER. A long journey? But you're wasting time, man!

THE BARBER. Am I, sir? (_He strolls to the clock; looks at it;
returns._) Fine weather we're having.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Impatiently_) Yes.

THE BARBER. Though a little more rain would be good for the
crops.

THE CUSTOMER. Um.

THE BARBER. (_Very leisurely_) You know, sir, the young man who
keeps the shoe store at the corner was saying as I trimmed his
hair this morning--

THE CUST