North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-01-05

''Js this seat engaged, sir ?"

'Js this seat engaged, sir?''
glanced up from the paper was read
ing and met the smiling regard Of gen.
ial'looking gentleman apparently in the
prime of life.
ut 10 not, SIR"
"With your permission, then, and he
seated himself beside me.
The train had already started end pres,
emily the conductor made his appearance
collecting the tickets. Reaching us he
detached the appropriate coupons from
our tickets, handing back the rsmainde,
with the usual "checks."
"Pardon me-" said my companion; "bu
Ipreceive that you place your ticket in
your wallet
"Yes."
'It is unwise, unsafeI'
"Why do you consider it so7" in.
qiured, with some curiosity, returning the
wallet to my pocket.
"Supposs through carelessness, or We
will say accident, your wallet 10 lost
Your pocket may be picked, for instance?'
"Wellf"
"Your money and ticket are both gone
Probably you do not appreciate the man
ifold beauties Of such q position dc
not think it possible except by expert
ence."
1T would certainly be an undesirable
situation, l can see that clearly enough.
Pardon the question naturally suggested
were you ever SO placed?''
"Once; only once"
"IIow was that2 2"
"You wish to profit by my experience
Well, l don't know that I mind telling
you the story. It may serve to anuse
you, if nothing more"
II occurred quito . number of years
ago, and over what road was travelling
at the time 10 of little consequence.
had taken the early morning express train,
and being somewhat tired and altogether
sleepy, had stretched myself upon the
seat for as comfortable nap as circum-
stances would admit. I slept soundly, for
| could, in those days, sleep we'll almos,
anywhere, and did not awaken until the
conductor came for my ticket. The es-
sential bit Of pasteboard could not be
found. was positive thatI had pur.
chased ticket indeed, l remember dis
tinctly having shown it to the baggage.
clerk at the time of checking my trunk.
The conductor grew impatient, passed on
to the end OF the car and returned to me-
l had not found the ticket, Tut had made
the discovery that my pocket-book also
was gone. ! explained to the conductor
that my pocket had been picked, and in
proof Of my story showed him my bag
gage check. 1t was no use. If you have
travelled much, you are aware that vir.
tuous conductor takes no mans word in
fact, all men have designs upon the oom
pany's dividends except himself. 1t was
perfectly natural, therefore, that the faith
full steward in the question should say
"The check is all right; but how do
know that it belongs to you? I will take
the money for your fare or stop the train
and put you off, just as you choose
What could l do? Protestations
amounted to nothing, and my fellow pas.
sengers, with the usual tendency of hu.
manity to trample upon fallen man,
showed clearly by their looks and express
sions, that they thought me sneaking
rogue, who would steal passage if
could. They had paid their money, why
should not pay mine? Few men would
ever see heaven if judgment was rendered
by jury-except themselves.
My search for the lost ticket had
brought to light about dollar and eighty
cents. This told the conductor was ev'
cry cent had about me. He said that it
was fifty cents short of the usual fare to
Lauderdale City, but that he would pass
me through for it rather than stop the
train. gave it to him. From Lauder
dale, city Of much Importance, could
write to my partner for money. 1t would
certainly he as well as to tramp ten or a
dozen miles back to the city l had left,
and where should be no better of, being
equally stranger there.
In due time found myself at Lauder
dale; went to the best hotel telegraphed
for money. and wrote an explanatory let
ter to my partner. This business attend
ed to, l sailed out to see what sort of
place Lauderdale City might be. There
was nothing for me to do but amuse my
self as best could until the money should
come, and l determined to make the most
of my involuntary holiday. AS strolled
leisurely up the main street a newsboy
darted out Of paper Office, crying:
"Daily Banner extra edition; all
about the murder; great accident on the
E. road y etc., etc. "IIave an extra?'
I took the sheet and thrust my hand in
my pocket for the money, without mo-
ment's thought. You may imagine my
feelings when compelled to return that
two penny bit of paper to the boy, with
the mutterei excuse that "had no
change" and the utterly contemptuous
expression of the boys face as he re-
ceived it! Immediately stepped into the
Office Of the Daily Banner" anu wrote
paragraph descriptive Of my recent mis-
hap, taking care to make it as amusing as
possible. When completed l handed it to
the clerk. He read it, laughed, and took
it into his private o.6ce. Coming back a
few minutes later, he told the bookkeeper