Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-06-07
A TRAVELLERS STORY.
is this seat ENGAGED. sir ?"

els this seat engaged, sir ?'
l glanced up from the paper | was
reading, and met the smiling regard
of genial-ocking gentleman, appar-
emily in the prime of life.
at is not, sill"
"With your permission. then, and
he seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, and
presently the conductor made his
appearance collecting the tickets
Reaching us, he detached the appro-
pirate coupons from our tickets, hand
ing back the remainder with the usu-
al "checks."
"Pardon me" said my companion,
but | perceive that you place your
ticket in your wallet"
Eyes"
cit is unwise, unsafe"
"Why do you consider it so 2" l
inquired, with curiosity, returning
the wallet to my pocket.
'Suppose, through carelessness, or
we will say accident, your wallet is
lost. Your pocket may be picked
for instance p
eyes"
"Gour money and ticket are both
gone. Probably you do not appre-
ciate the manifold beauties Of such
position dc not think it possible
except by experience"
at would certainly be an undesir-
able situation, can see that clearly
enough, Pardon the question natur-
ally snggested-were you ever so
placed r.
"Once, only once"
Chow was that p
you wish TO profit by my expert
ence? Well, | don't know that |
mind telling You the story. 1t may
serve to amuse you if nothing more"
at occurred quite number of
years ago, and over what road l was
travelling at the time is OF little con-
sequence. | bad taken the early ex-
press train, and being somewhat
tired and altogether sleepy, had
stretched myself upon u seat for as
comfortable a nap as circumstances
would permit slept soundly, for |
could in those days, sleep well almost
anywhere, and did not awaken until
the conductor came for my ticket.
The essential bit of pasteboard could
not be found. | was positive | had
purchased a ticket indeed / remem-
bered distinctly having shown it to
the baggage clerk at the time of
checking my trunk. The conductor
grew impatient, passed to the end of
the car and returned to me. | 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 sto-
ry showed him my baggage check.
1t was useless, IT you have travel
led much, you are aware that vir-
tuous conductor takes no mans word;
in fact, all men have designs upon
the cOmpany's dividends except him
self 1t was perfectly natural, there
fore that the faithful steward in ques-
ton should say
1.-THE check is all right but how
do | know that it belongs to your l
will take the money for your fare or
stop the train and put you of, as
you choose"
What could do? Protestations
amounted to nothing, and my fellow
passengers, with the usual tendency
Of humanity to trample upon fallen
man, showed clearly by their looks
and expressions, that they thought
me sneaking :rogue, who would
steal passage If he could. They
paid their money! why should not |
pay mine Few men would ever
see heaven if judgement were rend-
cred by jury-except themselves.
My search for the lost ticket had
bought to light about dollar and
eighty cents. This, | told the con-
ductor was every cent ! had about
me. He said il 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 il TO him. From Lauderdale, a
city Of mucn Importance, | could
write to my partner for money. 1t
would certainly be as well as to tramp
ten or ~ I've dozen miles back to the
city had left, and where | should
be no better off, being equally a
stranger there.
In due time | found myself at
Lauderdale went to the best hotel
telegraphed for money, and wrote an
explanatory letter to my partner
This business attended to, l sailed
QUO to see what sort of a place Laud-
erdale City might be. There was
nothing for me to do but amuse my
self az best | could until the money
should come, sol determined.to make
the most of nay in voluntary holiday.
As | strolled leisarly up the main
street newsboy darted out of pa
per office, crying
"Daiiy Banner; extra edition, all
about the murder; great accident on
the E road" etc, etc. "Have
an extra r.
took the sheet and thrust my
hand in my pocket for the money
without moments thought. You
may imagine my feelings when COM
PEELED to return that two-penny bit
of paper to the boy; with the NUT
tered excuse that chad no change"
and the utterly contemptous express
sion on the boys face as he received
it! l Immediately stepped into the
Office of the Daily Banner and wrote
paragraph of my recent mishap,
taking care to make it as amusing as
possible. When complete | handed
it to the clerk. He read it, laughed
and took it into the private office
Coming back few minutes after, he
told the book keeper to give me fifty
cents. 1t was not much, but more
than | expected. Well, | continued
nv walk until [ finally reached the