Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-04-07
THE EXPRESS TICKET.
An English Railway Adventure.

FROM CudiHDeTS JOuTLdl
One of the pleasantest journeys l
ever took was made a short time back,
in company with a total stranger, but
who proved to be the most chatty, most
communicative person [ ever met with,
though his code of morals was undoubt-
edly rather lax. We got in at the Lon
don terminus; and, as he almost at
once asked me where | was going, we
found we were each bound to the same
large city. ] fancied he had been din
ing rather generously, from his face
which was little flushed he had plen-
ty of excellent cigars, which he was very
liberal with; and, ere we had ridden half
a dozen miles, he produced a pack of
cards and asked me to play. | de-
clined; and he said, with smile {:
" Afraid of strangers with cards? Well,
you are quite right but we shall do no
harm to each other"
fastened to assure him that | was
under, no suspicion as regarded himself,
but that [ did not care for cards.
"There you are to blame," he return
ed "you should always suspect stran-
gers who want you to play at cards.
Why should man carry a pack with
him if he does not intend to profit by
their use? Take my advice, and always
be on your guard"
s. But, them" | said with smile, "by
your own rule you would lead me to
suspect YOU"
" You wouldn't be far wrong if you
did," he replied, with a very meaning
nod -" | only wanted to play for cup
of coffee at the refreshment station but
| have played in railway carriages for
very different stakes-and won them.
However, l am all right tonight, and
don't want to win anybody's money. l
cleared eight hundred over the Leger,
and that will last me some time"
l congratulated him on his good for
tune, and said [ wished [ had been as
lucky.
IF it shouldn't do you more good
than it will me, you needn't mind" he
returned. Light come, light go but
still it is better to have a few hundred
in your pockets than to be without a
penny to pay your fare, as | have been
on this very railway"
" Indeedr' | calculated, as he made a
pause here; ''that must have been awk-
ward
awkward l believe you," he said.
" But there! a man with his head
screwed on the right way need never be
at a loss, in a rich country like this.
hadn't penny-at any rate, hadn't
a tenth part of the required tare-with
me. was bound to keep an engage
ment a long way down the line, and |
had not friend who would lend me
sixpence; and hence | found myself
one evening, quarter of an hour be-
fore the tram started, in something like
fix, eh What should you have
done?'
"Well," replied, Il hardly know.
If had watch -
But l hadn't" he interrupted, "nor
anything else that would fetch two
pounds seven, the price of ticket A
tirst-class ticket, Of course, mean l
had made up my mind to ride first
class; like it best, and, under the cir
cumstances, it was just as feasible as any
other''
Then, perhaps, l should have gone
to the station-master or uperintendent,
and told him all about it" said I and
if that wouldn't do, must have stopped
in London"
Then it wouldn't have done, you
may swear" he replied station-mas-
ters are not so soft as that. Well, now,
I'll tell you all about it; and it may be
of use to you to know some day, and
what is possible to be done in such
fix"
l nodded my thanks, and he began
l need not tell you how [ came to be
SO placed-speculative men are often in
such position we always get out of it
somehow, however, and did this time.
When | arrived at the station there was
the train, with the engine, waiting lit
tie way off, blazing and kissing away
some of the passengers had taken their
seats, but most of them were walking up
and down, oil having a parting glass
with their friends, and looking at the
book-stalls. How l envied the shabbi
est of them all For he, whoever he
was, had got his ticket, and could not
get mine. If the train had gone right
through, would have taken my seat,
and CHANGED dropping out just before
they stoppedl but knew they exam exam