The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-18
Gbe Tnnes, New BLOOMFIELD, 1Da.

down in the darkest part of the platform,
and only FIVE minutes left.
/ pause for moment before o little
room where I saw the guards 90 in
and out and wondered whether one of
them would let me ride with him if told
him of thing 1 knew really did know
of it for the Cambridgeshire when all
at once, splendid idea struck me. 1t
was the very thing the door of the lit
tie room was half open, 30 that I could
see no one was in there, and several coats
and caps, belonging to the guards, were
hanging on the walls. glanced down
the platform every railway official seemed
up to his eye in business-no one was
looking that way. popped into the
room in an instant-had put on coat
and cap, which fitted me beautifully-and
was out again in few seconds. There
was no time for reflection, nor did need
any my mind was already made up, SO,
pushing past the people with the air of a
regular guard, born and bred, l put my
head into the carriage where the dean
sat, and said : Tickets, if you please"
The old gentleman was reading a book /;
pushed his spectacles little higher on
his nose, and exclaiming: "Dear me! l
had quite forgotten" he handed out his
ticket, which very cody pocketed, and
was moving away, when the old gentle
man said "This is new rule to take
tickets at starting isn't it?"
Yes, sir" l answered touching my
cap only been in force this month,
sir"
"Oh," he said and began reading his
book again.
At this instant the bell for starting
rang, and the guards began to bawl out :
Any more going on ?" but there was
plenty of time for me If their wasn't a
guard in there, feeling among the great
coats, and swearing horribly, as l could
hear at some of his mates, for moving
his particular coat out of its place. 1
stood behind the long double-ladder they
wheel around to clean the lamps, took of
the poor fellows coat and cap, and h urried
across the platform as though had j ust
come from the refreshment-room. The
station doors were closed, but a guard
catching sight Of me, shouted "Now,
sir, this way, or you will be too late p
He opened a carriage door and pushed
me in, just as the engine sounded its
whistle, and the tug came which moved
us on. was in the carriage with the
dean There was nobody else there
as l well knew, and / really felt very un.
comfortable. l didn't at all suppose he
would recognize me, but yet there was q
sort of feeling which made me wish that
the guard had put me anywhere else
However, there was no help for it now
and made up my mind to see at once il
there was any danger of recognition; SC
the first time he put down his book, al.
though it was only to cut some leaves,
offered him newspaper. He declined
it but had obtained an opening, and ]
followed up my offer with few remarks
about the weather and so forth-quitc
enough to let me see that he did not al
all remember my voice. l couldn't sleep
but pretended to do so and on we went
scarcely another word having been spoken
on either side, until the train slackened
speed and l knew we were near the sta
tion where they examined the tickets
and where, of course, the murder would
be out. When the carriages drew uI
alongside the ticket-platform, and / could
hear the familiar cry Of All tickets
ready" l feigned to be reading my paper
very intently, although, in reality, l wa'
watching and listenining with all my
might. saw the dean look up curiously
when he first heard tho shouts; he listen
ed, too, with puzzled air, and took of
his spectacles and wiped them, as if thai
would help him to understand it; how
ever, have no doubt he thought the
notice did not apply to him, so he calmly
put his glasses on again. At that mo
ment guard--a regular one this time,
thought to myself-looked in, and o
course said Tickets, if you please.
| gave him mine, which he merely. CLAN
ced at and returned, and then 1 screwed
myself into corner, as much out of thu
light as | could manage. The old cler
gyman, had, Of course, done nothing
"Now, sir, if you please" said the guard
Eh?' returned the dean, looking
round, and pushing up his spectacles
which seemed to be habit with him.
"Tickets, sir, tickets; look alive, if yo,
please, sir" answered the man.
Tickets! ticketsw echoed the dean
mine is all right. ] have given it up.
" Not to me, sir" said the guard "ant
no one else has been near this carriage.
"Oh, but gave it up before we start
ed, explained the old gentleman " it