Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-04-07

miles down the line; but | knew they
changed engines so this, again,
wouldn't do. saw one person on the
platform whom recognized but as he
was clergyman-a dean, in faet-who
was always preaching against us racing
men, and had once actually persuaded
the townspeople to put their races
down, knew he was of no use. Yet |
couldn't keep away from him. He had
a sort of fascination for me; | may call
it a presentiment that he was to get me
out of my hobble. Well, the hustle in
creased you know, of course, how busy
the station gets just before an express
starts. The engine came back and
hooked on; the porters ran about with
their barrows of luggage; the passen-
gers left the refreshment-rooms and
book-stalls, and clustered around the
doors of the carriages the dean got into
a compartment by himself, and there
was walking up and down in the darkest
part of the platform, and only five min
utes left.
| paused for a moment before little
room where | saw the guards go in and
out, and wondered whether one of the
men would let me ride with him if
told him of good thing [ knew-I re-
ally did not know of it-for Cambridge
shire, when all at once splendid idea
struck me. 1t was the very thing. The
door of the little room was half open, so
that | 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 rail
way official seemed up to his eyes in bu-
siness-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 a
few seconds. There was no time for re-
fection, nor did l need any my mind
was already made up-so, pushing past
the people with the air of regular
guard, born and bred, put my head
into the carriage where the dean sat,
and said "Tickets, if you please" The
old gentleman was reading a book; he
looked around, pushed his spectacles a
little higher on his nose, and, exclaim-
ing, Dear me | had quite forgotten,' -
he handed out his ticket, which | very
coolly pocketed, and was moving away,
when the old gentleman said: "This is
a new rule to take tickets at starting,
isn't it ?"
Yes, sir" | 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 p But there was
plenty of time for me. | dashed back
to the little room, but hang me if there,
feeling among the great-coats, and swear
ing horribly, as l could hear, at some of
his mates for moving his particular coat
out of its place. [ stood behind the
long double-ladder they wheel about to
clean the lamps, took off the poor fell
lows coat and cap, and flung them down
by the door, put on my own cap, and
hurried across the platform as tho:gh |
had just come from the refreshment
room. The station-doors were closed,
but guard catching sight of me, shout
ed: Now, sir, this way, or you will be
too late! - He opened carriage door
and pushed me in, just as the engine
sounded its whistle, and the tug came
which moved us on. | was in the car
riage with the dean! There was nobody
else there, as | we'll knew, and | really
felt very uncomfortable. | didn't at all
suppose he would recognize me, but yet
there was a sort of feeling which made
me wish that the guard had put me any
where else. However, there was no help
for it now, and [ made up my mind to
see II there was any danger of recogni-
ton ; so the first time he put down his
book, although it was only to cut some
leaves, [ offered him newspaper. He
declined it.; but l had obtained an
opening, and | followed up my offer
with a few remarks about the weather,
and so forth-quite enough to let me
see that he did not at all remember my
voice. | couldn't sleep, but | pretend
ed to do so and on we went, scarcely
another word having been spoken on
either side, until the train slackened
speed and | knew we were near the
station where they examined the tick
cts, and where, of course, the murder
would be out. When the carriage drew
up alongside the ticket platform, and
could hear the familiar cry of "All
tickets ready" | feigned to be reading
my paper very intently, although, in
reality, | was watching and listening
with all my might. | saw the dean look
up curiously when he first heard the
shouts he listened, too, with a puzzled
air, and took off his spectacles and wiped
them, as if that would help him to un-
derstand it however, | have no doubt
he thought the notice did not apply to
him, so he calmly put his glasses on
again. At that moment a guard-a regu-
lar one this time, thought to myself
looked in, and of course said Tickets,
if you please" I gave him mine, which
he merely glanced at and returned and
then 1 screwed myself into corner, as
much out of the light as | could man
age. The old clergyman 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
you please, sir" answered the man.
"Tickets tickets!' echoed the dean !;
mine is all right. l have given it up"
''Not to me, sir" said the guard;
" and no one else has been near this
carriage"
"Oh, but l gave it before we started"
explained the old gentleman it is a
new rule-has only been in force this
month"
Upon my word, l thought I should
have burst with laughter here, the dean
explained this so innocently.
Anew rule, sir p said the guard.