Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-05-04

nv seat and CHANGED dropping out Just
before they stopped bnt / knew they
examined tickets halfway, so that
would not do. Ii the journey had been
all by the same engine, / would have
lain at the back of the tender, on the
coke. as ] did once 10 place nearly a
hundred 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 fact
who was always preaching against MS
racing men, and had once actually per-
shaded the townspeople to put their
races down, knew he was of no use.
Yet couldn't keep away from him he
had fascination for me- | may call
it presentment 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 was
hooked on, the porters ran about with
their barrows of baggage, the passengers
left the refHshment rooms and book
stalls, and clustered round the doors of
the carriages the Dean got into com
partment by himself, and there was l
walking ND and down in the darkest
part of the platform, and only five min
utes left.
! paused for moment before a little
room, where. l saw the guards go in and
ont, and wondered whether one of the
men would let me ride with him if l
told him of good thing l knew-I
really did not know of it-for the Cam
bridgeshire, when all at once splendid
idea struck me. 1t was the very thing.
The door of the little room was half
open, so that I could see that 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 eyes 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 ont again IN a 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 regular guard, born
and bred, put my head into the car
riage where the dean sat, and said
"Tickets, if you please. The old
gentleman was reading a book he
looked round, pushed his spectacles a
little higher on his nose, and eXclaim-
ing, Dear me, l had quite forgotten, "
he handed ont his ticket, which | very
coolly pocketed and was moving away.
when the old gentleman said This
is new rule, to take tickets ut start
ing, 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 hawl
ont "Any more going ON but there
was plenty of time for me. l dashed
back to the little room, but hang me
il there wasn't guard in there, teel-
ing among the greatcoats and swearing
horribly, as could hear, at some of
his mates for moving his particular
coat ont of It's place, / stood behind
the long double ladder they wheel
about to clean the lamps, took OFT the
poor fellows coat and cap, and flung
them down by the door, put on my own
cap, and hurried across the platform as
though / had Just come from the re-
freshment room. The station doors
We're closed, but guard catching
sight of me, shouted; "Now, sir, this
way, or you will be too late" He open
ed carriage door and pushed me, just
rs 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 uncomfort-
able. l didn't at all suppose he would
recognize me, but yet there was 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
if there was any danger ofrecognition !;
so the first time he put down his book,
although it was only to cut some leaves,
l otfered him newspaper. He declined
it: but | had obtained an opening,
and ] followed up my offer with few
remarks about the weather and so
forth--quite enough to let me see that
he did not Mt all remember my voice.
! couldn't sleep, but l pretended 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 tickets, and
where, of course, the murder would be
ont. When the carriages drew up
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 was watching and listening