Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-24

was only 10 cut some leaves, | offered him
a newspaper. He declined IL; but | had
obtained an opening, and followed up my
offer with few remarks about the weather
and 50 t0rth-quite enough 60 let me see
that he did not at all remember my voice.
| couldn't sleep, but pretended 10 DO SO
and ON We went, scarcely another word
/ having been spoken ON either side, until
the tram slackened speed; and knew We
were near the station where they examined
the tickets, and where, Of course. the
murder would be out. When the carriages
Z drew up alongside the ticket-platioun, and
I / could hear the familiar cry OF " All
tickets readv,n | feigned 20 be reading my
paper very intently, although. in reality,
was watching and listening with all my
might. | saw the dean look up curionsly
when he first heard the shouts he listened,
too, with a puzzled air, and took OF his
SpectacleS and wiped them, as ii that would
help him 10 understand il; however,
have no doubt he thought the notice did
not apply 60 him, 50 he calmly put his
glasses on again. At that moment a guard
IA regular one this timo, thought TO my
self-looked in, and OF course said: Tickets,
if YOU please lgaye him mine, which no
merely glanced at and returned, and then
| screwed myself into corner, rs much
out of the light as could manage. The
old Clergyman had. OF course, done nothing
'' Now, sir, ii you please, said the guard,
"Eh p returned the dean, looking
round, and pushing up his spectacles,
which seemed To be n habit with him.
Tickets, sir, tickets; look alive, If you
please, sir, answered the man.
Tickets tickets r. echoed the dean /;
"mine is all right. have given il up
Not TO me, sir.n sa d the guard land
no one else has been near this carriage
"oh. but gave it up before we start
ed, explained the old gentleman a. il Is
new rnle-has only been in force this
month
Upon my word, | thought should have
burst with laughter here, the dean explain
ed this so innocently.
New rule, sir r. sali the guard. No
such thing. We examine the tickets here.
and take them at your journeys end"
Now, Popkins,a shouted superior Of
some kind; ''hayen't you finished with
that carriage yet r.
"Come sir, look sharp with that tick
et,n urged the guard.
What 10 you f' demanded the
Clergy man, who was clearly getting angry.
What do you mean, sirl have given
my ticket 20 one Of your men, and | am
rather inclined TO think it was yourself"
Popkins was now shouted at again very
angrily, and his answer brought two or
three Others round the carriage door.
Now, what's all this delay about r
said n man in a very staggering tone,
II suppose be was in some authority there
what's all this about, POpkins r.
Why said the guard, this party
hasn't got a ticket lie SAYS he gave il up
at London; and, not satisfied with that,
says he gave il up TO me-"
Nay, nay; am not certain about
that" said the old gentleman. II only
say gave ii up to some guard, who told
me il was a new rule, and he was much
such another man as yourself"
"Oh, that won't do said the chief OIL
ser very harshly; ave must have your
tickets, or your money, or else we shall
remove you from the carriage. We have
these games tried on us very often"
" Do you, indeed r. said the old gentle
man. ''Do You, indeed There is my
card, sir, and | shall leave you TO take your
course
Well, when they saw who he was, they
naturally cooled down a bit, and grew
more civil but by this time the other
passengers had got anxious, and were put
ting their heads out of all the windows,
and asking what was the matter.
" Perhaps this gentleman says the guard,
meaning Of course myself, 'who must Lave
been i'm the carriage at the time, can tell
US something about il. You didn't give
up your tickets, sir, because | have just
examined it,"
Unfortunately said the dean, speak
ing before | could answer, " this gentle
man was not in the carriage he came in
Just rs the train was starting, and after
the collection Of tickets"
The men looked at one another, and /
could see they did not believe the story at
all.
" am afraid, sir, you arc under great
mistake said the chief one; "and we
shall be compelled to write to you for this
money, if you don't pay. We can't keep
the train here all night; so you must do as
you please, as, OF course, we can have our
remedy against you"
The old gentleman looked angIier than
ever, and, pulling out his purse, exclaimed:
" There. sir; there is your money; but,
rely on ii, you viii hear from Jessom and
Jessom, my solicitors, sir, on the matter,
II is an atroclous robberyp'
"You will have your ticket given you
az the next station" said the other. ~
will not delay the train by going 10 my
Office now; | will send word on by the
guard But depend upon it, sir, you are
in error you are, indeed. All right for
ward -
"Error, sir! errorm exclaimed the
dean. You shall see, sir; you shall see.
I don't care Tor your ticket. You may
make me pay again, if you please, when
get to my destination. Ibelieve this com
pany is capable of anything; but | will
teach them lesson. This gentleman shall
be my witness Of the transaction. | will
take your card. sir" The men cleared
from the window, for the engine whistle
sounded, and off we went. "0blige me
with your card, sir" continued the dean.
81 need hardly ask you if you ever saw so
nefarious a proceeding ("
'Never, sir; absolutely scandalousw |
replied. " But do you think it will be
worth your while TO take further notice of
it2 1t will involve you in great deal Of
trouble.n
"Trouble, sir! What do | care for
that 2" demanded the dean, Indignantly.
" 1t is my duty to expose such conduct;
and / Will do it. | will thank you for
your card, sir"
i felt it would be dangerous to refuse a
card SO expressed my sympathy with
him, and gave him the card Of foreign
gentleman of my acquaintance, which |
luckily had in my pocket. Then the old
gentleman seemed to be brooding over his
injury, and scarcely spoke another word
When we came to the refreshment station,
the guard brought him his ticket, which he