The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-28

coke, as / did once to place nearly a
hundred miles down the line +; but /
knew they changed engines, so this
again wouldn't do. L saw one person
on the platform whom j recognized, but
as he was Clergyman Dean, in fact
who was always preaching against us
racing men, and had once actually per-
suaded the townspeople to put their
races down, i knew he was of no use.
Yet couldn't keep away from him he
had fascination for me-; | may call
ii a 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 ofbaggage, the passengers
left the refreshment rooms and book
stalls, and clustered round the doors of
the carriages; the Dean got into com
partment by himself, and there was |
walking up and down in the darkest
part of the platform, and only five min
utes left.
l paused for moment before a little
room, where l saw the guards go in and
out, and wondered whether one of the
men would let me ride with him if L
told him of good thing | knew
really did not know of it-for the Cam
bridgeshirc when all at once splendid
idea struck me. IT was the very thing
The door of the little room was half
open, so that [ 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 out again in few seconds.
There was no time for reflection, nor
did / need any; my mind was already
made mp, SO, pushing past the people
with the air of n 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- had quite forgotten, y
he handed out his ticket, which [ very
coolly pocketed and was moving away.
when the old gentleman said "This
is new rule to take tickets at start
ing, isn't it "
Eyes, sir, | answered, touching my
cap; "only been in force this month,
sir. "
ooh, " 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 q" but there
was plenty of time for me. dashed
back to the little room, but hang me
if there wasn't guard in there, feel
ing among the greatcoats and swearing
horribly, as [ could hear, Mt some of
his mates for moving his particular
coat out of It's place. stood behind
the long double ladder they wheel
about to clean the lamps, took off 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
were closed, but a guard catching
sight of me, shouted: Now, sir, this
way, or you will be too late.n He open
ed carriage door and pushed me, just
as the engine sounded its whistle and
the tug came which moved us on.
was in the carriage with the Dean I!
There was nobody else there, as | well
knew, and | really felt very uncomfort-
able. 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 of recognition
SO the first time he put down his book,
= although 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 sc
forth--quitc enough to let me see that
r he did not at all remember my voice
: L couldn't sleep, but l pretended to dc
SO and on we went, scarcely another
9 word having been spoken on either
/ side, until the train slackened speed
and l knew we were near the station
where they examined the tickets, and
= where, of course, the murder would bt
t out. When the carriages drew up
| alongside the ticket platform, and
a could hear the familiar cry of "Al
! tickets ready, " feigned to be reading
: my paper very intently, although, il
| reality, was watching and listening
g with all my might. | saw the Dear
e look up clriously when he first hearc
g the shouts; he listened, too, with ,
, puzzled air, and took off his spectacle
Q and wiped them, as if that would hell
him to understand it {; however, l hav,
: no doubt that he thought the notice
did not apply to him, so he calmly pu
r his glasses on again. At that momen
D guard-a regular one this time,
\ thought TO myself-looked in, and o
/ course said: "Tickets, if you please.
| / gave him mine, which he merel,
glanced at and returned; and then
y screwed myself into corner, as mucl
out of the light as 1 could manage
e The old clergyman had, of course, don,
: nothing. "Now, sir, if you please,
t said the guard.
{ "Eh 2" returned the old Dean look
ing round and pushing up his specta
Il 4 IL.