The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-04-15
THE EXPRESS TICKET.


total stranger, but who proved to be the most
chatty, most communicative person 1 ever met
with, although his code of morals was undoubt-
edly rather lax. We got in at the London ter.
minus, and as he almost at once asked me where
was going, we found we were each bound to
the same large city I fanced he had been din.
ing rather generously, from his face, which was
a little flushed; he had plenty of excellent ci-
gars, and was very liberal with them; and ere
we had ridden half a dozen miles he produced
peck of cards and asked me to play. declined,
and he said with smile, "Atraid of strangers
with cards Well you are quite right; but we
shall do no harm TO each other"
l fastened to assure him that was under no
suspicion regarded himself but that did not
care tor cards.
"There you are to blame" he returned "you
should always suspect strangers who want you
to play at cards. Why should man carry
pack with him, If he does not intend to profit by
their use Take my advice, and always be on
your guard"
'But them" said with alsmile, "by your own
rule you would lead me to suspect YOU
"You wouldn't be far wrong if you did" he
replied, with a very meaning nod Il only wish.
ed to play for cup of coffee at the refreshment.
station; but have played in railway carriages
Tor very different stakes-and won them. How.
ever am all right tonight, and don't want to
win anybody's money I cleared eight hundred
over the Leger, and that will last me some
time"
l congratulated him on his good fortune. and
said wished l had been as lucky.
III 1t shouldn't do you any more good than it
will me. you needn't mind, he returned; eight
come, light go; but still it is better to have a
few hundreds in your pocket than to be without
penny to pay your fare, as have been on this
very railway"
'"lndeed " I CALCULATED as he made pause
here; that must have been wkward'
awkward | believe you" he said. "But
there man with his head screwed on the right
way need never be at a loss in rich country like
this. L hadn't penny--at any rate, hadn't a
tenth part of the required fare-with me was
bound to keep an engagement a long way down
the line, and had not friend who would lend
me slxpence; and here found myself one eve
ming, quarter of an hour before the train start.
ed Something like a fix, Ell? What should
you have done?"
"Well," replied, Il hardly know. If had
q watch"
But hadn't he interrupted, "nor anything
else that would fetch twopouad-seveu the price
OF ticket. frst.class ticket, of course,
mean; had made up my mind to ride first
class; like it best, and under the circumstan-
ces, 1t was ust feasible as any othe1"
statlon-lnaster or superintendent" | said, land
told HIM all about it; and if that wouldn't do,
l must have stopped in London"
Then 1t wouldn't have done, you may swear"
he replied; "station masters are not SO soft as
that Well now, III tell you all about it: and
~ may be or use to you to know some day what
is possible to be done in such fix
nodded my thanks, and he began
Il need not tell you how I came to be so
placed-specuative men are often in such Do
ntlon; we always get out of it somehow. bowev.
sr, and did this time. When | arrived at tn.
station, there was the train, with the engine
waiting little way off, blazing and Kissing
away some OF the passengers had taken their
seats, but most OF them were walking up and
Gown, or having parting glass with their
friends, or looking at the book-stals. How I
envied the shabbiest of them all! for he, who.
ever ne was, had got his ticket and could not
get mine: IT the train had gone right through,
would nave taken my seat, and CHANGED drop.
ping out Just before they stopped but knew
they examined tickets half way. so that would
not do. If the journey had been all by the sane
engine, would have lain at the back of the ten.
Ger on the coke, as did once to place nearly
hundred miles down the line; but I knew thew
chahgeo engines; SO this, again, wouldn't do.
saw one person on the platform whom recog-
ni2ed out az he was clergyman-a dean, in
!act-who was always preaching agsinst US rae
ing men, and had actually persuaded the towns.
people TO put their races down, knew he was
OF no use Yet couldn't keep away from him ::
ne hao sort OF fascination tor me; may Call
IL presentiment that he WAS TO get mo ont of
my hobbe. Well, the hustle increased Won
.now' OF course, how busy the station gets lust
seiore an express starts. The engine came back,
and was hooked on; the porters ran about with
.Ae'r oartows OF luggage; the passengers left
tue reireshment rooms and book. stalls and clus.
tered round the doors Of the carriages: the dean
eo' lhto compartment by himself and there
was walking up aud down the darkest part Of
'ne piatiorm, AID only five minutes left.
- paused Tor monieAt before little room
Sneie saw the guards - in aud out and won
dered whether one of the men would le, ne ride
with him IT told him of good thin, knew
really did know of-ior the C,mbrideshire
"hen, all at once, splendid idea struck me IT,
was Ihe very thing! The door of the little room,
was nai open, 40 that could see no one was in
aneie, ana several coats and caps, belonging TO
guards were hanging on the walls. | glanced
uo"n 'Ie platform; every railroad official seemed
A. NV eyes Id ousin iss--no one was looking
mat way. popped into the room in an in.
~ 1t pu' on coat and cap which fitted
ond-' There was no time for reflection. nor did
need any my mind was already made up. 40.
pushing past the people with the mir of a repu.
lar guard, born and bred, put my head into
the carriage where the dean sat, aud said. Tick.
cts, ii you please The old gentleman was read.
ing book he looked round, pushed his specta.
cleS little higher on his nose, and exclaiminu,
Dear me had quite forgotten he handed IN,
n's t'cket, which very cody pocke,ed, and was
moving away, when the old gentleman said.
This isa new rule, 70 take tickets a. starting.
isn't it, "