Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-01-04
A TRAVELLERS STORY.


w I'LL Your PERU isSiouy tueu, DIS Ut
seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, and pres
emily the conductor made his appearance
collecting the tickets. Reaching as, he
detached the appropriate coupons from
our tickets, handing back the remainder
with the usual ''ohecks."
Pardon me-" said my companion,
"but | perceive you place your ticket in
your wallet" -.- D..
eyes"
at is unwise, unsafe
"Why do you consider it so 2" I in
quired, with curiosity, returning the wal
let to my pocket: +
Suppose through carelesspess, or we
may say accident. your wallet is lost
your pocket may be picked, for instance. :"
Eyes"
Your money and your ticket are both
gone. Probably you do not appreciate
the NJ unfold beauties Of such a position
| do not think it possible except by
experience"
1T would certainly be an undesirable
situation. can see that clearly enough
Pardon the question naturally suggested
were you ever SO pla ced =
"Ouce /; ouly once" I'd: --.
Glow is that p -.s &c..
''You wish TO profit by my experience ?
We'll, I don't know that I mind telling
you the story. Itmay serve to auuse
you, if nothing more. :" ....
1t occurred number of years ago, ANA
no consequence. I had taken the carly ex-
press train, and being somewhat tired
and altogether sleepy, had stretched my
self upon n seat for as com Portable nap
as circumstances would permit. l slept
soundly, for | could in those days sleep
well almost anywhere, and did not awa~
ken until the conductor came for my
ticket. The essential peceo of pastboard
could not be found. | was positive l
had purchased ticket; indeed, l re-
membered distinctly having shown it to
the baggage clerk at tie time of checking
my trunk. DE- ts-i. :
The conductor grew impatient, passed
to the. other end of the car and returned
to me- l had made the discovery that
my pocket-book had been picked, and in
proof of my story showed him my bag
gage check. 3e' 5- 5-4.t
1t was useless. If yeu have travelled
much YOU are aware that virtuous con-
ductor takes no mans word; In fact, all
men have designs upon the company's
dividends except himself 1t was per-
fectIy natural. erefore, that the fla Itis
full steward in question would say:
THE check is alright; but how do l
know that it belongs to you | will
take the money ior your fare or stop the
train and put you of, just as you choose
What could l do? protestat.ons
amounted to nothing, and my fellow- pas
sengers, with the usual tendency Of hui
mainly to tramp'e upon a fallen man,
showed clearly by their looks and express
sions they thought me sneaking rogue,
who would steal passage if he could.
They paid money, why should not l pay
mino Few men would ever see heaven
If Judgment was rendered by a jury-ex-
cept themselves.
My search for the lost ticket had
brought to light abont do liar and eigh-
ty cents. This l told the conductor was
every cent had about HE. lie said it
was about fifty cents short of the usual
fare to i,auderdale city, but that he
would pass me through for it rather than
stop the train. From Lauderdale, city
of much Importance, could write to my
partner for money. 1t would certainly
be as well as to tramp ten or twelve miles
back to the city / had left, and where |
should be no better off, being equally
stranger there.
Ia due time l found myself at Lauder
dale; went to the best hotel; selegraphed
for money, and wrote an explanatory let
ter to my partner. This business attend>
ed to, sailed out to see what sort of
place Lauderdale city might be. There
was nothing to do but amuse myself as
best | could until the money should come;
so determined to make the most of my
involuntary holiday. AS I stroled leisur-
" up the main street newsboy darted
out OLA paper office, crying: '.! tya
Daily Danner--extra editioI-all about
the murder-great accident on the b
road etc., etc .'ilave on extra?"
| took the sheet and thrust my baud in
my pocket for the moucy withouta mo-
ment's thought You may imagine my
feeling when compelled to return that two
penny bit of paper to the boy, with the
muttered excuse that had no change,
and the utter coutemptuous expression on
the boys face as he received It'll | i'm
mediately stepped into the Office of the
Daily Banner and wrote d paragraph of
my recent mishap, taking care to make
it as amusing as possible. When CON-
plete hauded it the clerk He read it,
laughed. and took it into the private of
fee. Coming back few minutes after.
he told the book keeper to give me fifty
cents. Ii was not much, bat more than
L expected. Well, | continued my walk
until faaly reached the end of the
street which terminates at the s ----
river, here spapned by long covered
bridge crossed the bridge and was
surprised to see upon reaching the oppo-
site side that would be required to pay
toll. A young ginl came up to the door
Of the little Office as stepped up and in
CURED how much should pay, drawing
forth my solitary shinplaster.
Oh said she, with smile and a.
slight blush, 1--WE Go not charge IN mis-
ters anything.
Il was not bad joke. but suppressed
the laugh that rose to my lips, and thank
ed her for her consideration shown to the
clergy, turned about and retraced my