Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-04-17
Select STORY.
A Traveller S Story. ,

glanced up from the paper was read
ing, and met the smiling regard of genial
looking gentleman in the prime of life
at is not, sir. IN --"
with your permission, then" as be
he seated himself beside me.
/ The train had already started, and pre-
sently the conductor made his appear.
aueo, collecting the tickets. Reaching
US, he detached the appropriate coupons
from our tickets, handing back the re.
mainder with the usual checks.
Pardon me,' said my companion.
"but perceive You place your ticket in
your wallet -assr..r ~. ....e-4s.i 4
YES" ....,....s ..- ........,.., ..r-.
at is unwise, unsafe ...... s....7.
Why do you consider it so?" ! inquir-
ed with curiosity, nturnins tie wallet to
my pocket Cd ISL a..a. srv 7-s. r
Suppose, through careiessness, or we
may say, accident. your wallet is lost -
your pocket may be picked. for instance"
Yes"
Your money and your check are both
gone. Probably You do not appreciate
the manifold beanties of such position.
do not think it ossible, except by ex-
perience,"
at would certainly be an undesirable
situation. | can see clearly enough -
Pardon the question naturally suggested
were you ever SO placed p
"Dnce ouly once" .-
"Iiow is that = est
"You wish to profit by my experience +!
Well. don't know that mind telling
you the story. 1t may serve to amuse
you, if nothing more. 1t occurred a
number of years ago,-and no consequence.
had taken the early express train, and
being somewhat tired and altogether
sleepy, had stretched myself upon seat
for as comfortable nap as circumstances
would admit / slept soundly, for !
could in those days sleep well almost
anywhere, and did not awaken until the
conductor came for my ticket. The es-
sential piece of paste board could not be
found. Iwas positive had purchased
a ticket; indeed l remember distinctly
having shown it to the baggage clerk at
the time of checking my trunk. q
The conductor grew impatient passed
to the other end of the car, and returned
to me. | had made the discovery that
my pocket book had been picked aud in
proof of my story showed him my bag
gage check.
1t was useless. If you have travelled
much, you are aware that a virtuous con
ductor takes no man word. In fact, all
men have designs upon the company s
dividend, except himself. 1t was per-
fectly natural, therefore, that the faithful
steward in question should say:
"The check is all right; but how do |
know that it belongs to you; will take
the money for your fare or stop the train
and put you off, if you choose" d"
"What could I dol Protestations were
nothing, and my fellow passengers, with
the usual tendency of humanity to tram
pie on a fallen man, showed clearly by
their looks and expressions they thought
me sneaking rogue, who would steal
passage if he could,,' They paid money,
why should not / pay mine? Few men
would ever see heaven if judgment was
rendered by jury-e1cept themselves.
My search for the lost ticket had
brought to light about dollar and eigh-
ty cents | told the conductor this was
every cent | had about me. He said it
was about fifty cents short of the usual
fare to Lauerdale city. but that he would
pass me through for it rather than stop the
train. From Lauerdale, city of much
l could write to my partner
for money: 1t would certainly be as
well as to tramp ten or twelve mile back
to the city | had left, and where should
be no better of, being stranger there
also. SO f eeaaa ri. .u
In due time ] found myself at Lauer- |