Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-05-30
A Travellers Story.

/ glanced ur from the paper ]
was reading and met the smiling
regard of a genial. looking gentle.
man in the prime of life. - Z. ..1. -.
alt is not, sir" r1 5o's
"With your permission, them
as he seated himself beside me- .
The train had already started,
and presently the conductor made
his appearance collecting the tick.
cts. Reaching us, he detached
the appropriate coupons from our
tickets, handing back the remain.
der with the usual Cheeks" -aeI n
''Pardon me" said my compau.
ion, shut / perceive you place
your ticket in your wallet. 'haai2 = >.
"Yes." - ,sr@,ss5. @
at is unwise, unsafe. -, =. 'es.y - =. =.
why do you consider it so?''
| inquired, with curl osity, return.
ing the wallet to my pocket y s, ..s3.- T..
"Suppose through carelessness,
or we may say accident, your wal
let is lost-your pocket may be
picked, for instance" -, zss ,,,,s.. si7
"Yes." F. ..e=.4 .s=F
"Your money and your ticket
are both gone. Probably you do
not appreciate the manifold beau.
ties of such a position. / do not
think it possible except by expe9
rience." I. :asas z
1T would certainly be an un:
desirable situation. l can see
that clearly enough. Pardon the
question naturally suggested
were you ever SO placed ?" '.i..7s ,.9s..s
"Once; only once p s m
"How is that ?"
"You wish to profit by my ex-
perience? Well, l don't know
that l mind telling you the story.
1t may serve to amuse you, if
nothing more. ~ d,
1t occurred a number of years
ago, and is of no consequence
had taken the early express
train, and, being somewhat tired
and altogether sleepy, had
stretched myself upon seat for
as comfortable a nap as circum-
stances would permit. ! slept
soundly, for / could in those days
sleep almost anywhere, and did
not awaken until the conductor
cIme for my ticket. The essen
tial piece of pasteboard could not
be found. | was positive / had
purchased a ticket; indeed, I re-
membered distinctly having shown
it to the baggage clerk at the
time of checking my trunk. =,
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, and, 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 conductor takes no
mans word ; in fact, all men have
designs upon the company's divi-
dends except himself. 1t was,
perfectly natural, therefore, that
the faithful steward in question
should say: 49,. ~.
"The check is all right; but
how do l know that it belongs to
you? l will take the money for
your fare or stop the train and
put you of, just as you choose. :"
What could / do ? Protestations
amounted to nothing, and my fel-
low passengers, with the usual
tendency of humanity to tram.
pie upon a fallen man, showed
clearly by their looks and express
sions they thought me a sneaking
rogue, who would steal a passage
if he could. They paid money,
why should not ! pay mine p
Few men would ever see heaven
if judgment were rendered by a
iury-except themselves.
Ny search for the lost ticket
had brought to light about dol
lar and eighty cents. This / told
he conductor was every cent /
had about me. He said it was
about fifty cents short of the US.
ual fare to Lauderdale city,
but that he would pass me through
for it rather than stop the train.
From Lauderdale, a city of much
Importance, / could write to my
partner for money. 1t would GER
tainly be as we'll as to tramp ten
or twelve miles back to the city /
had left, and where should be no
better off, being equally a stran-
ger there.
In due time / found myself at
Lauderdale; went to the best ho-
tel; telegraphed for money, and
wrote an explanatory letter to
my partner. This business at
tended to, I sailed QUITO see what