The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-01-11
Bona FIde CIreuIatIOn, l.sOO
A Travellers Story.
IIs this seat engaged, sir?

I BIlDlc VI lllcs
'It is not, SIR"
"With your permission, then" as
he seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, and
presently the conductor made his ap-
pearanee collecting the tickets. Reach
ing US, he detached the appropriate
coupons fIom our tickets, handing
back the remainder with the usual
"checks."
pardon me-" said my companion,
"but 1 perceive you place your ticket
in you wallet"
"Yes.n
''It is unwise, unsafe.n
"Why do you consider it so?D I in
quired with curiosity, returning the
wallet to my pocket.
Suppose through carelessness, or,
we may say accident, your wallet is
lost. Your pocket may be picked, for
instance"
'sYes.D
'fYour money and ticket are both
gone. Probably you do not appreci-
ate the manifold beauties of such a
position; do not think it possible ex-
cept by experience"
'It would certainly be an undesira-
bic situation. l can see that clearly
enough. Pardon the question natur-
ally suggested-were you ever so plae-
ed 2"
'Once, only once"
'HOw was that ?r
"You wish to profit by my expert
ence? We'll, don't know that I
mind telling you the story. 1t may
serve to amuse you, if nothing more.n
''It occurred q number of years ago,
and is of no consequence. had TAX
en- the early express train, and being
somewhat tired and altogether sleepy,
stretched myself upon a seat for as
comfortable a nap as circumstances
would permit. 1 slept sOundly, for 1
could in those days sleep well almost
anywhere, and did not awaken until
the conductor came for my ticket
The essential piece of paste-board
could not be found. I was positive I
had purchased ticket; indeed I re-
membered distinctly having shown it
to the baggage clerk at the time of
checking my trunk.
1.-THE conductor grew impatient,
passed to the other end of the car, and
returned to me. 1 had made the dis
covery that my pocket-book had been
picked, and in proof of my story I
showed him my baggage check.
''It was useless. If you have trav-
eled much you are aware that Writ
uous conductor takes no mans word
in fact, all men have designs upon the
eompany's dividends except himself.
1t was perfectly natural, therefore,
that the faithful steward in question
should say:
'The check is all right; but how do
1 know thatit belongs to you? 1 will
take the money for your fare, or stop
the train and put you of, just as you
choose
''What could I do? Protestations
amounted to nothing, and my fellow
passengers, with the usual tendency of
humanity to trample upon a fallen
man, showed clearly by their express
siOns that they thought me a sneak
ing rogue. They paid money, why
should not I pay mine? Few men
would ever see Heaven If judgment
was rendered by jury-except them
selves.
'tAIy search for the lost ticket had
brought to light about a dollar and
eighty cents. This, I told the cOnduc-
tor, was every cent 1 had about me.
He said it was about fifty cents short
of the usual fare to Lauderdale city,
but that he would pass me through
rather than stop the train. From
Lauderdale, a city of much Importance,
1 could write to my partner for money.
1t would certainly be as well as to
tramp ten OF twelve miles back to the
city l had left, and where should be
no better off, being equally stranger
there. i
''In due course I found myself at
Lauderdale; went to the best hotel;
teIegraphed for money, and wrote an
explanatory letter to my partner.
This business attended to, 1 sailed out
to see what sort of place Lauderdale
city might be. There was nothing to
do but amuse myself as best I could
until the money should come, so
determined to make the most of my
involuntary holiday. As I strolled
leisurely up the main street, a news
boy darted out Of paper Office crying:
"DdiLy BGnneT-eXtra edition-all
about the murder-great excitement
on the E-road ~ etc. Have an ex-
trap
81 took the sheet and thrust my
hand in my pocket for the money
without a moments thought. You
may imagine my feelings when COM
PEELED to return that two penny piece
of paper to the boy, with the muttered
excuse that had no change, and the
utter contemptuous expression on the
boys face as he received it. imme-
diately stepped into the Office of the
Ddily Banner and wrote a paragraph
of my recent mishap, taking care to
make it as amusing as possible.
When complete, 1 handed it to the
cle=k. He read it, laughed and took
it into the private Office. Coming
back few minutes after he told the
bOok-keeper to give me fifty cents. 1t
was not much, but more than I ex-
pected. Well, l continued my walk
until I finally reached the end of the
street, which terminated at the s.
river, here spanned by long covered
bridge I crossed the bridge, and was
surprised TO see on reaching the
opposite side, that would be required
to pay toll. A young girl came up to
the door of the little Office, as stepped
up, and inquired how much should
pay, drawing forth my solitary shin
plaster.
"Oh," said she, with a smile and a
slight blush 1--WE do not charge minis
ters anything"
''It was not bad joke, but I'sup-
pressed the laugh that rose to my lips,
and thanking her for the consideration
shown to the clergy, turned about
and retraced my steps to the hotel,
not without slight twinges OF con-
science for allowing the mistake to
pass, and taking advantage of it.
"My first duty next morning was to
seek some knight of the razor. had
noticed a pleasant little shop at no
great distance from the hotel, in
my walk the previous day. Think
| ing that I should do no better
| by looking farther, I repaired to
| that. There was in attendance a
| boy about twelve years of age
who stated that his father, the pro-
prietor of the shop, had gone to a
neighboring city, and would not re-
| turn before dinner. Without any
hesitation asked for the loan of
razor, and proceeded to operate upon
myself. While thus occupied the
| customers began to present them
| selves, expressing their dissatisfaction
on learning how matters stood. Now,
although 1 am proud man, 1 am
not, thank God, cursed with that
vanity that prevents a mans doing
certain kinds of honest labor, simply
because they are not genteel. Here
was an opportunity afforded me TO at
least earn the price of my breakfast.
I took advantage of it. Told the first
man who entered after I had COM
pleted myself, would shave him. I
did so. In fact did quite q brisk
business for q couple of hours: and if
any of the unfortunate individuals
who came under my hand had any
doubt of my fitness for the business,
they certainly expressed none. At
the expiration of this time began to
think had done sufficient, and feel
ing rather hungry, having had no
breakfast / divided the proceeds with
the boy, and prepared 70 return to my
hotel. But was not done yet. As I