Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-06-18


1 glanced up from the paper | was
reading and met the smiling regard of
a genial looking gentleman in the
prime of life.
at is not, sir"
"With your premission, then" as he
seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, and
presently the conductor made his ap-
pearance collecting the tickets. Reach
ing us he detached the appropriate
coupons from our tickets handing back
the remainder with the usual "chccks. :"
pardon me-" said my companion,
"but / precieve you place your ticket
in your wallet" N
"Yes.n
at is unwise, unsafe"
"Why do you consider it so ?" l in
quired with curiosity, returning the
wallet to my pocket.
Suppose through carelessness, or
we may say accident, your wallet is
lost, or your pocket may bo picked, for
instance"
"Yes."
"Your money and tickets are both
gone. Probably you do not appreci-
ate the manifold beauties of such q
position; / do not think it is possible
except by experience"
at would certainly be an undcsira.
bic situation. can see that clearly
enough. Pardon the question natur,
ally suggested, were you ever SC
placed W
"Once, only once"
-l"How was that ~ ?
"You wish to profit by my expert
ence ? Well, l don't know that
mind telling you my story. 1t may
serve to amuse you, if nothing more
1t occurred a number of years ago
where, is Of no consequence. hat
taken the early express train, and be
ing somewhat sleepy, had stretched
myself upon scat for as comfortable
a nap as circumstances would permit
I slept soundly, for / could in thos,
days sleep well almost anywhere, ant
l did not awaken until the conductor
came for my ticket. The essential
piece of pastboard could not be found
l was positive / had purchased tick
ct; indeed l remembered distinctly
having shown il to the baggage clerl
at the time CT checking my trunk.
The conductor grew impatient
passed to the other end Of the car and
returned to me. / had made the dis
covery that my pocket-book had beer
picked, and in proof of my story
showed him my baggage check
1t was useless. If you have trav.
eled much, your are aware that a vir,
tious conductor takes no mans word
in fact, all men have designs upon the
company's dividends except himself
1t was perfectly natural, therefore
that the faithful steward in question
should say:
"The check is all right; but how dc
I know that it belongs to youp Twill
take the money for your fare or stoT
the train and put you of, just as you
choose" .on;.I. o7u' atAes
What could l do? Protestations
amounted to nothing, and my fellow
passengers, with the usual tcndancy
Of humanity to trample upon fallcr
man, showed clearly by their looks and
expressions they thought me sneak
ing rogue, who would steal a passage
if he could. They paid money, why
should Inot pay mine ? Few mer
would ever see Heaven If judgement
was rendered by a jury-except them
selves. -
q My search for the lost ticket hac
brought to light about a dollar anc
eighty cents. This, l told the con
ductor, was every cent | had abou
me. ? He said Il was about fifty cent
short Of the usual fare TO Lauderda!!c
but that he would pass me through 70
~ fatessr than stop the train Frot
Lauderdale, city of much impol
tsnce, 1 could write to my partner ft
mopsv IA would certaiply .e as we