Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-24

w . SCA S"Au A0llW0y euC 0MOSi0 .
thought the conductors were, ,pocket-
ing-"knocking down" too (Re q
share Of the receipts from psisSen-
ger fares. Detectives were employ
ed who demonstrated the fact to a
certainty. The Vice-Presidcnt,
therefore summoned one of them be.
fore him, when the following dia-
logue ensued:
"Mr. 49,, how long have you
been employed as conductor on our
road?"
"About seven years, SIR"
"What have you received during
that time?''
"Eight hundred dollars a year."
"Do you own the house No. ---
upon - street?"
81 do, SIR"
''Have you other property in this
city?"
81 have"
"What is its syalue?''
"Well sir, I cant tell precisely,
but it is considerable"
"What estimate do you place up
on your entire assets?"
"Something like 900"
"Were you the owner of any por-
tion of this property when you enter
ed our service?"
"Not dollars worth, SIR"
"You have family to support, I
understand"
II have a wife and three children
Sir"
"Will you do me the favor to in
form me how you have been able in
seven years to support your family
and accumulate fortune of $40, 900
upon salary of $sOO?"
81 have not the slightest objection
to answer your question, Colonel
s., provided you will suffer me
first to PROFOUND a few pertinent in
terrogatories to you."
every well, sir, I've no objections.
What are they?"
"Will you then be so kind as to
inform me how long you have been
connected with the Rail
way?"
'Something like ten years"
"What, allow me to ask, has been
your salary during that timer"
81 suppose it may have averaged
about $4,000 year"
"You have family to support, if
| am not mistaken?"
eyes sir, l have a family to sup
port"
eff it is not an improper question
Colonel 5, will you suffer me to
ask what is the amount of your for
tune?"
"Well, sir, l don't know precisely
but it is something handsome"
"Would you estimate it at half a
million dollars, Colonel?"
eyes, l dare say it is.''
"That being the fact, sir, if you
will do me the favor to disclose to
me the process by which you, in ten
years have been able to transmute
$50, 900 into ten times that amount
without any visible means outside
your salary, l will cheerfully tell
you how l have managed by turn
lug an honest penny now and then,
to amass the comparatively insigniti-
cant amount l have named"
"That is all very WE'LL" replied
the imperturable Vice President,
"but you seem to forget that there
is a slight difference between your
status and mine upon the-railway,
in that you are responsible to me
for stealing the company's money,
whereas | am not accountable to you
for my transactions. In view of
this fact, it now becomes my duty to
inform you that your services are no
longer required upon our road"
The facetious conductor probably
anticipated this result, and with his
characteristic GOODNESS remarked:
"In that event sir, it may at some
future time become necessary for
me to seek employment upon anoth-
er road. Would it be asking too
much for You to give me a letter
setting forth your estimate of my
ability to perform the duties Of con-
ductor?"
eff you desire it, l certainly have
no objections to giving you testi-
monial to the effect that look upon
you as the most INSCRIPTIONS and
unblushing knave that has ever dis
graced the catalogue OF our en-
ploycs, and .hat any company hav-
ing anything to do with you will be
morally certain to be robbed" Har:
per's Magazine for October.