Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-05-22
A Railroad Narrative.
"Is this seat engaged. sir p,

e :" 1t is not, sir"
e "With your permission, then," as h
5 seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, an
2 the conductor presently made his ap
4 pearance collecting the tickets
a Reaching us he detached the appropri
e ate coupons from our tickets, handing
$ back the remainder with the usua
: "checks."
= "Pardon me-" said my companion
l ''but perceive you place your ticket
/, in your Wallet
n "Yes."
e alt is unwise, unsafe"
e "Why do you consider it so?" in
= quired with curiosity, returning m,
= wallet to my pocket.
t "Suppose, through carelessness, Of
| we may say accident, your wallet Il
! lost-your pocket may be picked fol
instance. ....
eyes"
"Your money and your ticket are
both gone. Possibly you do not appre-
ciate the beauties of such position.
do not think it possible except by ex.
perience.
1T would certainly be an undesira-
BILE situation. 1 can see that clearly
Pardon the question naturally suggest
ted-were you ever so placed?"
Once-only once"
"How was that?"
You wish to profit by my experience.
Well, 1 don't know that mind telling
you the story. 1t may serve to amuse
you, if nothing more"
" 1t occurred number of years ago.
and is of no consequence. 1 had taken
the early express train, and being
somewhat tired and altogether sleepy,
had stretched myself on a seat for as
comfortable a nap as circumstances
would permit. 1 slept soundly, for i
could in those days sleep soundly any
where, and did not awaken until the
conductor came for my ticket. 1 was
positive had purchased ticket, in
deed, Il remembered 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 dIscov-
cry that my pocket-book had been sto-
len, and in proof of my story showed
him my baggage.
"The check is all right, but how do /
know that it belongs to you? l will
take the money for your fare, or stop
the train and put you off, just as you
choose"
"What could l dol protestations
amounted to nothing, and fellow-pas-
sengers, with the usual tendancy to
trample upon a fallen man, showed
clearly by their looks and expressions
that they thought me sneaking rogue,
who would steal passage if he could.
They paid their money, why should 1
not pay mine? Few men would ever see
heaven if judgment was rendered by l
jury-except themselves.
MY search for the lost ticket brought
to light just dollar and eighty cents.
This, 1 told the conductor, was every
cent had about me. He said it was
fifty cents shorter than the usual fare
to Lauderdale City, but that he would
pass me through for it rather than stop
the train. From Lauderdale, city of
much importance, could write to my
partner for money. 1t would certainly
be as well as to tramp ten or twelve
miles back to the city 1 had left, and
where should be no better off, being
equally stranger there.
"In due time l found myself in Lau-
derdale, went to the best hotel, tele-
graphed for money, and wrote an ex-
planitory note to my partner. This
business attended to, sailed out to see
what sort of place Lauderdale City
might be. There was nothing to do but
amuse myself the best 1 could until the
money should come. As | strolled
leisurely up the main street, news
boy started out of a printing office,
crying:
go Daily Bdnner-extra edition-all
about the murder-great excitement on
the E-road,' etc., etc. Have an ex-
trap"
81 took the sheet and thrust my hand
into my pocket for the money without a
moments thought. You might imag-
inc my feelings when compelled to re-
turL that two-penny bit of paper back
to the boy, with the muttered excuse
that had no change, and the utterly |
contemptuous expression on the boys |
face as he received it. 1 Immediately |
stepped into the office of the Banner and |
wrote a paragraph of my recent mishap
taking care to make it Us amusing as
possible. When completed, handed it
to the clerk. He read it, laughed and
took it into the private office. Coming |
back a few minutes after, he told the
book keepar to give me fifty cents. 1t
was not much, but more than expect
ed. Well, continued my walk until l
finally reached the end of the street,
which terminates at the s. river,
here spanned by long, covered bridge.
l crossed the bridge and was surprised
to see upon renching the opposite side
that would be required to pay toll. A |
young girl came to the door of the little
office as stepped up and inquired how |
much l should pay drawing forth my |
solitary shinplaster.
"'Ohr said she, with smile and a
slight blush, ''we do not charge minis
tiers anything.
sit was bad joke, but suppressed
the laugh that arose to my lips, and
thanking her for the consideration
shown TO the clergy. turned about and
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