Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-02-14
A TRAVELLERS STORY.


''Is this seat engaged. sir? p
glanced up from the paper was read
ing, and met the smiling regard of genial
looking man in the prime of life.
cit is not. sir
with your permission, them" as he
seated himself beside me.
The train had already started, and the
conductor presently made bis appearance
collecting the tickets Resching US, he de-
tached the appropriate coupons from our
tickets, handing back the remainder with the
usual cheeks"
Pardon me" said my companion. ''but
l perceive you place your ticket in your
wallet"
Eyes"
sit is unwise, unsafe"
"Why do you consider it so?" / en-
quired with curiosity, returning my wallet
to my pocket.
"Suppose. through carelessness, or We
may say accident. your wallet is lost your
pocket may be picked, for instance
eyes"
"Your money and your ticket are both
gone. Possibly you do not appreciate the
beauties Of such position. do no. think
it possible except by experience"
1t would certainly be an undesirable
situstion~ lean see that clearly enough.
Pardon the question naturally suggested
we're you ever so placed p
"Once-only once"
GLOW was that 2
"You wish to profit by my experience
Well, l 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. Ihad taken the early
express train, and being somewhat tired aud
altogether sleepy. had stretched myself upon
q seat for as comfortable a nap az circum.
stances would permit. | slept soundly, for
l could in those days sleep soundly any
where, and did not awaken until the con
ductor came for my ticket. | was positive I
had purchased ticket. indeed, remem-
bered distinctly having shown it to the bag.
gage clerk at the time Of checking my trunk
The conductor grew impatient, passed to
the ether end of the car. and returned to
me- ! had made the discovery that my
pocket book had been stolen and in proof Of
my story showed him my baggage check.
It was useless. If you have travel d
much you are aware that a virtuous conduo-
tor takes no mans word in fact, all men
have designs upon the company's dividends
but himself. 1t was perfectly natural, there.
fore, that the faithful steward in question
should say:
1.-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
AID put you off, just as you choose"
What could l do? Protes'ations amount.
! ed to nothing, and fellow passengers, with
| the usual tendency of humanity to trampls
| upon fallen man showed clearly by their
| looks and expressions that they thought me
! a encaking rogue, who would steal passage
if he could They paid their money, why
should 1 net pay mine? Few men would
ever see heaven it Judgment was rendered
by juty-except themselves.
My search for the lost ticket brought to
light just dollar and eighty cents This.
told the conductor. was every cent bad
about me. He said it was fifty cents short
or than the usual fare to Lauderdale city
but that he would pass me through for il
rather than stop the train. From Lauder
dale. city Of much Importance, could
write to my partner for money. 1t would
certainly be as we'll rs to tramp ten or twelve
miles back to the city I had left, and where
l should be no better off, being equally q
Stranger there.
I In due time l found myself in Lauder
dale, went to the best hotel, telegraphed for
money, and wrote an explanatory note to my
partner This business attended to, sal
lied out to see what sort of place Lauder.
Gale city might be. There was nothing t
do but amuse myself as best I could until
the money should come A. l strolled
lsisurely up the main street, newsboJ
started out Of = printing Office, crying:
daily Banner-sx extra edition all abou
the murder-great accident on the E.
road" ETC., etc "Have an extrar
took the sheet and thrust my hand inte
my pocket for the money without moment
thought. You may imagine my feelings
when compelled to return that two-penny
bit Of paper back to the boy, with the NUT
tered excuss that had no change, and tn.
utterly contemptuous expression on the boy'l
face as he received it. I Immediately step
ped into the Office of the Banner and wrote
q paragraph Of my recen. mishsp. taking
care to make it as amusing IS possible
When completed, handed it to the clerk
He read it, laughed, and took it into tn
private Office. Coming back few minute
after. be told the book-keeper to give M
fifty cents. It was not much. but NOR
than l expected. Well, l continued m.
walk uutil finally reached the end Of th
street which terminates at the s. river
J here spanned by long covered bridge.
crossed the bridge, and Was surprised t