Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-03

driving. Jump up" he said: and
got upon the bOX-scat and we had a long
talk, and finding was doing no good, he
offered to get me job to look after the
horses of the bus.
But he did better than that for me; for,
seeing that l had got some education
about me- the manager made conductor
Of me.
1t wasn't that gay agreeable Job once
thought it, To be sure the line was in
wasn't one that admits of much elocution.
"Toria, 'toria," and "'Tannia, - mean
ing Victoria Station and the Britannia
Tavern, you can't make much of pattcr
Of And as for jokes, why ever since
they introduced those sway. bills, as
they call them, that you stick upon the
doors and mark the fares on, you've got
your pencil in your mouth all day long,
and can't make 'em.
Still I was pleased enough at my lob,
and it so happened that one dav | was
waiting my turn in the bar of the Mother
Shipton and took up the Daily telegram,
and casting my eyes over the deaths saw
announced Mr. Balker's-on the very day.
too, that had got my situation. There's
no use mincing the matter, was down
right glad "That man. said to N.Y.
self, "didn't enjoy his ILL., gotten plumber
very long; and what's more, ! believe
that he was my evil spirit, and that now
he's gone | shall make start in the
world" But hadn't reckoncd upon his
having a son.
had been at my new work for about
fortnight when one evening on our down
ward Journey after we had passed Red
cap, began to collect the fares There
were only three passengers in the bus.
One Of them was a pretty fresh looking
country girl, who, as soon as l called
Fares, please" began to search her
pockets. Then she flushed up quite
crimson all of sudden Dear me-"
she cried, I've lost my purse!'' Well,
there was man sitting opposite her very
| respectfully dressed, with sallow waxy
face and little pigs eyes, and he looked
at her quite angrily. "Lost your purse 2"
said he. You mean you've left it at
home on the drawing room chimney.
| piece" he said, with sheer. Well, l
could see the poor girl was almost in
tears about it, so spoke to her and told
her that as tar rs the loss of the purse
went it was bad job for her, but that she
needn't be troubled about not paving the
fare, because she could let me have it
next time she saw me. With that she
| began to tell me that there was one pound
| fifteen shillngs in the purse, and that she
was going TO a place rs nurse maid at
| Haverstock- hill, and that the purse con
tanned all the money she was worth. She
had been standing waiting for the bus
some time at Charing cross, and supposed
somebody had taken it out Of her pocket
was very sorry for her, and said what
l could to comfort her and when we came
to the Shipton | showed her the way to
the place she was going t0--17 Judkin
place. | noticed that the salow- faced
man started when she told me the ad-
dress, and seemed to look rather hard at
her, and looked hard at me too when she
asked me who she should inquire for to
pay the money back, and | told her my
real name, Dick Maylam.
| began now to take notice of the regu-
lar customers, and found that the sallow-
faced man travelled by us pretty regularly.
A spiteful chap he was, too. He'd hit
wildly out with his umbrella handle
when he wanted to get out as il conduct
ors had no feelings in their elbow joints.
| lie always offered me twopence, too, for a
threepenny fare on the chance that id
take it by mistake
One night, when went to the office on
my last journey, the Apokkeeper said to
me: Maylam, you're ninepence short
in your cash to day" ~ think not" |
said; for was always very careful of the
cash and TO keep the way bills right, and
l was so cute that | always put a private
mark against the last FIRE on each line, so
that nobody should stick down any figures
| after me.
| Such Of YOU as travel in your own car
riages and don't use the omnibuses maynt
know what these way-bills are. They are
Manchester invention, believe, and are
| slips of thin paper ruled with cross lines
twelve spaces In a row, and rs many rows
rs there are different fares. Mine had
three rows Tor twopenny, threepenny and
| fourpenny fares. You put them in lit
tie frame that opens with hinge and il
screwed on to the door of the bus, and
every fare you draw you mark on the bill.
| Well, as soon as the bookkeeper told me
| was short in my cash, / said "Well,
let us look at the way bills" feeling sure
| he'd either made mistake or wanted to
| plumber me, but reckoned them all up
carefully and found that the man was
right. | must have lost the money. |
made it up out Of my own pocket, and re-
solved to be more careful another time.
But next day 1t was the same ninepence
short again Then for two days | was
right; after that another ninepence TO tie
| bad.
You must be careful, Maylam," said
the man, and don't let it happen again :;
for if il does shall report you as always
being short"
But IT did happen again and again,
sometimes sixpence. sometimes ninepence,
sometimes, shilling, and | couldn't find
out how 1t went. ! was well nigh driven
mad by it, for knew | should lose my
| place Ii it happened much Mtener, and
brood over it as | might | could fathom it