The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-05-29

tho deaths I saw announced Mr.. Bakers
on the very day, too, that I had got
my situation. There's no usc mircing
the matter, was downright glad
"That man," said to myself, "didn't
enjoy his ill.gotten plunder very long
and what's moro, believe that he was
my evil spirit, and that now hos gone ]
shall make start in the world" But ]
hadn't reckoned upon his having q son.
l had been ut my new work for about
a fortnight. when one evening on our
downward journey, after we had passed
Redcap, l began to collect tho fares.
There were only three passengers in the
bus. Ono of them was pretty fresh
looking country girl, who, MS soon as I
called "Fares, please" began to search
her pockets. Then she flushed up quite
crimson nil OF sudden. "Dear me,
she cried. "I've lost my purse!" Well,
there was a man sitting opposite her
worry respectfully dressed, with sallow,
waxy face, and little pigs eyes, and he
looked ut her quite angrily. "Lost
your pursel" said he. "You mean
you've left it at home on tho drawing
room chimneypiece," he said, with n
sneer. Well, 1 could see the poor girl
was almost in tears about it, so l spoke
to her and told her that rs far rs tho loss
OF tho purse went it was bad job for
her, but that she needn't be troubled
about not paying the fare, because she
could lot me have it next time she saw
me. With that she began to tell ME
that there was ono pound fifteen shil-
lings in the purse, and that sho was
going to place as nursemaid at Hayer-
stock hill, and that tho purse contained
all the money sho was worth. She had
been standing waiting for tho bus some
time, and supposed somebody had taken
it out OF her pocket.
I was very sorry for her, and said
what I could to comfort her, aud when
we came to the Shipton l showed her
the way to the place she was going to-
II Judkin place. I noticed that the sal
low faced man started when she told me
tho address, and seemed to look rather
hard ut her, and looked hard Mt mo too
when she asked me who she should in
quire for to pay the money back, and l
told her my real name, Dick Maylam.
I began now to take notice OF the
regular customers, aud found TINT 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 hO wanted to get out, rs if
conductors had no feelings III their elbow
joints. He always offered me twopence
too for n threepenny fare.on the chance
that I'd take it by mistake.
One night, when I went to the Office
OH my last journey, the bookkeercr said
to me: Maylam, you're ninepence
short in your cash to-day" II think
not" said; for was always very care
full OF the cash and to keep tho waybills
right, aud I was so cute that l always
put private mark against the last fare
on each line, SO that nobody should stick
down any figures after me.
These wnybillS were Manchester i'll
vention, believe, md were slips of thin
paper ruled with cross lines twelve
spaces in q row, and rs many rows rs
there were different fares. Mine had
three rows for twopenny, thrcepenny
and fourpenny fares. You put them il
little frame that opens with hinge
and is screwed on to tho door Of the
bus, and every fare you draw you mark
on the bill.
Well, as soon rs the bookkccpcr told
mo I was short in my cash, I said:
"Well, let us look ut tho waybills,"
feeling suro he'd either made mistake
or wanted To plunder me, but I reck-
oned them all up carefully and found
that tho man was right. I must have
lost the money. Imade it up out Of my
own pocket, and resolved to be moro
careful another time. But next day it
was the same ninepence short again.
Then for two days l WIS right; afterthat
another ninepenco to the bad.
"You must be careful, Alaylam," said
the man, sand don't let it happen again,
for if it does Ishall report you as always
being short"
But it did happen again and again,
sometimes sixpence, sometimes nine.
pence, sometimes shilling, and |
I couldn't find out how it went. l was
well-nigh driven mud by it, for I knew
I should lose my place if it happened
much oitener, and brood over it Us l
might could fathom it in no way. l
was always particular in giving change,
aud nobody could get at my money,
which kept iu the leather wallet pro-
vided by the company.
At last word came down one day that
l was to have tue sack ut tho week. end,
and then can tell you I felt downright
bad. There wasn't much chance Of my
getting another place, MS private owners
were few, aud besides the company
most likely would refuse to give me n
character. I didn't know what to turn
to, and couldn't see anything before m"
but starvation. These sort of feelings
don't helpa man to get through his work
smartly, and l got worse aud worse
muddled as the day went on. People
abused mo for not setting them down
where they told me, and altogether |
was well.nigh distracted.
It was IL damp, dismal afternoon, and
when We stopped ut tho corner of Ok.
ford street and Tottenham Court road
there was great rush Of people to get
into tho omnibus. Among them was Il
lady in deep black, md with her was
our sallow.faccd friend. 1t was dusk
and I couldn't sec the faces inside, but
rs 1 lighted my lamp ard tho CLEAN
shone into tho bus I started back aud
turned my head away from tho door.
The widow Indy was my sister Carry.
After tho first touch Of shame, however,
l didn't care auy more. You get hard.
cred to such things when you come to