Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-06
A FREE PASS.

"A FREE PASS.
\ FEW years since | was agent for a
large manufacturing concern, and my
duties caused me to make long and fire.
quent journeys. Among my Warmest
friends was the treasurer Of the Black
water Railway Company. One day
while he was at our office, | happened
to say that the next morning ! intend
ed starting for the West, and proposed
visiting several Of the larger cities.
Pulling out Il number Of railroad pass
eS, he threw them to me, saying that
us he had no use for them | might as
well use them. Upon my remarking
that they were made out in his name,
he replied that that was immaterial, as
most Of the conductors knew neither
Of us; that he received the tickets
through exchange of cOITtesies with
different railroads, it being customary
to send passes to the principal officers
Of other railroads.
With that, the conversation was in
terrupted, and in a short time he de
parted, leaving the passes in my pos
session
Without thinking much about the
matter, | placed the passes in my
pocket-b0ok, where they remained sew
eral days without my noticing them.
When | arrived at st. Louis, the
parties whom | wished to see had gone
to Chicago, and would not return till
the latter part of the succeeding week,
and, it being necessary that | should
see them before [ proceeded on my
journey, [ was forced to await their
return. While bemoaning my ill-luck
in being tied in ST. Louis for a week, /
recollected that my old college chum,
Jack Bartlett, had located down in Ar
kansas, and, as [ had not seen him in
him now.
No quicker said than done Packing
my trayeling-bag, | FASTENED to the
depot, arriving there just in time to
get on board an outWard-bound train
Not having had time to procure a
ticket at the station, [ commenced
getting my fare in readiness for the
conductor. While rummaging around
my pOcket-boOk for change, what
should | find but the forgotten passes,
and among them one for the very rail
road | was travelling on. For a few
moments there was a struggle between
conscience and economy; but, YOU
know how it is, when dollars and
cents are at stake, conscience is very
elastic. | very soon concluded to use
the pass, thinking that the conductor
would merely examine it, pass on, and
that would be the last of it, and | be
few dollars the gamer.
[ wished it had been the last of it. [
knew | was not doing exactly the right
thing, but then my funds were low
so when the knight of the punch came
along | handed him my pass. He
glanced at it for moment, then eX-
tending his hand, said:
Z am very happy to meet you, Mr..
Ferguson, and hope YOU will enjoy
your trip over this road. Please ex-
cuse me; duty first, you know
Yes, Mr.. Ferguson would excuse
him; or, at least, |, the bogus Mr.. Fer
guson, or ideal Mr. Ferguson-which
ever you like, would excuse him.
Gladly, too; for felt just little UNI
comfortable when he was by. [ soon
found out what ''duty first" meant
It was evident that railroad had in
structed its employees to be specially
courteous to railroad men.
Whenever that internal conductor
had moment to spare, he would come
and sit down alongside Of me, address
me as Mr.. Ferguson, when everybody
knows my name is Kelly. Then he
would pirate about this road and that
road, signals, switches, self-acting
brakes, spiral and elliptic springs, and
a whole category Of railroad fixtures.
Then he would ask me about our rail
road; whether we used this article Of
that; which method of this something
OF Ihat something we preferred. AL
TINS Delng Greek to me, | had to be
very cautious and non-committal in my
replies. Beng only drummer fol
a factory | knew nothing of his lingo,
SO | trled TO change the conversation
| tried talkidg poetry, politics. religion
made original remarks about the
scenery; said that the mountain around