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

road"
| saw that [ would have to try new
tack, as he was very practical in his
ideas. | asked him everything imagin-
able and unimaginable, but the only
effect it had on him was to change him
from talking air-brakes to talking auto
matte couplings.
l was almost driven to despair. /
longed to tell him I was humbug, but
pride forbade that: for by so doing |
would not only debase myself, but it
would be unjust to my friend. Graft
tude demanded that | should endure
my martyrdom.
You may imagine my dismay
when presently | beheld my we'll
meaning prosecutor pushing his way
toward me, accompanied by middle
aged gentleman, who seemed to carry
! himself as if he owned the whole road.
! Stopping at my seat, the conductor
said:
" MIR. Ferguson, permit me to intro
duce Mr.. Lovelace, President of this
road.
Now | was in for it, SURE enough.
| What could [ do? Where could |
! charter a knOt-hOle. Here | was, per
SOnating another man, and imposing
upon one Of the most prominent men
III that section Of the country. In my
wrath and despair, [ inwardly cursed
| passes, Tom Ferguson, myself, and
last, but not least, this diabolical imbe-
Gle Of Il conductor [ was too much
embarrassed to say anything aloud
Like Il ray Of light through the deepest
darkness, stood out the fact that the
old President was grinding out long
Winded welcome to my arrival at the
western section of our railroad chain ;"
[ think that was the way he spun it.
This railroad magnate differed some
what from some | have seen; he was
gentlemanly, cordial and really socia-
bic.
Assuming, [ suppose, that one in my
position GreaSurer) would be well
versed in everything pertaining to
railroad finances, he began a
lengthy discourse on railroad finances.
| Fortunately | knew considerable
more about that than [ did about
patent brakes and spiral springs,
owing to the fact that Tom Ferguson
and | had had many conversations CON
corning the finances of his railroad,
and seeing that had some taste for
such things, he had posted me fully.
In for a lamb in for sheep Seeing
no way to escape, [ determined to pre-
sent a bold front and hOb-nob this
great man the same way [ would Tom
himself. IN a very short time we
We're deep III the mysteries of stock,
common and preferred, first mortgage
and convertibles. With what effect
talked may be Judged from the fact that
old Loco closed the conversation by eX-
claiming:
Young man, you have studied your
business well. The East is no place for
you. Come West. Here you viii be
appreciated, and your talents will find
the reward they merit -
Though / had some computations
about making the assertion, | replied
that probably [ would locate West at
some future time. Upon which he
made me promise that | would advise
him when [ decided to emigrate, and
he would endeayOr to find Inc a remu-
neratiye and agreeable position.
AS we were nearing the city in
which he resided, he strongly urged me
to remain with him for a few days.
Though | had imposed upon him most
fearfully, | was not SO far lost to the die
tateS of conscience us to insult his hos
pitality by becoming his guest under a
| false name and reputation. So plead
ed prior engagement, and he reluc-
family excused me.
After he had left me, / saw that ma
hgnant conductor making for me
again, and | thought it judicious to
feign sleep, which | did whenever he
was in the car during the remainder of
my journey.
Arriving at my destination, [ had a
very pleasant visit with my old friend,
and the time of departure came alto
gether too soon to please me; but, of
course, duty first" you know.
The first salute | received upon en-
tering the station was:
"How do you do, Mr.. Ferguson?
Going up with us to-day"
Yes, was going up, but [ wished
heartily that he had gone towel, any
where where [ could not meet him
though l did not tell him so.
Well, that was not the only shock
received, for on entering the car the
first person | met was the President.
| was no sooner seated than he came
and sat down alongside, and said that
he must congratulate himself on his
good fortune at meeting me again. |