Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-02-09
How He Got His Change.

| louys SH1ail DOy ana . reporter Wcro
riding uptown in Broadway omnibus
about midday recently. The lady and
the small boy had evidently paid their
tares when the reporter got in. The re-
porter deposited his five-cent nickel in
the glass-front apartment house, and
looked round for something to think
about Presently the driver was stopped
BY the uplifted and menacing forefnger
OF an eminently respectable-looking gen.
deman, verging on ''elderly." of portly
presence and unyielding dignity of coun-
tenance, who stepped into the bus with
the precision of tying cravat, and in q
moment, finding he had no small change,
handed the driver two-dollar bill Re-
ceiving his little envelope of silver, he
found it to contain three fifties and some
tens and fives. He quietly, and with
habitual dignity, dropped a fifty-cent
piece in the two-story basement and attic
cash box, slipped the rest of the money
In his pocket, and slowly and calmly
settled back, folding his gloved hands
on the heavy handle of his umbrella, and
gazing with mild sternness at nothing in
particular. He was the picture of self.
satisfaction and solid. respectable CON-
! posure. 1t was the calm before the
storm. The lady looked amused, the
reporter waited in hope that the light
ming would strike somehow, and the
small boy stared in amazement.
Soon the small boy broke loose and
exclaimed:
Say, mister. you put a fifty in the
box. You can't get no change that way"
"Whatr'--and the respectable gentle
man dignity was gone. He sprang at
the little bell strap and jerked it like a
telegraph sOunder, until the driver won.
dered what lunatic had got into his bus.
'Driver" shouted the flushed and
angry respectable gentleman; "Driver,
want my change 1 put a fifty-ceni
piece in taat box by mistake and want
my change"
well" remarked the driver. 81 guess
you'll get it,
"Do you hear? Give me my change
Instantly, or I'll report you to the com.
pany."
"All right" remarked the driver.
you'd better ride right up to the stable
with me-"
The respectable gentleman resumed
his seat, the image of impotent rage and
tried to be again respectable and digni-
fed. but he made the lady, the reporter
and the small boy confidents of his per-
sonal opinion concerning the imperti.
nent driver, the company, the two pas.
Observation-Disclosures cash
box and the earth in general.
The respectable gentleman had scarce.
ly settled back again, with his gloved
hands folded on his umbrella, and gaz.
ing at nothing in particular, but with
a sternness that was no longer mild,
when lady hailed the bus and got in.
A happy thought occurred to the respect
able fifty-cent passenger. He smiled
benignly and with q Permit me,
madam" took the lady's five-cent piece
and-put it in his pocket. His lips came
well together and his whole face assumed
an air Of determination, As the driver
looked down through his little box-o{fice
window aperture the respectable gentle.
man exclaimed.
'Driver, am going to take fares un.
til 1 get my change"
"Well, but"
'No butts; attend to your horses. Thit
company owes me forty-fve cents, and
I'm going to have it before 1 leave the
stage"
How long it took the driver to appre,
ciate the situation the reporter did moi
inquire, but he said no more. Soon 9
gentleman got in, and the company's
creditor moved toward the front of the
stage and took his fare, explaining the
case. All the passengers smiled. Pres
emily two ladies entered. EVERYBODY
looked at the respectable gentleman and
smiled again, the small boy clapped his
honHa the araI.N,,- 1oOl-o1 IoN0
frowned slightly, took the ladies' ten
cents and put it in his pocket The
driver merely looked down to see how
many 'fares" got in. When a young
man got in, the smile became broader
than ever. He sat opposite the forty
1--WE cent creditor. The latter leaned
forward, touched the young man on the
knee, and said:
81 will take your fare, SIR"
The tone was so commanding that the
newcomer handed over his coin.
amazedly, and the receiver slipped it in
his pocket The young man, after con-
tinuing to stare ut the self-appointed
conductor awhile. exclaimed.
where's my five cents?"
'In my pocket, sir"
"Give me my five cents change; gave
| you ten cents"
"Sir, it is all right. lam taking fares
Tor the present. accidentally" etc.
"Wen, that's all right. But want
my FIVE cents change"
81 beg your pardon, said the respect
able gentleman, ignoring the yonng
mans request, aud evidently too much
occupied with his mental arithmetic to
catch the idea. The other passengers
were by this time roaring with laughter,
and the young man became angry and
vociferous and threatened to cali an OFF,
GER. and finally the citizens movement
creditor suddenly caught the meaning
Of the young mans remonstrance, and
with profuse, but dignified apologies,
handed him five cents.
When the reporter left the scene of this
farcical comedy. the respectable gentle
man had got up to forty cents and had
| heQnn To look mild onca mnra - " Y