The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-09
Riiked.


on his trip. When he left his home,
which by the way is five miles from OF
iowa, he had ticket to Rock Island and
SIS in money. That was on Wednesday
He went to Davenport to see the sights,
and saw them, but he only hlew in sew
enty.five cents, and he started for Rock
Island with $14.25 in his pocket On the
bridge he was overtaken by smart look
ing young chap, who entered intoeon>
versation with him, beginning with the
usual remark about the weather. The
stranger talked about having two or three
car loads of stuff to send to Dubuque.
why I'm going to Dubuque myself, +"
said Nelson. well, get into one of our
cars and ride up, it won't cost you cent, .
replied the stranger. The young granger
felt very-happy over bis good luck and
talked glbly about his intentions aud
prospects for the future His new found
friend also unfolded his plans and by the
time the two got to this side of the river
they were quite well acquainted. As they
were coming off Sylvan bridge, the man
who was shipping goods to Dubuque re-
marked: There comes the agent of the
C. NJ. & St. P. road, do You know him? p
Nelson did not
"Ill introduce you" SAID the shipper
and when the agent" came up Nelson
was introduced to Mr.. Brennan, the gen
tlemanly agent.
Said Mr.. Brennan: "Mr. Brown, the
charges on that car that is being loaded
are $40 Mr.. Brown produced some
money and found that he lacked Just 81
of having enough "Will you loan me
S14 till we get to Dubuque, Mr., Nelson?'
why of course replied Nelson, ant
he took the money from his pocket ant
handed il over to Mr. Brown who in turn
handed it over to Mr. Brennan, the gen
| tlemanly agent
Il say" said Brown, there is a car "
in the c., Il. l. & P. yard that will holt
another load. Mr.. Brennan will you g
up with me and see that | can get sOmt
more stuff into that carr" Mr.. B. would
Say, Nelson, I've got a valise dowI
at the depot, will you 60 down there ant
watch it till Gomez said Brown. Mel
son would
SO he went to the c. NJ. & St p. depo
and sure enough valise was lying in {
seat in the waiting room and he sat dowI
and watched it. When the accommodate
ton went out at 2 o'clock John Holmes
one of the clerks in the Office, asked tn,
watcher if he was waiting for any partic
ular train. NO, replied the young tile
oil the soil, 'Im waiting for the agent.
What agentr" queried John.
"Why the agent of this here road-Mr
Brennan"
That isn't the name of the agent, re
piled John, smiling, MS he saw that III
granger had been bilked.
why, | met him up here near tn,
bridge, and he told me that was hi
name, asserted the innocent farmer.
Did YOU give MIN any money! aske'
John.
Yes, / loaned him $14," answere,
Nelson.
We'll, you may as well say good by
to that money said John, and then Mel
son got excited.
First he became pale, and then red, an
finally great drops of sweat broke out O
his classic brow. Then he gave vent t
ponderous oaths, and tie air was blue 70
few moments around the depot. Some
one suggested that the fellows wer
doubtless Davenport toughs, and Neiso
shot out of the door and over to Dayen
port, He went like a racer. lie told tn
chef of police there what the troubl
was, and the chief smiled and said h
would do all he could for the unfortunat
lad. Then he came back to this side c
the river and bolted into tn
Milwaukee depot putting and sweating
The clerks all smiled audibly, ooh that
all right boys, laugh as much as you war
to. but wait till l get hold of that blanl
blankety, blank agent named Brennan
cried the dupcd youth.
He had just twenty-five cents left an
finally Agent Holmes, of the c. M. & ST
P, secured him a ticket to Ottawa, an
he left for home with the promise that /
would send the money the ticket cost bac
to Mr.. Holmes. He is young, honest an
green in the ways of this wicked worl,
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