The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-06-12

which she asked her regular question,
but there was plenty of life and snap,
and it sounded good to hear the way in
| which she said: "Oh. thank you!'
when I told her Fourteen, just as
though l was responsible for it and
made all the rates for the whole country.
But she didn't buy any ticket all the
same, and it may be foolish for a
scalper to says-and scalper who is not
in the habit of getting left-to own up.
fair and square, that / was downright
relieved when she did not plank down
fourteen dollars on my counter.
1t was fourteen dollars the next day,
and she asked me if thought it would
90 any lower. / told her everything
was SO mixed up it was impossible to
tell, but the chances were that tickets
would vet sell for twelve dollars and
perhaps less.
do you think they will get as low as
ten doliars?" she asked.
And then knew her figure and what
she was waiting for. and Twas glad to
size up her pile at last I
Il wouldn't wonder If it got down to
ten," said, ''but / don't know how
soon it will be, and hope you are in
no hurry about going"
When that fly clerk of mine heard
what l had said about hoping she
wasn't in hurry, having seen her COM
ing in or going out every day for two
or three weeks, he thought was trying
to be sarcastic, and the continental idiot
laughed.
First she looked at him and then at
me with those great, blue eyes. and
then, without word, she walked
away, and somehow | felt as though l
would not see her again. haven't got
the ugliest disposition in the world, but
l believe would really have enjoyed
choking that fly clerk until he was half
dead. As it was, l told him in cutrate
times the profits would not allow the
luxury of two clerks. and as he was the
last to come he should be the first to
60, and that he could look for another
place at the end of the week. When he
turned pale and said he had sick
mother and two little sisters to support
on his ten dollars a week, of course
could do nothing but keep him; but
gave him some advice about laughing
in the wrong place that he wont forget
to his dying day.
She didn't come the next day, nor the
next, nor the next. was getting nerv-
Gus and too cross for any earthly use
when, on the fourth day after my fly
clerk laughed say the fourth day
after, because he hadn't laughed since
in she came at the usual hour
Tickets are eleven dollars to-day"
/ said, before she had time to ask her
regular question, and l could not help
showing that was glad to see her
again, although for the life of me l
dared not sa- so. And then, without
giving her time to speak, | RATED on:
you've had so much bother and
trouble waiting, though, that l will
make it ten to you if you are in hurry
to CO."
l did this to make up for the rudeness
of my fly clerk, but it was an effort that
took nerve, tell you, for l was sure
this wouli be the last of her, and that,
of all things, was what l didn't want to
see.
II thank you very much" she said,
"but am able to pay the full price when
l buy ticket"
When she was gone / was rather glad
to know that her pride had prevented
her accepting nv offer of dollars dis
count, for it gave me still another
chance of seeing her even if ten dollars
should be the next days rate.
1t was selfish, l know, and own up
to it, but felt as near like fellow who
is sentenced to be hanged and then gets
reprieve for twenty-four hours as l
hope ever will feel when found the
next days rate was twelve dollars.
For two days this was the ruling price,
and then the cut rate fell to ten dollars.
And now my only thought was:
''Will she come here once more, or
will she buy her ticket of some one
else?"
She did come.
Il see by this mornings paper that
would be ten dollars" she said, very
demurely. as that correct?"
She handed me ten dollars in silver,
mostly dimes, and it took me long
while to count it. l knew would not
see her again, and was in that state of
mind that wanted to do something for
her which she could not refuse.
.'You have made mistake" l said.
She turned pale, and saw her little
hand tightly grasp the edge of the
counter as she asked:
us there not money enough? Is
there not ten dollars?"
.'Oh, yes, enough, and more than
enough; here are twelve dollars -see?"
h
ten dollars she had paid me and the
two dollars in quarters that had hasti-
" slipped in with her money. and then
handed back to her two dollars. She
was about to say something further, but
l said:
Excuse me. but 1 am too busy to
bother about change. What train do
you wish your ticket for?'
Eight o'clock tonight" she said,
hesitatingly. still holding the two dol
lars in her hand.
made memorandum of the number
of her tickets. 6Si-as / stamped it,
put it in an envelope and handed it to
her.
Still she hesitated and was about to
say something more, and again l said:
Excuse n,e-your ticket is all right
please don't bother me about that
change again. wish you very pleas
ant journey and hope may have the
pleasure of selling you ticket again
some time.
Without waiting to hear word l
rushed out, catching one farewell
glimpse as passed. and dropped in at
the rival cut-rate Office next door to
talk over the situation. But for the
life of me, if | were called into court to
testify, l couldn't tel one single word
L /. l.