The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-06-12
CUPID AND CUT RATES.
A New York Scalper's Romantic
Love Story.
THE sCALPER's NARRATION.

THE scALPER's NARRATION.
They say that ''all is fair in love and
war" The railroad companies have
found out that there is good deal that
Is not fair in this war of cut rates. You
may think this is joke. If you've got
any such foolish idea as that into your
head, just tackle the first stakeholder
you meet and see if he don't tell you it s
cold, hard truth. This sort of funny
business between the trunk lines
cut my throat and cut yours, so to
speak-has made it lively for us. Too
lively, to be honest with you, when we
come to Inquire up the profits. I'd rather
see less people here in my Broadway
Office and more money. Don't you see
for yourself that it is less wear and tear
on the nerves, not to speak of the furni-
ture, to sell twenty tickets a day at a
clean commission OF three dollars a
ticket, than to sell one-bundred on
tifty-cent margin, not to speak of hav-
ing to turn ourselves inside out as a
universal railway guide and bureau of
Information for two hundred more peo-
pie, who finally go to some other fellows
shop to buy their ticketsp
The theory of our side of the railroad
business and the basis of our success
when we have any--is that half the
world wants to get something for moth
ing, something for less than it is worth,
something cheaper than the market
price. So you see, we don't have any
very altitudinous opinion of the class of
folks who mostly patronize us. Our
best customers are fellows who could
just as well afford to pay full rates and
never know the difference. OF course,
though, good many poor people come
here. and in helping them save a dollar
or two dollars, fee, as though we are
regular out and cut, died-in-the-wool
philanthropists.
Funny customers? Do we have any?
DO we have anything else? l would
like to ask you. Some of them are reg
ular, but mostly transient. I'll tell you
about one of my regular customers if
you'll keep it to yourself. If it should
get out the BOYS would have the grand
laugh on me, from Canal street to the
Astor House. 1t was about six weeks
ago-just six weeks ago to-day if you
are so particular about dates-that a
young woman came in and asked:
What does a ticket to Chicago
.cost?"s
Seventeen dollars" / said.
Without another word she walked
out-eXcept, | believe, she did say:
- Thank YOU in very low tone.
The next day she came again and
asked the same question and got the
same answer. The third time she came.
which was the day following, l noticed
her more closely. She was very plain
~ dressed. but somehow her dry goods
looked better than some that cost pile
of money. She knew how to wear
things like lady. She might have
been saleswoman or a school-teacher
Or anything of that sort that a lady
might be who was down in her luck.
She looked pale and sad, but there was
something brave in her eyes that made
a fellow respect her. At any rate, it
made me pull off my hat and lay my
cigar down-and there are mighty few
folks / ever do either for in business
hours
What is the price of Chicago tick
et to-day?"
Sixteen dollars" / said.
There was Just little glad streak
came into her tired face at the drop of
a dollar that made me wonder how glad
she would look if the tumble had been
five times as large But she only said
Thank you." and walked quietly away
as before. / wondered if she would
come again. but the next day she was
here at about the same time. Prices
had stiffened up again. and / felt like
brute when / had to say Seventeen
dollars instead of Fifteen" which l
would much rather have said. and be-
1ieve | should. and pocketed the loss. if
so many other people had not crowded
around.
She opened her large blue eyes at me
as though she thought must be mis-
taken. After she had repeated the
question to make sure, and had received
the same answer-I hadn't the courage
TO look her in the face when l said
Seventeen. and so made believe was
terribly busy with some letters-she
walked away more slowly than usual.
The next three days running the rates
stood still at seventeen dollars, and
My Customer'-rd got to calling her
so in my mind-came and went regu-
larry at the same hour.
Then early tie next morning we got
news of a big break. Prices were all.
at skies and seyens, but we started in at
fourteen dollars TO Chicago. When She
camel suppose it does not cost any
more to put in a capital than small
81 felt little nervous about telling
hcr. To tell the honest truth, / was
afraid she would buy ticket and that
would be the last i would see of her.
Then | thought to myself: .'it's none of
Your business, anyhow. What do you
care-what right have you to carep''
And j bad to answer back: '.Not any,"
And besides. 1t was evident she was so
anxious to go that would rather she