West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-06-25
RIDING ON A PASS.
The Fate of Mr.. Pettigrew, a Timid
"Dead-Head."

wy pdNuclOI Oh thrifty turn OF mind.
lie was very comfortably of indeed,
but he never spent a shilling when a
siNpcncc would do. and he acted on
the principle that charity, in pecuni-
AIRY sense, begins and ends-at home.
But his meanness was not conspicuous,
for ne was always affahlc and oblfging
when 1t cost him nothing, and he lived
SO quietly that he was not suspected of
being rich. He was timid, fussy liz
tie man, who was extremely correct i'm
his notions, and prided himself above
every thing on being low-abiding cit
lien.
Mr.. Pcttigrew passed the greater
part OF his time at the club. whereby
ne had the satisfaction of feeling thai
ne obtained full value for the amount
VI his annual subscription. AMONG
ms acquaintances was q certain Cant
am talconcr, with whom he had been
Tor some years ON friendly terms. For
long time Mr., PettigTew had been
very shy of this gentleman, who was
generally regarded as rather mvsteri-
Gus parsonage Nobody knew how ne
'ontrlVeu on his half pay to array him
sen In the height Of fashion, to live i'm
eO'nptuous style, and to keen up the
appearance Of "A man of means. II was
iumorot tina: the Captain obtained a
andSome commission on the business
ho introduced to- "A well-known West
End money lender. and il is certain
that he could always be- relied upon to
Put young scapegraces i'm the way of
obtaining the wherewithal To meet
pressing obligations. But there wa,
no proof that Captain Falconer de-
rived any benefit from these acts of
good nature. He was iovial. loud-
voiced, rollicking, boiaterous person.
VINO was hail-fellow- well-met with
every one, and possessed the happv
knack OF being able TO accommodate
himself to every kind of society.
Mr. Petugrew, whose worldly expe-
rience was strictly limited, had only
mistrusted the Captain because ne
seemed the sort of man who would
borrow twenty pounds without the
slightest compunction. He never. in
deed. altogether conquered this mis-
giving, but in the course of time-as
captain talconer made no attempt TO
impose upon him-Mr Pettigrew end
"a by responding readily enough to his
friendly advances. The fact was that
the captain won his regard by the oc-
caslonal gift of Il theater ticket. seat
al the opera or card of admission to
some privileged entertainment. Ii was
Pecullarity Of the Captain that he
was always able ~ bestOw favors of
this kind. Mr.. Petugrew was bv mo
means recluse, and to 90 anywhere
or see any thing for nothing added
real zcst to his enjoyment. He
therefore accepted these little tokens nj
friendship from the Captain in gtnte-
ful and appreciative spirit. the more
particularly as he flattered himself that
The Captain really had regard for
MIN. This idea, whether correct or
not, was certainly excusable, seeing
That Mr.. Pettigrew had never offered
To make the slightest return for serv-
aces rendered in any shape or form II
chanced at length that Mr. PcttiVrew
had occasion to take a journey to the
west Of England, owing TO the seriou,
illness OF a rich aunt, from whom he
cneris ned expectations. He had known
taptain falconer 10 procure a free pas.
Tor an acquaintance upon the very line
mat ne now wished to travel hv. and
ne therefore yentured to ask HIM TO do
the same thing for him. The Captain.
whose good nature seemed inexhausti-
bic. readily acceded 10 his request. 80
Tar at least "a might lay i'm his power
lie explained that it was not always
easy to obtain free pass on the line in
question. bat promised 70 use his inHu-
enc =. and seemed hopeful of the result
he was better than his word. for WHOM
he met Mr.. Pettigrew BY appointment
on the platform Of the London termin.
us on his departure he pressed into his
hand pass TO Plymouth and back.
My dear Captain FalcOncr." OK.
claimed Mr. Pettigrew. lingering the
document delightedly, j am reailycx-
trcmeiy obliged to YOU
$50 YOU ought to be-. p" said the Can.
tam. IN his iovial way. j had no end
Of trouble 20 get it, can tell YOU. PM
% ln yOrf pocket no added. rather
mysterIOu,ly. TIA, "a, old fellow. Sor.
rs J can wait 10 see YOU on
Mr. Pettigrew wrung Mi, friend
hand and took quite an ahcctionatc
farewell Of him The pass wa, rcail,
substantial favor. for the Gr.t-cI.s.
fare 90 Plymouth and back for Mr.
FctuIrcW, like many other mean pro-
pie. never ,tiuted himself of ulur,
and comfort st = pinch amounted to
2 very cons dcrabIo number Of -biI
'.I.~ ~" seated himself with great
al1criiF 900 vacant fr-t-cla.. compart.
mont called for a fDot-warmer. wr,pprd
himself 100 hi. travelling rug and nrc.
pared for comfortable iourney
He was beginning 20 believe he
would have the compartment % him.
3 - Vhen. ~ the last moment. zen.
temsn, who had before looked IN p,
,nc window and passed on. now pre-.
scntsd himself again. and took possss-
sion u The corner seat BY The door 49,
be did 80, the ticket collector appeared
and Mr. Petugrew presented hi. pas.
for Inspection
JIG struck Mr.. Pcuigrcw that the oAi
cIa. nru'inIzed tbe pass spmcwbsf
piciou-ly and upon returnu. u
looked at him with - searching dance.
lt i- probable that the man merely ,c.
rcd iO assure himself of The ya.iIr.
oi ,ne document and Of the rc-pacfa.
bIfN Of Ode holder On both fhp.o
points Doc was u0 doubt satisfied. Tor
DE passed ou without com,u,uf but
Mr. Pctugrew was Of nervous and
hdge'y disposition and hc suddenly