Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-29
a RAILWAY FREE PASS,

very comfortably off indeed, but he never
spent shilling when a sixpence would do
and he acted on the principle that charity.
IN pecuniary sense. begins-and ends-at
home. But his meanness was not conspic.
uous, for he was always affable and oblig-
ing when it cost him nothing, and he lived
10 quietly that he was not suspected of be-
ing rich. He was timid, fussy little man.
who was extremely correct in his notions
and prided himself above everything on be-
ing law abiding citizen.
Mr.. Pettigrew passed the greater part OF
his time at the club, whereby he had the
satisfaction OF feeling that he obtained full
value for the amount of his annual sub-
scription. Among his club acquaintances
was certain Captain Falconer, with whom
he had been for some years on friendly
Terms. For long time Mr.. Pettigrew h al
been very shy of this gentleman. who was
generally regarded as rather mysterious
parsonage. Nobody knew how he CON
tlved on his half pay TO array himself in
the hight of fashion, TO live in sumptuous
style, and 20 keep up the appearance of a
man OF means. 1t was rumored that the
Captain Obtained handsome commission
On the business be introduced to we'll
known West-End money lender. and il is
certain that he could always lie relied upon
10 put young scapesraces in the way of OBJ
tanning me Wherewithal to meet pressing
Obligations But there was no proof that
Captain Falconer derived any benefit from
these acts OF good nature He was iovial.
ioud-Vmced. rolilcking, boisterious person,
VINO was hall-ieiiow- well-met with every
one, and possessed the happy knack of be
ing able to accommodate himself 10 every
kind of society.
Mr.. Pettigrew whose worldly experience
vas strictly limited. had only mistrusted
the Captain because he seemed the sort of
man VINO would borrow twenty pounds
without the slightest co-npunction He
never, indeed, altogether conquered this
misgiUns, but in course of time-as Capt
Faiconer made no attempt 10 impose upon
him-Mr- Fettigrew ended by responding
readily enough 70 his friendly advances.
The fact was that the CAPTAIN won his re-
gard by the occasional gift of a theater
ticket, seat at the opera. or a card of adj
mission 10 some privileged entertainment.
1t was popularity of the Captains that he
was always able to bestow fayors of this
kind. Mr.. Pettigrew was by no means a
recluse, and to go anywhere or see
anything for nothing added real zest to
his enjoyment. He therefore accepted
these little tokens of friendship from the
Captain IN a graceful and appreciative
spirit, the more particularly as be fiattered
himself that the Captain really had a re-
gard for him, This idea, whether correct
or not, was certainly excusable, seeing that
Mr.. Pettigrew had never offered to make
the slightest return for services rendered in
any shape or form.
1t CHANGED at length that Mr. Pettigrew
mad OCCASION To TAX a IL. tho
OF England, owing to the serious illness OF
rich aunt from whom he cherished expec-
tatons. He had known Captain Falconer
to procure free pass for an acquaintance
upon the very line that he now wished to
travel by, and he therefore ventured to ask
him to do the same thing for him. The
Captain, whose good nature seemed mex
haustible, readily acceded to his request, so
far at least as might lay in his power. He
explained that 1t was not always easy to
obtain free pass on the line in question.
but promised to use his influence, and
seemed hopeful of the result. He was bet
ter than his word, for when he met Mr.
Petugrew by appointment on the platform
of the London terminus on the day of his
departure he pressed into his hand pass to
Plymouth and back.
Ny GEAR Captain Falconer," exclaimed
Mr.. Pettigrew, lingering the document de-
-'5AA''0.Agf Gil ACeAAiS IAAiN4INlN OO4iSCN
to YOU
So you ought to be-" said the Captain
in bis jovial way Il had no end of trouble
TO get it, l can tell you. Put it in your
pocket, he added, rather mysteriouSly
" Ia ia ! old fellow. Sorry | can't wait to
zee you off"
Mr.. Pettigrcw wrung his friends hand
aud took quite an afiecionate farewell OF
him. The pass was really substantial IA
fort +,1,-
back-for Mr.. Pettigrew, like MANY other
mean people, never stinted himself of lux
ury and comfort at a pinch-amounted tc
a very considerable number of shillings
He seated himself with great alacrity in q
vacant tiTSt-class compartment, called for g
foot-warmer, wrapped himself in his trav.
cling rug, and prepared for a comfortable
journey.
He was beginning to believe he would
have the compartment to himself, when, al
last moment, a gentleman, who had before
looked in at the window and passed on
now presented himself again, and took pos
session OF the corner seat by the door. As
ne did SO, the ticket collector appeared, and
Mr.. Petngrew presented his pass for inSpec
tiou.
Il struck Mr. Pettigrew that the official
scrutinized the pass somewhat suspiciously
and, upon returning it, looked at him with
= very searching glance. Ii is probable
that the man merely desired to assure him
self of the validity of the document and ol
the responsibility of the holder On both
these points he was no doubt satisfied, fol
he passed on without comment: but Mr.
Pettigrew was of a nervous and fidgetv dis
position, and he suddenly recalled to mind
his friends somewhat pressing Injunction
to him on the platform to put the pass in
his pocket Without suspecting anything
wrong. but with vague misgivings, he now
looked at the pass himself for the first time
1t was apparently perfectly regular, but he
perceived with uneaSiness that il was made
made out in favor of a Mr.. Moss Levi The
letter-press stated that the reason of the
pass being granted should he mentioned in
the space indicated for the purpose. and
this was filed in by the word shipping
sir. Petugrew did not at all like the idea
of personating somebody else, especially
when be proceeded to read the very string
ent regulations under which the pass had
been issued. The fact that it was not trans
ferable, and was only available for the in
dividual in whose name il was made ont
was repeated over and over again with pain
full persistency. Mr.. Pettigrew now under.
stood clearly enough why the Captain had
manifested uneasineSs Evidently the pass
had been obtained by false pretenses. and
by using it he was rendering himself a
party to the fraud.
Mr. Pettigrew had one of those exces-
sivelv tender conscienceS which are indica-
tive of innate cowardice He was not the
least concerned, on moral grounds, how the
pass had been obtained nor would he have
felt any scruple about using il if he could
have felt certain of not being found ont
But he was appalled, at the prospect of de-
lection, and the danger seemed to bis ex.
cited imagination imminent. The proba.