Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-05-19

the Importance of his Office and the
necessity of enforcing the law, having
evidently the best of it. The young
solicitor ventured to say something
for the man, and was roughly advised
to mind his own business. This rather
nettled him; and, as the poor man pro-
tested that he could not pay the fare
from London-7 shillings and 10 pence
and there was every prospect that
he would be taken before the magis
trates, Boldon good-naturedly paid
the money for him, and the matter
was at an end.
Our hero walked abstractly back to
his office, bordering over the hard
case Of the poor man whom he had
succored; and his deliberations lasted
for some time.
On the following Saturday morning
Boldon omitted to shave, and stayed
indoors all day. After q substantial
early dinner he proceeded to make
some changes in his raiment. He put
on an old tweed suit considerably the
worse for wear, and g. pair of boots
that had seen better days. His hat
he took from well-merited oblivion,
and finally he adorned his neck with q
red and blue wooden comforter. Thus
equipped. he set out for walk to
Lamborne, small town about ten
miles off.
He reached his destination about z
O'Clock in the evening, and his first
proceeding was togo to an inn and or.
der some tea. Having refreshed him.
self, he left the inn, after exchanging a
lew words with the landlady, and Wis
tied two or three shops. In each shop
he made one or two small purchases,
directing that theg goods should be sent
to him at Westborough; and in each
case he was careful to take receipt
for the money he paid. Then he went
to the railway station, at which he
knew the London train for WestbOr-
ough and the West would stop in few
minutes, made one or two trifing pur-
chases at the bookstall, and managed
to engage the man who kept the stall
in conversation for some time. The
train came in as he was still talking to
the man at the bookstall, and Boldon
quietly took his seat in it, without
having gone through the formality OF
taking a ticket.
When the train arrived at Westbor-
ough, the young solicitor explained
that he had Joined the train at Lam
borne and rendered the fare from that
town. As he expected, the money was
refused, and the full fare from London
demanded. This Mr.. Boldon positive
ly refused TO pay, and accordingly he
was detained till the station master
was sent for.
That official, in all the majesty OF
gold-laced coat and tall hat soon
arrived, much annoyed at being dis
turbed at his evening meal.
"What is all this about?" he de-
manded, sternly, as he came upon the
scene.
"They want to make me pay the
fare all the way from London, and I've
only come from Lamborne," answered
Boldon in humble tone.
"Of course you must pay the full
fare. There's a bylaw on purpose,
made and provided"
Mr.. Boldon mournfully shook his
mead. "Oh, no, SIR" he said meekly.
II really can't do that"
"You have to 60 to the lookup,
them" rejoined the station-master,
roughly. you'd best pay up"
Mr. Boldon only shook his head
again and sighed heavily.
AS the lawyer expected the official
was exasperated by his obstinacy and
encouraged in his high-handed manner
by the meekness with which he was
confronted. None of the railway
people recognized in the shabbily-
dressed, unshaven individual before
them the spruce gentleman who had
paid a poor mans fare few days
before.
"Bonnor, go for a constable" said
the station-master, with the air of an
infexible judge awarding a term of
twenty years penal servitude.
"Don't do that; I'll give you my
name and address, I'm known in the
place is, I'm quite respectable,
you know"
"Oh, I dare say" returned the sta
tion-master, with true official super
ciliousness.
There was an awful pause while the
porter was gone to fetch the constable.
"Don't you think" suggested Boil
don, almost timidly-stdo t you think
it might be as we'll to telegraph to Lon
don for instructions ?"
The station-master frowned.
"They couldn't complain of you in
that case, at any rate" pursued Boil
don.
The station-master hesitated.
CPL wait in the waiting room Till
you get an answer" said Boldon, as
he led the way to that cheerful apart
ment.
The official darted g. suspicious
glance at the prisoner. Still the ad-
vice was prudent and he acted upon
it. In half an hour the answer came
back: "The passenger without a
ticket must pay the fare from Lon
don, or be charged before the magis-
trates."
"Just let me see the message you've
got," said Boldon, when theresult was
announced to him. "If it is as you
say, I'll go quietly, or else pay"
They showed him the message.
"No, | really can't pay all that
money, you know" said Boldon