The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-06-16
RIDING ON A PASS.
The Fate Of Mr.. Pettigrew, a Timid
"Dead-Head."

"Dead-Head."
Mr.. Adolphus Pettigrew was an eld-
'erly bachelor of thrifty turn of mind.
He was very comfortably of indeed,
but he never spent a shilling when .
sixpence would do. and he acted on
the principle that charity, in a pecuni-
airy sense, begins-and ends-at home.
But his meanness was not conspicuous,
for he was always affable and obliging
when it cost him nothing, and he lived
SO quietly that he was not suspected of
being rich. He was a timid, fussy lit
tie man, who was extremely correct in
his notions, and prided himself above
every thing on being law-abiding cit
izen.
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 subscription. Among
his acquaintance was certain Capt
ain Falconer, with whom he had been
for some years ON friendly terms. For
long time Mr.. Pettigrew had been
very shy of this gentleman, who was
generally regarded as rather mysteri-
GUS parsonage. Nobody knew how he
-contriv\d on his half pay to array HIM
self in the height of fashion, to live in
.sumptuous style, and to keep up the
appearance Of man of means. 1t was
rumored that the Captain obtained a
handsome commission on the business
he introduced to q well-known West
End money lender, and it is certain
that he could always be relied upon to
put young scapegraces in the way of
obtaining the wherewithal to meet
pressing obligations. But there was
no proof that Captain Falconer de-
rived any benefit from these acts of
good nature. He was a jovial, loud
voiced, rollicking, boisterous person,
who was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with
every one, and possessed the happy
knack Of being able to accommodate
himself to every kind of society.
Mr. Pettigrew, whose worldly expe-
rience was strictly limited, had only
mistrusted the Captain because he
seemed the sort of man who would
borrow twenty pounds without the
slightest conjunction. He never, in
deed, altogether conquered this mis-
giving, but in the course of time-as
Captain Falconer made no attempt to
impose upon him-Mr. Pettigrew end
ed by responding readily enough to his
friendly advances. The fact was that
the Captain won his regard by the oc-
casional gift of theater ticket, a seat
at the opera or card of admission ia
some privileged entertainment 1t was
q popularity of the Captains that he
was always able to bestow favors OF
this kind. Mr.. Pettigrew was by NO
means a recluse, and to 60 anywhere
or see any thing for nothing added
real zest to his enjoyment. He
therefore accepted these little tokens Of
friendship from the Captain in a CRATE.
full and appreciative spirit, the more
particularly as he tlattered himself that
the Captain really had a regard fol
him. This idea, whether correct OF
not, was certainly excusable, seeing
that Mr.. Pettigrew had never offered
to make the slightest return for serv.
ices rendered in any shape or form. II
CHANGED at length that Mr.. Pettigrew
had occasion to take a journey to the
west of England, owing to the seriou;
illness of a rich aunt, from whom he
cherished expectations. 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 dc
the same thing for him. The Captain
whose good nature seemed inexhausti
BILE, readily acceded to his request, sc
far at least as might lay in his power
He explained that it was not Away.
easy to obtain a free pass on the line ir
question, but promised to use his infiu
ence, and seemed hopeful of the result
He was better than his word, for wher
he met Mr.. Pettigrew by appointmen
on the platform Of the London termin
us on his departure he pressed into hi
hand pass to Plymouth and back.
MY dear Captain Falconer." ex
claimed Mr.. Pettigrew, lingering tn,
document delightedly, Il am really ex
tremely obliged to you"
80 you ought to be-" said the Cap
tain. in his jovial way; II had no emf
of trouble to get it, can tell you. Pu
it in your pocket" he added. rathe
mysteriously. "Ta! ia! old fellow. Sor
~ can't wait to see you off"
Mr.. Pettigrew wrung his friend
hand and took quite an affectionat
farewell of him. The pass was reall,
q substantial favor, for the first-clas
fare to Plymouth and back-for Mr.
Pettigrew, like many other mean peo
pie. never stinted himself of luxur
and comfort at a pinch-amounted +
very considerable number of shil
lings. He seated himself with grea
alacrity in vacant tirst-class compart
ment, called for foot-warmer, wrappe'
himself in his travelling rug, and pre-
pared for comfortable journey.
He was beginning to believe h
would have the compartment to him
self, when, at the last moment, gen
tleman, who had before looked in q
the window and passed on. now PIE