The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-11-04

us my ticket goode'' he asked
Perfectly good -
''Then what business 10 It Of youri
who 1 amp Your company has made
contract with me. That contract il
to deliver me to Chicago. Sec thai
you, servant of the company, aid IL
in keeping the contract"
20, we will deliver you in Chicago
all right"
Did you do it the night before
last?''
I'VE can't do it If you get off the
train at midnight
my wife and child are waiting TO,
me at Chicago. See that you keep
your contract
And with that he pulled his SLOUGH
hat further over his eyes and sank into
the corner of the seat.
looked at my thumb and finger,
where 1 still felt the coupon I had tori
off.
1t was not there.
The porter was so frightened that he
refusued to make up lower four, and
two men who had heard our conversa.
ton refused to stay In the car. The
sleeper conductor himself made up low.
er four. saw the curtains close on the
haggard occupant of the berth. About
midnight I parted the curtains There
he lay with his boots and clothes on and
the window curtain not pulled down.
The lights from the station that We
were stopped at shone on him. saw
at glance the man was dead. There
was no use in alarming tho rest of the
passengers. Our next stop was at Need.
vile. l telegraped on to have an un.
dertaker there take charge of the body.
told the car conductor, and at Need.
vile couple of men came on and went
quietly to No. 4.
The lower berth was empty. Then
it flashed on me. We could never get
that passenger past the curve this side
of Meedville.
The sleeper conductor went up with
me when reported the affair at the
head Office in Chicago, and, as I expect.
ed, the manager laughed at me.
I'm going with you tonight and
will be back with you tomorrow
night" he said. ''I'll take the ticket
from that passenger if he's on board,
and I'll bet you new hat I'll keep it,
too"
''Well. when the manager and my:
self went through the sleeper the next
night there sat the passenger with the
slouched hat in seat No. 4.
You can take his ticket" said 1,
falling behind.
Il want your ticket, SIR" said the
manager gruttiy.
He would have bounced me Quickly
enough if I had spoken to passenger
like that. The SLOUGH hat slowly rose.
The manager gave q gasp and sank
in the opposite seat. my God, JET.
fres"' he whispered.
"You want my ticket? Why?''
why, SIR" said the manager, re-.
covering himself partially. 1T isl
believe - customary"
"Why do you want my ticket Mr..
Coupler, when you know you have it,
in the inside drawer your private
drawer-in the safe, at the head Officer
Don't speak SO loud" whispered
Manager Coupler.
Il shall speak louder and louder and
louder until your company hears what
have to say: Have you kept your
contract with me? You agreed to de.
liver me In Chicago. Did you do it?''
'We-ah-delivered what we could
of you," said Coupler, with = grim
smile.
WAS lump of mangled clay the
"Hush, hush; don't talk like that.
You will make the people nervous.
The accident was not our fault-the
operator was to blame, but the jury
exonerated the company
Every we'll. exonerate the com.
pany, too. But all the same will ride
in berth four until reach Chicago.
shall soon have plenty of room. A
man recognized me tonight and fed.
have all eternity to fight you in.''
''What would you have us dop''
DO? Fulfill your contract. Get me
past the curve at Meedville."
1T seems we can't do that"
Then I'll just have to keep on try
ing. My family is unprovided for.
must reach them and help them"
''Ill see to that said Manager
Coupler as he rose.
Well, there's nothing more to tell.
Here's slip out of Chicago paper;
perhaps you would like to read it. No;
it's nothing more about the ghost-ii
it was ghost-but it shows that rail-
road companies are not so bad as some
one would make out.
The item was as follows:
"A Generous Act-The K, T. Y. &
G. Railroad Company, of which Mr..
Coupler is the energetic manager. yes.
terday did a noble deed. Our readers
will remember that in the case of jeff
ries against this road the courts susta n
ed the position taken by the eminent
counsel who defended it's interests. All
that the company wished was to estab.
lish the fact that under certain condi.
tions railroad companies are not liable
for damages arising from the causes
specified. Having at great expense
sustained its point, the company, when
all further action had ceased, generous
ly sought out Mrs. Jeffries and paid her
the full amount claimed - $40, 900.
Such an act is all but unparalleled in rail.
road annals, but is quite in keeping
with the generous management of the
road, and will surprise no one who has
the nrivi1Q0o IF ,,orsona1 oco,,o IN tonon