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


nervous and agitated manner was almost
sufficient to betray him. When the ticket
inspector made his appearance Mr.. Petit
grew, who had wrapped his offending nose
IN muller and turned up the collar OF his
coat so as to conceal his features as much
as possible, handed up his pass with the
AR OF criminal. No wonder the official,
after looking at it, favored the poor gentle
man with a long stare, which made him
burst into cold preparation. But this
man, ike the other, returned the pass
without raising any objection, to Mr.. Pet
hgrew's unspeakable relief As the train
proceeded on its journey he breathed more
freely, and even for a moment contem-
plated the possibility of reaching his des-
| unation without misadventure.
But his dismal misgivings were by no
means allayed, and very slight circum-
stance sufficed to arouse them again. Ever
since the start his fellow passenger had re-
manned quietly seated in the opposite cor
ner, reading and doing alternately He
was "a middle-aged man. with strong
marked features and very black eyes and
eyebrows. Nothing being further from
| Mr.. Pettigrew's desire than to engage
| IN conversation, and thereby posi-
bly, betray himself. he had been well salts
| he'd to observe that the stranger seemed
taciturn and uncommunicative. But
whether 1t was that the last stoppage had
disturbed the current of the gentleman's
meditation or that he mad been struck by
Mr.. Pettigrew's agitation, he now appeared
disposed to be curious. He took stock of
his unfortunate companion, who quailed
III most guilty manner beneath his glance
and presently he asked affably;
Going to Plymouth sir?"
es, gasped Mr.. Pettgrew.
so am |, y said the stranger in fact,
1t 5 my native place. Know many people
| there, sir?'
Mr.. Pettigrew was about TO answer nerv-
ousiy IN the negative, but suddenly recol-
, lectlng that he was personating somebody
else. whose name might transpire during
the journey, he was seized with yeritable
panic.
" No-at least. l mean yes. Yes, GER
tainly. In fact" he added incaudously,
" I'm going down on business
Indeed !" exclaimed the stranger, with
| interest. Then I'm sure I've met Won
before you, sir. knew your face directly.
You are often up and down this line. are
| You not?'
Again Mr.. Pettigrew was abou; inyolun-
! tarliy to give truthful answer, but remem-
berIng' just in time, the position of affairs.
he hastily replied in the affirmative.
| You are not Mr.. Richardson. are YOU.
SIR? inquired the stranger insinuatingiv.
No, sir, my name is-Levi," REPLIED
aback.
This was eminently rash. as Mr.. Petit
| grew ielt the moment he had spoken. since
the statement laid him open to all sorts of
CANCERS. Instantly it flashed ross his
| mind that the stranger might be acquainted
with the real Mr. Levi. The idea was TOO
dreadful to contemplate, but fortunately
the stranger made no sign. He might.
however recognize the name and turn the
conversation on to shipping and mercantile
matters, concerning which Mr. Pettigrew
was ignorant as an infant in arms. To
avert TINS contingency. and to check him
sell from rushing headlong to destruction,
| Mr.. Pettigrew. i'll desperation. closed his
eyes and feigned to sleep, which, perhaps,
| unuer The circumstances, was the wisest
thing he could have done.
At ell events the expedient wss success
iul, for the stranger naturally relapsed into
silence CHANGING, however, at him. after
a mile or two, beneath his eyelids, Mr.. Pet
ugrew found to his dismay that he was sill
regarding him quietly and persistently. 1t
was q trying ordeal to feign to be uncon-
scous OF this, and poor Mr.. Pettgrew suf-
tered a martyrdOm in the attempt He
knew that he made miserable failure of
| 1t, yet he dared not face his Communion
| IN ItsAl nc SllOulu the con-
versation. 1t was positive relief when the
next stoppage of the train distracted the
strangers attention, though Mr. Pettigrew
was aware that he would again have to
produce his unlucky pass.
when the inspector appeared in due
course, Mr.. Pettigrew pretended to wake
up with a start, and produced the docu-
ment but, IN doing so, he contrived to drop
IL upon the floor of the carriage. In a mo-
10 H.,
alert, otficiously bounced upon it and
handed 1t to the inspector But in the
most natural manner in the world he first
unfolded ii, and Mr.. Pettigrew perceived
mat he took the opportunity CT glancing at
| the contents. The action occupied only a
moment, but. nevertheless, the stranger
evidently satisfied his curiosity. He
leaned back in his seat with smile. and
looked at Mr.. Pettigrew with increased in
terest.
This episode made Mr.. Pettigrew more
uncomfortable thar ever, and upon receiv-
ing the pass back again he fastened to re-
sumo his fictitious slumber But he could
not resist peeping furtively al his compan-
ION from time to time, and he grew more
and more convinced that the stranger re-
garded him as an impostOr. The conse-
quenee was that he worked himself into
such fever of nervousness and apprehen-
sion that at length he could stand it no
longer. He resolved, therefore, TO get rid
OF the pass at all hazards, even at the sacri-
ice of having to pay the full fare. Better
this than run the risk of the pains and
penalties 20 which detection would subject
him.
Watching his opportunity. Mr.. Petit
grew, when the stranger had turned aside
for moment, suddenly let down the
window, and crushing the pass into ball
in the palm of his hand, he cast it forth
into space. But his movements, quick as
they were, did not escape the attention of
the stranger, who witnessed the whole ma
newer. He glanced at Mr.. Petligrew in
such significant manner that the unhap-
py gentleman felt bound 10 explain.
a most awkward circumstance - he
murmured. " was just opening the win
dow when my pass
" Dropped out p interposcd the stranger
in sympathetic tone.
" Yes, dropped out said Mr. Pcttigrew.
very rel in the face.
" Dear me! How did you manage it ?''
inquired the stranger.
I" | don't know. ! had it in my hand
and the draught was strong" said Mr. Pet
ugrew hastily, However" he added,
with more assurance. " il can't be helped
| must pay, that's all"
Pay. Oh, no / shouldn't think of
such thing if l were you" returned the
stranger briskly. You've lost your pass
by an accident, but you've only got to saw
so. | saw il, and will give my testimony"
" You are very kind said Mr. Petit
grew, not quite knowing whether to feel
grateful or not.
After all there was no reason why he
should pay the expensive railway fare if
he could get off doing so, and now that the
tell-tale pass had disappeared in the breeze,
there seemed no fear of detection If the
official at the next station declined to ac-
cept his statement about the loss of the
pass, he would only be called upon to paw.
and this be was now reconciled to do.
Considerably easier in his mind. Mr.. Pet
| tigrew awaited the result of the expert
ment with tolerable equanimity, and even
ventured to exchange ideas with his COM
panion on the subject of the weather.
When the next stage of the journey was
reached and the inevitable ticket inspector
again presented himself, Mr.. Pettigrew told
his story gfbly enough.
OF course, if | must pay, | must" he
concluded, putting his hand reluctantly in
his pocket.
Pooh Nonsense! No occasion what
ever for that, interrupted the stranger.
know this gentleman had pass. inspector.
and | saw him lose it
| Will Won give me your name and ad-