The Washington critic., 1886-09-07


tains and looked in. Lower four was
empty the bunk was just as he left 1t
when 1t was made up
Wei, we concluded not TO say any
thing about our queer passenEer
Didn't want to be laughed at up at the
head Office.
Next night went off all right on the
return trip, but next again, when went
through the coach, there was the same
man with the same slouch hat in the
same attitude.
"Your ticket" said, with chill
coming over me. lie looked up as be.
fore and noticed that his eyes were
half closed and that he did not look at
me, but past and beyond. "See here"
said, sitting down before him, as he
handed me the same ticket, "who are
youY'
is my ticket good?" he asked.
Perfectly good"
"Then what business Is II of yours
who ann Your company has made a
contract with me. That contract is to
deliver me TO Chicago. See that you, a
servant of the company, aid 1t in keep
ing the contract"
80, we will deliver you in Chicago
all right"
Did you do 1t the night before
| last2"
1--WE can't do It If you get of the
| train at midnight"
"My wife and child are waiting for
me at Chicago. See that you keep
your contract"
And with that he pulled his slouch
hat further over his eyes and sank into
the corner of the seat.
| | looked at my thumb and flyer,
where | still felt the coupon | had
torn off.
1t was not there.
The porter was so frightened that he
refused to make up lower four, and
two men who had heard our conversa-
tion refused to stay in the car. The
sleeper conductor himself made up
lower four / saw the curtains close
on the haggard occupant of the berth.
About midnight 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 in on
him. ! saw at glance the man was
dead. There was no use in alarming
the rest of the passengers. Our next
stop was at Meedville. | telegraphed
on to have an undertaken there to take
charge of the body. told the car
conductor, and at Meedville couple
of men came on and went quietly to
No. 4.
The lower berth was empty. Then
II flashed on me. We could never get
that passenger past the curve this side
of Meedyille.
The sleeper conductor went up with
me when | reported the affair at the
head Office in Chicago, and, as | ex-
pected, the manager laughed at me.
'1m 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 H.,
too"
Well, sir, when the manager and
my self went through the sleeper the
next night there sat the passenger with
the slouched hat in seat No. H.
you can take his ticket" said /,
falling behind.
II want your ticket, sir" said the
manager gruilly.
He would have bounced me quickly
enough If had spoken to a passenger
like that. The slouch hat slowly rose.
The manager gave gasp and sank
in the opposite seat. My God, JEFF
fries" 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 1t,
in the inside drawer-your private
drawer-in the safe, at the head Of
fice?"
Don't speal, 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 deliver me in Chicago. Did you do
it,"
"We-ah-delivered what we could
of YOU" said Coupler, with Il grim
smile.
"Was lump of mNngled clay the
"llush, hush; don't talk like that,
You will make the people nervous.
The accident was not our fault-thC
operator was to blame, but the jury ex-
onerated the company"
Every well. | eXoncrate the com
pany, too. But all the same | will ride
in berth four until reach Chicago.
shall soon have plenty of room. \
man recognized me tonight and fled
have all eternity to fight you in
"What would you have us do?'
"Do2 Fulfill your contract. Ge
me past that curve at Meedville"
"lt seems we cant do that"
"Then I'll just have to keep OF
trying. My family is unproyided for
| must reach them and help them.
"Pll see to that" said Manager
Coupler rs 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-i
it was a ghost-but it shows that rail
road companies are not as bad as somt
one would make out.
The item was as follows:
: "a Generous Act.-The X, 7. y
and G. Railroad Company, Of which
Mr.. Coupler is the energetic manager
; yesterday did a noble deed. Oui
readers will remember that in the cast
of Jellries against this road the court
sustained the position taken by tn,
= eminent counsel who defended its in
terests, All that the company wishcC
was to establish the fact that under Ger
tain conditions railroad companies ar
not liable for damages arising from tn
> causes specified, Having at great cX
pense sustained its point, the company
when all further action had ceased
I generously sought out Mrs. JeTrie
and paid her the full amount claimc
. $40, eco. Such an act is all but un
a parallclcd in railroad annals, but /
y quite in keeping with the generou
y management of the road and will SUI