Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-08-18

Did you do 1t the night before
last %
1--WE can't do it if you get out off
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 finger.
where | still felt the coupon | had
torn of.
1t was not there.
The porter was so frightened that
he refused to make up lower 4, and
two men who had heard our conversa-
tion refused to stay in the car. The
sleeper conductor himself made up
lower 4. saw the curtains close on
the haggard occupant of the berth.
About midnight l parted the curtains.
There he lay with his boots and
clothes OH, and the window curtains
not pulled down. The lights from
the station that We were stopping at
shone in on him. | saw at a glance
that 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. l told the car conduc-
tor, and at Meedville a couple of men
came on and we went quietly to No. A.
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 / ex-
pected the manager laughed at me.
"I'm going with you tonight and
will be back with you tomorrow
night" he said. "Pll take the ticket
from that passenger if he's on board.
and I'll bet you new hat I'll keep
it, too"
Well, sir, when the manager and
myself went through the sleeper the
next night there sat the passenger
with the slouched hat in seat No. /.
"You can take his ticket" l said,
falling behind. .
81 want your ticket, sir" said the
manager, gruffly.
He'd have bounced me quickly
enough if had spoken to passenger
like that. The slouch hat slowly rose.
The manager gave gasp and sank
in the opposite seat. my God! JEFF
ferries /! !" he whispered.
"You want my ticket? Why?"
"Well, sir" said the manager re-
covering himself partially. "It is
l 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 Of
ficc."
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 deliver me in Chicago. Did you
do it ?"
"We-ah-delivered what we could
of YOU" said Coupler with grim
smile.
"Was a lump of mangled clay
the"
"Hush, hush, don't talk like that
You will make the people here merry.
Gus. The accident was not our fault
the operator was to blame, but the
jury exonerated the company"
"Very well. l exonerate the com
pany too. But all the same | viii
ride in berth until reach Chicago
l shall soon have plenty Of room. A
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."
ut 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"
"Tll 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 about the ghost, but
it shows that railroad companies are
not as bad as some would make out.
The item was as follows:
A GENEROUS AcT.-The X. L. Y.
& G. Company, of which Mr.. Coupler
is the energetic manager, yesterday
did noble deed. Our readers will
remember that in the case of Jefier-
les against this road the courts sus.
tanned the position taken by the emin-