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


very comfortably off indeed, but he neve,
spent shilling when 4 sixpence would do
and he acted on the principle that charity
in pecnniary sense. begins-and ends-at
home. But his meanness was not conspic
uous, for he was always affable and oblig
ing when it cost him nothing, and he lived
10 quietly that he was not suspected of be-
ing rich. He was timid, fussy little man
who was extremely correct in his notions
and prided himself above everything on be
ing a law abiding citizen.
Mr.. Pettgrew passed the greater part o.
his time at the club whereby he had the
satisfaction OF feeling that he obtained ful
value for the amount of his annual sinh
scripnOn- Among his club acauaintances
was certain Captain Falconer, with whom
he had been for some years on friendly
terms. For a long time Mr. Pettigrew nd
been very shy of this gentleman, who was
generally regarded as rather mysterious
parsonage. Nobody knew how he con
trved on his half pay 10 array himself in
the hight OF fashion, to live in SUMPTION,
style, ana 20 keep up the appearance of a
man OF means. II was rumored that the
Captain Obtained handsome commission
on the business he introduced to a we'll.
known West-End money lender. and il is
certain That he could always be relied upon
10 put young scapeEraces in the way of OBJ
tanning the wherewithai to meet pressing
obligations But there was no proof thai
Captain Falconer derived any benefit from
these acts OF good nature. He was jovial
loud-volced. roliicking, boisterious person
who was hail-feilow- well-met with every
one, and possessed the happy knack of be
ing able to accommodate himself 10 every
kind of society.
Sir. Petugreg, whose worldly experience
vas strictly limited had only mistrusted
the Captain because he seemed the sort o.
man who would borrow twenty pounds
without the slightest co-npunction He
never, indeed. altogether conquered this
misgivlne, but in course Of time-as Capt
Falconer made no attempt to impose upon
him-M1- fettigrew ended by responding
readily enough 20 his friendly advances
The fact was that the CAPTAIN won his re-
gard by the occasional gift of q theateI
ticket, seat at the opera, or a card of adj
mission to some privileged entertainment
1t was peculiarly of the Captains that h
was always able to bestow favors of this
KIND. Mr.. Pettigrew was by no means {
recluSe, and to go anywhere or see
anything for nothing added real zest tC
his enjoyment. He therefore accepted
these little tokens of friendship from the
Captain in a graceful and appreciativ,
spirit, the more particularly as be flattereC
himself that the Captain really had re
gard for him. This idea, whether correct
or not, was certainly excusable, seeing tina
MIR. PetugreW had never offered to make
the slightest return for services rendered ir
any shape or form.
1t CHANGED at length that Mr.. Pettigrey
had occasion to take a journey to the ives
of England, owing to the serious illness o
rich aunt, from whom he cherished expec
tations. He had known Captain Falconel
to procure a free pass for an acquaintanc,
upon the very line that he now wished Il
travel by, and he therefore ventured to ask
him to do the same thing for him The
Captain, whose good nature seemed mex.
haustible, readily acceded to his request, SC
far at least as might lay in his power. He
explained that it was not always easy tC
obtain a free pass on the line in question
but promised to use his influence. anC
seemed hopeful of the result. He was bet
ter than his word, for when he met Mr.
Petugrew by appointment on the platform
Of the London terminus on the day of his
departure he pressed into his hand pass tC
Plymouth and back.
My dear Captain Falconer,' exclaimed
Mr.. Pettigrew. lingering the document de
lightfully, l am really extremely obliged
to you"
So you ought to be- said the Captain
in his jovial way Il had no end of trouble
to get it, l can tell you. Put it in you
pocket" he added, rather mySteriously
" Ia Ia old fellow. Sorry | can't wait t,
zee YOU off"
Mr.. Pettigrcw wrung his friends hant
and took quite an affectonate farewell o
him. The pass was really a substantial ia
vor, for the first-class fare to Plymouth an,
hack-for Mr.. Pettgrew, like many othe
mean people, never stinted himself of lux
ury and comfort at a pinch-amOunted t,
i very considerable number of shillings
He seated himself with great alacrity in
vacant tirst-class compartment, called for
foot-warmer, wrapped himself in his tray
cling rEg, and prepared for a comfortabl
Journey.
He was beginning to believe he woul,
have the compartment to himself, when, a
last moment, a gentleman, who had befor
looked in at the window and passed on
now presented himself again, and took pos
session Of the corner seat by the door. A
ne did SO, the ticket collector appeared, ant
AIR. Petngrew presented his pass for iuspeC
tiou.
1t struck Mr. Pettigrew that the of1icia
scrutinized the pass somewhat suspiciously
and, upon returning it. looked at him witt
. very searching glance. 1t is probabl
that the man merely desired to assure him
self of the validity of the document and a
the responsibility of the holder. On bot
these points he was no doubt satisfied, 70
he passed on without comment; but Nh
Pettigrew was of a nervous and fidgety dis
position. and he suddenly recalled to min,
his friends somewhat pressing injunction
IN bio nh
his pocket. Without suSpecting anythin
wrong, but with vague misgivings, he nov
looked at the pass himself for the first time
1t was apparently perfectly regular, but b.
perceived with uneasiness that ii was mad
made out in favor of a Mr.. Moss Levi. Tn
letter-press stated that the reason of tn
pass being granted should he mentioned il
the space indicated for the purpose, an,
this was filled in by the word shipping"
Mr. Petugrew did not at all like the ide
of personating somebody else, especial,
when he proceeded to read the very string
ent regulations under which the pass ha,
been issued. The fact that it was not trans
ferable, and was only available for the in
dividual in whose name il was made on,
was repeated over and over again with pain
full persistency. Mr.. Pettigrew now under
stood clearly enough why the Captain ha
manifested uneasiness. Evidently the pas
had been obtained by false pretenses, an,
by using it he was rendering himself
party to the fraud.
Mr.. Pettigrew had one of those exces
Sively tender conscienceS which are indica
tive of innate cowardice. He was not tn
least concerned, Oh moral grounds, how tn
pass had been obtained, nor would he hay
felt any scruple about using il if he coul
have felt certain of not being found Out
But he was appalled, at the prospect of de
lection, and the danger seemed TO bis ex
cited imagination imminent. The proba
bility was that this Mr.. Moss Levi, bein
apparently connected with the shipping in
terest, was known 10 some of the ticket in
spectors on the line. The deneanor of tn
official who had already inspected the pas
now seemed to him to have been unpleas
antly suggestive OF suspicion. 1t was pos
sible than this man had actually telegraphe
down the line to some of his brother OIL
eials on the route TO look out for the i'm
postor. A eowardly conscience is II
morseless stimulator of morbid imagins
ton, and before he had gone many mile
Mr.. Pettigrew had almost convinced him
self that bus worst apprehensions would b
realized
Scarcely less disconcerting than the fea
of detection was the idea of having to kee
ND the character of the person he was SUP
posed TO be- A fatal drawback to this wa
that whereas the name of Mr.. Moss lie,
enthusiastically indicated Hebraic Origin