West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-06-25

Of the train distracted the Strangers
attention. though Mu Pcuigrsw was
aware that he would again have To-
produce his unluckv pass When the
Inspector appeared i'm due couf.e. Mr.
PcttiCrew pretended 30 wake up with
start, and produced the document.
but. I'm doing 80, mo cOuiriyed to drop
II upon the floor Of the carr.asc. I'm a
moment the stranger. who seemed 10
be on the alert. Olliciously bounced
upon IL and handed il To the Inspector.
But nm the mCst natural manner i'm the
world he first unioldcd It, and MIR
Pcttigrcw perceived that he took the
opportunity of CHANGING at the con
tents. The action occupied only "A
moment, but. nevertheless, the
stranger evidently satisfied hi, curl
osity. lie leaned back i'm his seat with
smile, aud looked at Dir. Pettigrew
with increased interest. This episode
made Mr.. Pcttigrew moro uncomfort-
able than ever, and, upon receiving
the pass back again. he fastened to
resume his fictitious slumber. But he
could not resist pceping furtivcly at
his companion from time to time. and
he grew more and more convinced
that the stranger regarded him as an
he worked himself into such "A fever of
nervousness and apprehension that at
length he could stand il no longer He
resolved. therefore, to get rid of the
pass at all hazards, even at the sacri-
flee of having to pay the full fare. Bet
ter this than run the risk of the pains
and penalties TO 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
a ball in the palm of his hand. he east
1t forth into space. But his move
mcntS, quick a they were, did not es-
cape the attention Of the stranger, who
witnessed the whole mancuver. He
glanced at Mr.. Pettigrew IN such sig
nilcant manner that the unhappy gen
tlcman felt bound 20 explain.
"A most awkward circumstance he
murmurcd. IL was just opening the
window when my pass
dropped out?" interposcd the
stranger, i'm sympathetic tone
Yes, dropped out, said Mr.. Petit
grew, very red in the face
Dear me! How did You manage
it?' inquired the stranger
81 don't know. had it in my hand,
and the draught was strong" said Mr..
Pettigrew, hastily. However,. he
added, with more assurance. lit can't
be helped. must pay, that's all"
Pay. oh, no! ! shouldn't think of
such a thing if | were you" returned
the stranger, briskly. you've lost
your pass by an accident, but you've
only got to say so. saw it 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 tcll-tale pass had disappeared
I'm the breeze, there seemed no fear of
detection. If the official at the next
station declined to accept his statement
about the loss of the pass, he would
only be called upon to pay, and this he
was now recOuciled TO do. Consider
ably easier in his mind, Mr.. Pettigrew
awaited the result of the experiment
with tolerable equanimity, and even
ventured to exchange ideas with his
companion on the shbicct Of the
weather. When the next stage of the
journey was reached and the inevitable
ticket inspector again presented him
self. Mr.. Pettigrew told his story gliblv
enough.
"Of course, if | must pay, | must"
he concluded, putting his hand rcluct-
antly in his pocket.
Pooh! Nonsense! No occasion
whatever for that interrupted the
stranger IL know this gentleman
had IA pass, inspector, and saw him
lose it,
win YOU give me your name and
address, sir?' said the official.
"Certainly,' again interposed the
stranger before the startled Mr. PcttI-
grew could speak. This gentleman
Is Mr.. Moss Levi. the agent of the Sill
ven Crescent Steamship Company.
I on only have TO telegraph to London
and ask for instructions. Tell them to
wire reply TO Plymouth, and lock us i'm
till we get there. The gentleman j.
well known TO your colleagues there -
The Inspector, cIvilly enough.
acqmcsccd in this Arrangement. and
the stranger glanced at MIR. Petticrcw
for his approval But Mr.. Pettigrew
had turned very pale, and looked the
very picture of dismay The plan suo-
Tested would have been excellent if he
had been the person he pretended. but
as 1T involved the necessity Of his being
identified by some one who knew Mr..
Low, the drawback was at once appar-
Ont In fact now that it was too late.
Mr.. Pcttigrew realized his folly. and
cursed the Strangers wcll-intcntioncd
interference. However. he had com
mittcd him- N irrctricvably, aud there
was nothing for it but TO face the stu
alton. The more he thought Of it the
les, he liked it. and all his former fear,
revived with painful intensity. After
all. If hc had kept the pass no Difficult
ties might have arisen, but he had now
rashly brought upon himself the very
danger hc had apprcheudcd. Detection
was inevitable. and, what was worse.
the fact Of his having nothing TO show
was calculated To- suggest that hi, per
~ouatlon Of another person was am im-
pudcnt fraud without a shadow of an
cNcuS'. The train was rapidly an
preaching h., destination. and Mr. Pet
tigrcw pictured himself being dragged
before magistrate and held up topub-
lic disgrace as q railway -windlcr
Ia the midst of these agoniIino re-
Elections Mr. Pctigrrw- glance cu-
cpuntcrcd that Of hi. companion. who
seemed from his manner. 10 divine
what was passing in his mind
suppose YOU realize. sir. the avL.