Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-16
TRAVELLING On A PASS.

1t was one day last week and a group Of
men were attending to business" in Deacon
Evers' office judge Gould had just remarked
that he was opposed to iailroad passes On
principle
II haven't got anv scruples against travel
ing on pass, =" said Nr. Blossom, "only if its
somebody elscs pass I've got scruples against
getting caught at it."
Il shouldn't Ike TO get caught at it, as
sented Mr. Hawkins cautiously ~ think
such a thing might hurt bodys standing in
the church
at would be liable TO hurt his standing
with the conductor" said Mr. Gilkey, face
tiously
81 had a rather curious experience once
riding on a pass began DIR. Blossom, as If
there were more to follow.
Everybody looked interested and Mr.. Bios
som saw that he had the floor. So he con-
tinued:
Il was in 81. when Hayward was president
Of the Lake Shore road. John Parks and /
Were going to take a trip down South and
Hayward said to Us:
'Now see here, gentlemen, if You two are
thinking Of going South this winter I'll tell
y
just full of passes and papers showing that
I'm president Of the Lake Shore. and they've
ell got Wells name on as secretary Of the
road. Now you two gentlemen can take this
valse right along with YOU and by lust
showing these papers you can go all over the
South and it Shan't cost you a cent for rail-
road fare"
Wei, you Gun imagine that Parks and
clapped on to that valise pretty lively HAY
ward said Of course he wouldn't like to have
it get out thet he was doing any such thing.
but We could just hold our tongues and no.
body'd he the wiser.
Whom VIC boarded the train here who
should happen to be conductor but Hay
wards oD-in-law, George Manville We say
it wasn't going to do to let him into the snap,
50 when he came along and said Good
morning, Mr.. Blossom; good morning, Mr.
Parks, / suppose you are bound for the
SouthE we said yes, we were headed that
way, but v ed only take tickets TO Chicago
We weTn'C quite sure what road we'd take
whan we got there,
When We pulled out of Chicago there was
Il conductor we never had seen before, and
when he asked fer our ticket Parks handed
out pass and said, IS big as life:
You'll find my name on that pass as preSi-
dent Of a road up in Michigan, and my friend
Mr.. Wells is secretary. We are taking a trip
through your part Of the country, and if you
ever come out our way we'd like to have you
travel on our road.n
The conductor was too gracious and smil-
ing for anything He said That's all right,
gentlemen" and. after passing the time of
day with Us went on.
We worked that racket on some three or
four conductors and it took like charm
You know Parks is q sort of an imposing look
Ing man; you could easily take him for presi-
dent of a road, and he wore his silk hat and
sweled around considerable.
Well, we got down into Kentucky. The
conductor SAID Tickets, gentlemen" and
Parks handed out the pass with the usual
lingo. He looked Mt the pass pretty sharply,
then he locked at Parks.
Your names Hayward, is it." he said.
That's what I'm called says Parks
Well, by George. Hayward" says he,
you've changed since I saw you last"
Il don't recall YOU says Parks, ''but |
suppose I've changed some. We all do as we
grow older"
you've changed more than most folks"
SAYS the conductor, sarcaStically. Your
hair and eyes amt the same color that they
we're when l was conductor on the Lake
Shore road ten years AGO. You aren't Giles
Hayward any more than am"
I'm sorry to dispute YOU" saws Parks,
politely, "but have the means right here to
prove it.n
And re dragged out Hayward's valise, with
Giles Hayward" stamped on it in big letters.
Ny valse had my own name on it, so gave
i. push with my foot and sent it under the
next seat.
II dent know how you may have got onto
that sachel," says the conductor, kinder puz-
zled, after he'd looked at the papers and
things.
I'VE may have stolen it," says Parks, sar-
cast;caIly.
Stranger things have happened" says the |
conductor, cooliy, ''but as long as / can't |
prove it l suppose you'll ride for nothing for |
all OF me-"
And be went on.
When ne was gone Parks said:
"Well be wanting some more proofs Of our |
identity, I'm afraid Can't we make someE" |
He hunted through his pockets and found a |
letter from his wife, written with lead !
pencil. Shed signed her name at the end. |
"No our aifectionste wife, Lizzie Parks he
rubbed out the Parks" and wrote "Hay-
ward" instead. He hadn't more than got it
done whom back came the conductor.
Have You any other papers beside what
are in that sachel that would prove who you
were"
II may have" said Parks
He iUmblai il his pockets awhile and
finally brought out his wife'S letter
The conductor took that letter and he read
it through twice and he didn't know what to
make OF ii. lie saw we had him, and he lust
dropped the letter and Ii out without an
other word. But he Was about the maddeSt
man. OF course he know Parks wasn't HAY
ward, however much be might prove that he
was.
After the conductor had gone and we'd lust
begun 10 breathe freely, a man in front. who'd
boon listening to what was going on, turns
around and says 10 me:
Excuse me, sir; but did understand that
your name was Wells, Hezekiah Wells, OF
Branch county, Nich.."
Il guess that about what you understood,
said L
II want TO know" SAYS he. .'WeIl, In
mighty glad 20 meet YOU 1 used to know
the Weiises i'll Syracuse, York state Knew
Your folks as well as did my oEn- l dou't
SUPPOSE you recall RE. Ny Mares Bangs,
Orville Bangs, one Of Squire Bangs sons"
l pretended 10 recollect him. though of
course i never heard OF the Bangses. Ee
was windy fellow, and talked so loud
everybody in the car heard him and was
listening.
mo, couldn't expect you to remember
much about me- he went on. "You went
put to Michigan about the time our folks
moved to Michigan. But knew the rsst 81