Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-15
TAKEN FROM LIFE.
Sights, Scenes and Dialogues at a Rural
Railroad Station.

Sights, Scenes and Dialogues at Rural
Railroad Station.
II you have ever been in railroad sta
ton you have doubtless overheard dia-
logue something like the following. The
chances are that you have taken an active
part IN one yourself:
Traveler-When does the next train for
Podunk start? painful silence. Ticket
seller turns his back to his interlocutor and
pretends to be busy at his desk.) When
does the accommodation for Podunk leaves
CTicket-seller apparently unconscious of the
presence of traveller, who becomes excited
and speaks louder.) When will there be
another train for Podunk!
Ticket-seller Cfercely)-W'ats
T.-For the fourth time, when does the
next train for Podunk start?
L. S. CLEARING at traveler)-See here,
young Teller, don't We give me no back talk,
y'understan'! Where dye wan t. goa
ITO Podunk. When
T. s. (energetlcally stamping ticket)-
One dollar sixty-eight.
T. (pale, but determined) when does
the train
T. S.-Sa-ay, dye want this ticket n not
Eff yer do, gi'me one slXty-eight, an make
room fer that lady.
T. (quailing before the ticket-seller's
fiery glance, but resolved not to yield his
T. Swat train!
1.-THE train for Podunk.
T. S.-Four ifty-six.
T. Observation-Disclosures time is it nowa
I. s. with diaboiical Neutrality-suspicious.
ffty-seven. That's yer train just turnin'
that corner. You'd "a got it if yer had run
for it instid o. standin' here shootin' off yer
chin at me.
But don't be too harsh in your judgment
of the T. s., for the following conversation
is not an exaggeration of the sort of thing
he has to undergo daily, and it is but natu.
raj that his temper should be soured:
Elderly Lady-Is this the ticket oflce2
Ticket Seller (who has seen her before and
knows what is coming, with the calmness OF
despair)-Yes, maam.
E. 1.-The reason asked is that last time
was daown here I made q mistake an
went tew the telegraph Office, an
T. S.-Just so, ma'am. Where tOa
E. L.-Hay?
T. S.-Where do you want ticket toa
E. L-Wa-al, that's what wanted ter see
yeou abaout. Yeou see live up in Saouth
Windboro'-
S.@South Windboro'a Two ten. pro
duces ticket.)
E. L.-Wait minute. My husbands sis
ter lives up tew Wayback junction. I got
letter from her this mornin', sayin' that
she's bin ailin' for some time, an askin' me
eff I would't come an stop with her day OF
tew. Naow, eff buy ticket from yeou tew
Saouth Windboro', can I git OF at Wayback-
T. S.-No stop-overs allowed.
E. L.-Haya
S.-You can't do it. You'd have to pay
again to get from Wayback Junction Il
South Windboro'.
E. L. Gndignantly)-Haow thata
T. s. (wearily) rules. Make
haste, ma'am. Ticket for South Wind
boro'?
FL. very deliberately)-Wa-a I dunno
It's mighty queer rule. Looks tew me a:
eff : there's screw loose somewhere
Yeou're sure yeou amt made no mistake
young mani
T.S.-If you don't hurry you'll lose thu
train.
Ell. lin frightful excitement)-Lordo
massyi Haow soon does the thing starti
T. Slight minutes.
E. L. with sigh Of relief)-Oh, thel
I've got time enough. Young man, yeo,
give me an awful turn. My hearts biz
affected ever since
T. g. addressing the next person.
Where TOT
E. MASSEY sakes, young man, dom
yeou see amt got my ticket yeta Haov
much tew Wayback Junctiona
T. 8. (producing ticket)- One eighty-six
E. kin you change q ten-dollar bills
r. S.-Change any thing. (Takes BILLY
E. LIN sudden excitement)-Wait
wait! Gi, me back that billi I kin get alon,
without chang1n' that bill jest as well q.
| not, m I'd rither not, for my experience il
that after you once break ten-dollar bill /
| amt no time afore it's all gone. Here,
your money. Produces an assortment o
copper, nickel and silver coins. Tickle
seller counts them.)
T. S.-There's only one eighty-one here
| Five cents more, please.
e. LIN sure caounted it right
| Hain't yeou dropped q nlckela
latter two-minutes' Intellectual search
| for the coin, the elderly lady produce.
another and departs, firmly convinced tina
she has been robbed.)-F. A. Stearns, II
puclrsa ssHassoed HitaH