Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-30
TRAVELLING ON A PASS.

| Gould had just remarked that he was
opposed to railroad passes on princi-
pie.
Il haven't got any scruples against
travelling on a pass" said Mr.. Bios
som, "only if it's somebody else's pass
I've got scruples against getting
caught at it,"
Il shouldn't like to get caught at
it" assented Mr. Hawkins cautiously.
Il think such a thing might hurt a
body's standing in the church"
ut would be liable to hurt his
standing with the conductor" said
Mr.. Gilkey, facetiously.
Il had q rather curious experience
once riding on pass" began Mr..
Blossom, as if there were more to fol-
low.
Everybody looked interested and
Mr.. B. saw that he had the floor. So
he continued:
1t 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 you what I'll do for
you. Here's my valise just full of
passes and papers showing that I'm
president of the Lake Shore, and
they've all got Wells name on as sec
retary of the road. Now you two
gentlemen can take this valise right
along with you, and by just showing
these papers you can go all over the
South and it shan't cost you cent
| for railroad fare"
Well, you can imagine that Parks
and | clapped on to that valise pretty
lively. Hayward said OF course he
wouldn't like to have it get out that
he was doing such a thing, but we
could just hold our tongues and no
body'd be the wiser.
When we boarded the train here
who should happen to be conductor
but Hayward's son-in-law, George
Manville. We saw it wasn't going to
do TO let him into the snap, so when
he came along and said, Good morn
ing, Mr.. Blossom; good morning, Mr..
Parks; l suppose you are bound for
| the south?' we said yes, we were
headed that way, but we'd only take
tickets to Chicago. We weren't quite
sure what road we'd take when we
got there.
When we pulled out of Chicago
there was a conductor we never had
seen before, and when he asked for
our ticket Parks handed out pass
and said, as big as life:
You'll find my lame on that pass
as president of road up in Michigan,
and my friend Mr. Wells is secretary.
We are taking 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"
The conductor was too gracious and
smiling for anything. He said: That's
all right, gentlemen" and, after pass
ing 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 a
sort of an imposing looking man;
you could easily take him for presi-
dent of road, and he wore his silk
hat and swelled around considerable.
Well, we got down into Kentucky.
The conductor said Tickets, gentle
men" and Parks handed out the pass
with the usual lingo. He looked at
the pass pretty sharply, then he
looked at Parks.
Your names Hayward, is it?" he
said.
That's what I'm called" says
Parks.
We'll, by Georgel Hayward" says
he, you've changed since saw you
last"
Il don't recall you," says Parks,
but l suppose I've changed some.
We all do as we grow older"
You've changed more than most
folks says the conductor, sarcastic
ally. Your hair and eyes amt the
same color that they were when
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, says
Parks, politely, but l have the
means right here to prove it."
And he dragged out Hayward :
valise, with "Giles Hayward stamped
on it in big letters Ny valise had
my name oil it, so | gave it push
with NY foot and sent it under the
next seat.
Il don't know how you may have
got onto that satchel," says the con,
duetor, kiCder puzzled. after he'd
looked at the papers and things.
I'VE may have stolen it, says
Parks, sarcastically.
Stranger things have happened,
says the conductor, coolly, but a:
can't prove it l suppose you'll ride
for nothing for all Of me-"
And he went on.
When he was gone, Parks said:
We'll be wanting some more proofs