Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-06
THE LOST DIME.
BY JENNIE P. ARNOLD.

chat, when tue SuDJect OF morse car
strikes was mentioned asad -say friend re.
marked: ''I believe I understood both
sides of the story pretty well, for l was
conductor on the - avenue line for near
ly year"
"Youa conductorl' l said in surprise,
81 never knew that before, but then" l
added, "as our acquaintance extends
only over little more than two years
you might have been highwayman be-
fore that for all l know to the contrary. y
81 hardly think car conductor can
be classed with that fraternity, though
perhaps some of the bosses think they
are little better, when they abuse them
of having so much of the company's
money stick to their fingers; but l never
speculated in Wall street or bought
brown stone front with my accumula-
tions in that line. l came to New York
about four years ago with the promise OF
a situation in the Office of the - Avenue
Horse Railroad Company, but there was
no vacancy at that time, and, as nothing
better offered, accepted place as con-
ductor while waiting; but nearly year
passed before they were ready for me in
the Office, and in the meantime l had an
opportunity Of learning considerable Of
the ins and outs Of the business. Iadded
something to my knowledge of human
nature if not to my bank account" "
His oldest child, bright-eyed, mis-
chievous little sprite of eight years,
came up at that moment and laid her
check against his shoulder, while her
hands tightly clasped his arm.
"Ah. Puss" he said, catching her up
and giving her a toss in the air, then
setting her on his knee as he resumed:
YOU'D be surprised at all the ingenious
devices to beat a conductor out OF a
fare. from the well-dresscd gentlemen
who have left their pocket books in the
other trousers pockets, to the half
drunken hummer who never has another
nair Of trousers to leave nickel in, but
49, e.. 90. ~, ao, and whom ,,ut
off for non-payp,ent Of fare, halls the
next car and 50 keeps on until he reaches
his destination. But the toughest of all
is when a woman claims to have lost her
purse. or something of the kind, and
her helplessuess appeals to a fellows gal
lautrv. used to ring in a fare out OF
nv own pocket at such times until l
caught some of the sChemers laughing at
nv softness, then l decided wasn't so
green as 20 get sold that way again.
The company was very strict it was
all a fellows place was worth
to let auy -One ride without
paving fare, no matter what the circum-
stances; our orders we're to compel
women. as well as men, to leave the car
unless they paid. If we felt in the least
lenient in enforcing this order we could
never tell which passenger might be a
"spotter," OF how soon we might get
called into the Office and discharged.
III never forget one case of the kind. 1t
was cold day in December, and the
President of the road was in the car;
what he was there for | never knew, but
he occasionally rode up and down, for
inspection, l suppose. At Grand street
two nicely dressed ladies got on, who
paid their fare out of well-flled purses
not a very common occurrence where
ladies are returning from shopping at the
Grand street bargain stores, eh Fanny
with laughing glance at his wife, who
was rocking in an easy chair with the
baby, fine plump little fellow year
old, in her lap.
''You ought to know best, was the
response, "seeing you had a year to
study up the subject"
"I shouldn't have noticed these SO
particlarly only for what followed. At
the next crossing a woman was waiting.
saw that she was young, was dressed in
black, and had very sad expression.
She had a large bundle and feeble-lcok-
ing baby in her arms, while holding to heI
dress was a three-year-old toddler with
round rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes.
| stepped off TO help the woman on and
took the little girl in my arms. ! always
had soft spot in my heart for children
Of the genuine sort, not little old men
and women. My friends used to chat
me on liking pretty little girls better
than did the big ones, and think they
were about right. This one was SC
bright and pretty I wanted to give her
hug and kiss, but bad learned that il
isn't always wise to try it with the little
girls any more than with the Older
ones"
"I yikes to widel" the little pus'
said, looking up into my face all smiles
and dimples, and showing her pretty
white teeth between her rosy lips, i
makes my toOtsies told to walk, holding
up her plump little foot poorly protected
from the cold pavement by a well-woru
shes.""