Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-03-06
THE LOST DIME
ny JENNIE p. ARNOLD.


chat, when the subject of horse car
strikes was mentioned and my friend re.
marked 81 believe understood both
sides of the story pretty we'll, for 1 wa;
conductor on the = avenue limo for ncor-
Ey a. year"
"Youa conductorp I said in surprise,
II never knew that before, but then" /
added, "as our acquaintance extends
only over little moro than two wears
you might have been highwayman be-
fore that for all 1 know to the contrary. y
II hardly think cur conductor can
be classed with that fraternity, though
perhaps some of the bosses think thew
are little better, when they abuse them
sof having so much of the companv's
money stick to their fingers; but never
speculatcd i'll Wall street or bought n
brown stone front with my accun,ula
lions III that line. l came to New York
about four years ago with the promise OF
q situation III the Office of tic : Avenue
Horse Railroad Company, but there was
no vacancy ut that time, and, rs nothing
better offered, I accepted place as con,
ductor while waiting; but nearly year
passed before they were ready for me in
the office, and in the meantime had an
opportunity of learning considerable of
the ms and outs of the business. Iadded
something to my knowledge of human
nature if not to my bank account"
His Oldest child, bright-cyed, mis-
chievous little spritc of eight wears.
came up at that moment and laid her
check against his shoulder, while her
bands tightly clasped his arm.
"Ah, Puss" he said, catching her I'm
and giving her toss in the air, then
setting her OH his knee rs he resumed
s'You'd be surprised ut all the ingenious
devices to beat conductor out of
fare, from the wcll-dressed gentlemen
who have left their pocket books in the
other trousers pockets, TO the half
drunken hummer who never has another
pair OF trousers to leave nickel in. but
who rides rs far as he Gun and when put
OH Tor non-paymcnt of fare, halls the
next car and so keeps on until he reaches
his destination. But the toughest of nil
is when woman claims to have lost her
purse, or something of the kind, and
her helplessncss appeals to n fellows GAL
-iantry. used to ring in fare out of
my own pocket at such times until I
caught some of the schemers laughing Mt
my softness, then decided wasn't so
green as to get sold that way again.
Z tt;sQAzsApy was very strict, it was
s75lan1eacc was worth
. - one ride without
paying fare, no matter what the circum-
stances; our orders were to compel
women, as well rs men, to leave tho car
unless they paid. If we felt in the least
lcnient in enforcing this order we could
never tell which passenger might be n
N'spotter," or how soon we might get
called into the Office and discharged.
Ell 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 I mover knew, but
he occasionally rode up and down, for
inspection, suppose. At Grand street
two nicely dressed ladies got on, who
paid their fare out of well-filled purses;
not very common occurrence where
ladies arc returning from shopping at the
Grand street bargain stores, eli Fauny2"
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 n year to
study up the subject"
al shouldn't have noticed these so
particularly only for what followed. At
the next crossing woman was waiting.
saw that she was young, was dressed in
black, and had very sad expression.
She had large bundle and fceblc-lcok-
ing baby in her arms, while holding to her
dress WINS thIee-ycar- old toddler with
round rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes.
1steppcd off to help tho woman on and
took thc 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 chaff
me on liking pretty little girls better
than / did the big ones, and I think they
were about right. This one was so
bright and pretty I wanted to give her o
hug and kiss, but had learned that it
isn't always wise to try it with the little
girls any more than with the older
ones"
"I yikes to wide!" the little puss
-'oiot AoohlnB up iuto my luce all smiles
and dimples, aud showing her pretty
white teeth between her rosy lips, 1T
makes my tootsies told to walk, holding
up her plump little foot poorly protected
from the cold pavement by weIl-worn
shoe"
"'Wcll, you shall get them all nice
and warm, said, making room for her
beside the stove. The mother dropped
into seat with sigh of WEAKNESS, and
placing her bundle on the floor shifted
the baby to her lap to relieve her tired
arms. was called away to attend to
other passengers, and returning held on!
nv hand for the mothers fare. The little
girl was holding out her poor worn little
( shoes to the. fire.
g Its dood and warm here, she said
with face all smiles and dimples, as
stopped beside her.
"'That's right, get all warmed
through, said, patting her on the head
then turned to the mother AGAIN. Shf