The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-25
THE OFFICER WILTED.
A Traveller Whites Away tho limo While
Waiting for n Train.

Waiting for n Train.
Don't you know better than to pile all
your baggage on that seat?" demanded q
policeman ut one of the railway depots YES
terday morning, sharply addressing n trav-
eler who seemed to be waiting for a train.
II don't see any sign here prohibiting my
piling all the baggage want to OH that
seat" returned the traveller, pushing his
hat back and preparing for an argument.
when you want to keep persons from
smoking you stick up sign, don't you?
There's half dozen No smoking signs in
this room, and not one forbidding man
from putting his valises on the seat beside
him"
1--WE take it for granted" retortcd the
policeman, that everybody knows these
seats are made to sit on There's plenty
of room on the floor for bandboxes and
gripsacks."
There seems to be plenty of room on the
seats too. Slore than half of them are
empty. These traps of mine don't appear
to be crOwding anybody, do they?"
'"That doesn't make any difference It's
against the rules"
"Whose rules?"
"The rules of this station. If you don't
take them down'-
Take down what?"
"Those traps"
IL didn't know but you meant the rules"
rcjoincd the traveller. "But we won't have
any fuss over it. If it's contrary to the
regulations I'll put them down on the
floor of course.''
He lifted his valises up, hesitated
moment. and then replaced them on the
seat.
"Lool, herel" he said pointing his finger
sternly ut the policeman, didn't l put
these things on the floor when came ins"
NO" growled the officer. you slapped
'cm down OH that scat. They've been
there half an hour"
And you've let me violate the rules of
this depot for II whole half hour, have
youf' said the traveller, raising his voice.
What kind off,
"But"-
Don't attempt any explanation, sir!
come in here, break one of the rules, and
you see me do It'll You deliberately permit
a total stranger to you, sir, to defy the
authorities of this depot for thirty min
uteS! Is that the way you carry out the
instructions of your superiors9 Do you
call that sort of thing doing your duty?
Don't you know, sir, that If you permit one
man to override the established rules and
regulations of n passenger station like
this, where thousands of men come and go
every day in the week, that everybody else
will feel ut liberty to do the same thing.
and all discipline will be mt an end? If
you haven't II proper regard for your duty,
who, III the name OF truth and justice, has
or ought to have? Permit man to pile
his baggage on one of these seats. regard
less of the rights of the travelling public,
right under your eyes, and let him keep it
there half an hour before you even lift
your voice in protest! Officer, consider
it one of the most fragrant, one of the most
incXcusable and unwarrantcd lapses from
official duty of which have ever known
man in your position to be guilty Of Take
my advice and don't let it happen again"
The traveller sat down by the side of his
baggage again, took IL paper from his
pocket and began to read.
The policeman, with his jaw hanging
down and II wild, hunted look in his eye,
wandered in an aimless sort of way to the
outside of the building, sat down on the
curbstonc, took off his hat and famed him.
self with it.
'I'll bet 81 co.," he soliloquized in hol-
low voice, hes the president of the road!"
Chicago Tribune.