The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-16

of the young ladies'
~ gave him sixpence," replied tn.
lady. examining her purse; "and ther
gave you fourpence, you know" she
added, addressing ber companion.
"That's dear two pen'oth," chimei
in communicating man on the seal
behind.
''Oh, that's impossible, DEAR" re-
turned the other. because I owed you
sixpence to begin with"
| ''But did," persisted the first lady.
"You gave me shilling" said the
conductor. who had returned. pointing
an accusing forefnger at the elder OF
| the ladies.
The elder lady nodded.
"And I give you sixpence and two
pennies, didn't I?''
The lady admitted it.
AN I give 'er" (pointing towards
the younger LADY, "fourpence. didn't
l?'
Which gave you, you know, dear, "
remarked the younger lady.
'Blow me, if it amt me as as been
cheated out of the fourpence," cried
the conductor.
But" said the dorid gentleman,
''the other lady gave you sixpence"
(Which I gave to 'er." replied the
conductor. again pointing the finger of
accusation at the elder lady; ''you can
search my bag if yer like amt got a
bloomin' sixpence on me-"
By this time everybody had forgot
ten what they had done, and contra
dicted themselves and one another.
The forid man took it upon himself to
put everybody right with the result
that before Piccadilly circus was
reached, three passengers had threat
ened to report the conductor for unbe-
coming language: the conductor had
called policeman and taken the names
and addresses of the two ladies, intend
ing to sue them for the fourpence
(which they wanted to pay, but which
the florid man would not allow them to
eo); the younger lady had become con-
vinced that the elder lady had meant
to cheat her. and the elder lady was in
tears
The florid gentleman and myself con-
tinued in the bus to Charing Cross sta
ton. At the booking Office window il
transpired that we were bound for the
same suburb, and we journeyed down
together. He talked about the four
pence all the way.
At my gate we shook hands. and he
was good enough to express de-
light at tho discovery that we were
near neighbors. What attracted him
to myself failed to understand, for he
had bored me considerably. and had
to the best OF my ability snubbed him.
subsequently 1 learned that it was a
popularity of his TO be charmed with
anyone who did not openly insult him.
Three days afterward he burst into
my study unRnnounced-ho appeared
TO regard himself as my bosom friend
and asked me to forgive him for not
having called sooner. which did
II met the postmap as I was coming
along" he said, handing me blue en-
velope; land he gave me this for you"
cav it was an application for the
water rate.
''We must make a stand against
this" he continued. That's for wa
ter to the 29th of september. You've
no right to pay it in June"
repl led to the effect that water
rates had to be paid, and that it seemed
to me immaterial whether they were
paid in June or September.
That's not It." he answered. TITS
the principle of the thing. Why should
you pay for water you never had9
What right have they to bully you into
paying what ron don't owe?"
He was fluent salker, and I was ass
enough TO listen 70 him By the end Of
half an hour he had persuaded me that
the question was bound up with the .n-
AG>nsblc rights OF man, and that If /
paid that fourteen and tenpence In
June instead Of IN September, should /
be unworthy Of tn. privileges ny fore /
fathers had fought and died to bestow /
upon ne.
He told ms the company had no. .
.eg TO stand upon, and, at his instiga- /
ton, sat down and wrote al insult |
ing letter TO the chairman
The secretary replied that having /
regard TO the attitude had taken I'D, i
L would be incumbent On themselves 4
10 treat il as test case, and presumed i
hat ny solicitors would accept scrv.ce 4
IN ny behalf j
When l showed him This letter he was
delighted
You leare il 70 ne, he said, pocket
nT the correspondence, ard well
each them lesson
left Il 10 hir, Ny cn'v excuse Is
hat 81 the ti@e was inansr,-sed IN sbe
writing of farcical comedy What
little sense possessed must, suppose.
have been absorbed by the play.
The magistrates decision soznewaa,
lampened sny ardor. but only iafaned
lis zeal Magistrates, A- said. were
old fogieS This was
natter so- iadge.
i he frrcce MAS a kindly Old 1araIA