The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-17
A CHICAGO VIGNETTE.

There was long line i'll waiting at
the ticket agents office. The old man
with the white hair and fraycd out over
coat with the neat patches seemed to be
having some trouble, and the crowd got
impatient
"How much did you say?" qucried
the old man as he looked distressfully
through the little cubby window at the
sharp featured ticket agent
Nine tifty!" replied the ticket agent
crisply. Hurry up there, old man.
There are more people behind you
''Nine fifty!" repeated the old man,
with scared look i'll his eyes. why
why l thought-that's funny-I've
got only So
"You have only ss,' said the ticket
agent YEARLY. "Well, say, that amt
enough. You'll have to go and get some
more" And he raped impatiently on
the window ledge.
"Get - some - more money!" re-
peated the old man helplessly "Wh-why
i can't do that. just come in from
60 miles out here. Amt you got some
kind of ticket you can femme have for
1872" with pleading note i'll his voice.
Mo- can't do that, but I tell you
what you do. You can go down town and
get ticket at ticket brokers' Office
said the agent. And his voice sank low
er, and he whispered softly through the
little window, Just you go down town
you'll be all right.
The old man turned away in n dazed
and helpless sort of manner, his hand
tremblingly clasped around tho knotted
head of tho old, gnarled stick and his
eyes suffuscd with tears.
Ticket broker" he repeated wonder
ingly and moved out helplessly into the
crowd.
whats the matter with the old
man?" Qucried the next man i'll line,
CHEEKY young fellow who slapped down
his money sllappily for Il ticket.
why, the old duffer wants Il ticket
down here into southern Illinois, and
he's about 81 short" said the ticket
agent as he rapidly made change, passed
out tho mans ticket and looked inquir-
ingly over the fellows shoulder to the
next man i'll line. The young fellow put
AiAo oiSACb III DOChCb Ill al tljOuSntIul
manner, gaZcd over toward the old mar
with q softened look, walked mp and
touched him gently on the shoulder:
Say, old man, what's the matter"
he asked as the rest of the crowd looked
OH curiously. And those who had al
ready bought their tickets crowded pity
ingly about.
I'm little short of buying my
ticket, " said the old man as his eyes
glimmered bravely through his tears.
81 must have made mistake Mt home
and didn't bring enough. Guess I'll get
it fixed all right, though, - he said us he
crushed back the ready tears which
sprang into his eyes and started to push
away through the crowd.
well, hold on, repeated the young
fellow as his face took on kindly look.
where were you going?"
AT his question the old mans eyes
We're dimmed with tears again.
Down here i'll Illinois," he said
through the muffiing sobs which stihed
his voice. My little granddaughter is
sick-a-n-d got-I got letter TO come.
didn't know it was so much for IL
t-ticket'- And his voice sank lower
and he looked weakly around upon the
assembled crowd, whose eyes glistened
i'll kindly pity.
We'll, here" said the young fellow
hastily as he pulled out II half dollar
and pressed it into the old man s hand.
"See if this will help you any" And
buttoning up his coat tightly he slid
apologetically through the crowd and
disappeared, while two or three others
followed his example and one fairly
dressed follow took the old mans hat
and held it ont.
Here's a quarter for the old man
and another for his granddaughter, he
said, dropping i'll 4 couple of silver
pieces and holding the hat expectantly
toward the crowd.
And, surgins forward, they dropped
i'll eager nickols and dimes and gave the
old man numerous kindly ana gentle
pats on the shoulder. The money was
poured into his overccat pocket, and