Little Falls weekly transcript., 1897-04-23
A CHICAGO VIGNE1'YE.

There was a long line in waiting at
the ticket agents office. The old man
with the white hair and fraycd out over
coat with tie neat patches seemed to be-
having some trouble, a;d the crowd got
in.pati' Mt,
"l.ow much did you say?' quoried
tho old man as lie looked distressfully'
II rough the little cubby window at the
sharp featured ticket agent.
"Niuc l:ty!' replied the ticket agent
crisrly Hurry up there, old man..
There are more people behind you.'
"Nine fifty!" repeated the old man.
with scared look in his eyes. "W-h-y
-w-h-y I thought-that's funny-1've
got only $S''-
"You have only $s," said the ticket
agent wearily. "Well, say, that ain't
enough. You'll have to 60 and get fome
more" And be raped impatient'y ON
the windcw ledge.
"Get - some - more - money! re-.
peated the old man helplessly. "Wh-why
II can't do that. I just come in from
60 miles out here. Amt you got some
kind Of ticket you can lemme have for
$6?" with n pleading note in his voice.
IN o. Cant do that, tct / tell you
what you do. You can 80 down town and
get u ticket at a ticket brokers office,
said the agent. Ana his vol g sark low
or, and le Whispered 'of'ly trough tE'.
little window, "Just you e. down town
A.>l ,o,>,~ -ot hrOlyo, nd I tY1pSx
you'll be all right.
The old man turned awI in u dazcd
an<, lcl pless sort Of m;~.'n'7, his hand
tremh}ingly clasped aonnd ho knotted
head of tho old, gnarl, ;.ck and his
eyes sut:uS> d with tears
| "Tickot broker,' he repe cd dwondcr-
ingly and moved out helpk ly into tile
crowd.
"What's the matter " u the olR
man?" Qucricd the next H. II III line,
CHEEKY young fellow VII" s 'pped down
his money sl,appily for u t: Eet.
"Why, the cd duffer wa is ticket
down here into southern Illinois, and
he's about 81 Short sai'i the ticket
agent as he rnrd]y made cl ang> PASSED
out the mail = ticket aud looked n'qulr-
! ingly over tho fellows shoulder to tho
next man in line. The young fellow put
his ticket in his pocket i'll Thought ~
manner, g,,zcd over toward the old man
with II softcnetl look, walked up ANA
touched him gently on the shoulder:
'Say, old man, wllat's the IL ..'iHr:
he asked us tho rest Of the crowd look'.h
on c,,riously And those vino had A.
ready bought their tickets CT owued pity
ingly about
.l'm II little short of laying NY
ticlct' said tho old man rs his cy' )
glimnercd bravcly through his tears.
II must have made a mistake ut home
and didn't bring enough. tucss iii got
it fixed ull right, thought, said rs he
crushed back the ready tars which
sprung into his eyes and sta ted to 1uall
away through the crowd.
"Wcll, hold on," rcpcntc'! the youns
fellow ns his face took on Il i.indly look.
"Whcrc were you going?'
At his question the old mans cy 8
were dimmcd with tears az iii.
"Down here III llllnoi:'," he sad
through the mut1lirg sohs ' hit': s';h, d
his voice. my little gram daughter IS
sick-a-n-d tot--I hrt III, ,trl to como.
l d-d-in't know it was so much for Il
t-tickct'- And his voice sank low r
and he looked weakly around Upon to
assembled crowd, whose eyes glisten' d
III kindly pity.
'Wrll, hrrc,' said tho young fcl]' "
hastily as he pulled out half doll r
and pressed it into the old HILL j Lanl.
"Src if this will help yo1 any, A'd
buttoning up his coat tightly he S, IL
arologcticuIly through the crowd a. d
Disappeared white two or tin,c C.hcrs
followed his example ard on" 1sil ~
dressed fellow took the old mans Lat
and held it out.
"Hcrr's IL quurt'r for IT," old nlnn
and another for his Gr;lndd; glitter, - ne
said, dropping in couple OF silver
pieces and holding the hat rxpcctAnt y
toward the crowd
And, surging forward, they dropped
in eager nickcls and dimes and gave '.W
old man numerous kIE,.l y aud gentle
pats on the shoulder The money was
poured into his ovcrcoat pocket, and
they took him up stairs and gave him u
seat in the soft leather cushion chars.
There were tears Of gratcfulncss
streaming down the old mans cheeks,
and he looked upon the crowd with be-
nevolent eyes, and many colorcd sheep
ishly and with Il faint cough walked
away, feeling suspiciously for their
handkerchicfs
In a few minutes the old man said he
guessed he'd go out for little fresh air.
And about three minutes later on u
back doorstep in a neighboring alley
three excited men, one fairly dressed
young fellow, another man Of slightly
grizzled features and the other CHEEKY
looking young man, were convulsed
with smothered laughter and went into
muf1led paroxysms Of mirth.
"Oo-o-ha, ha, ha!' said the fairly
dressed young fellow, and, taking OFT
the old mans hat, he held it out.
"Here's one for tho old man, and all
other for his-hc, he, he-say, h-how