The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-06-20

MIN approach, though he pretended to
be still asleep. The new man was
very direct in his methods.
Look here" lie said, shaking Cor
lears by the arm. "This ticket won t
CO."
81 guess it will go as far as New
York, he returned easily, land then
I'll see Mr.. Howson and tell him he's
got some fool conductors on this end of
the line"
There's no use in bluffing," the
man growled. Either you've been
taken in yourself or you're trying to
fool us. Somebody's been trying to
beat the road out of a fare, and L tell
you won't go with me"
Corlears looked the man up and
down. What do you propose 10 do
about it?" he asked, contemptuously.
Either collect the fare or put you
off"
Corlears looked him squarely in the
eyes. you'll do neither" he said.
las it is, you will lose your place"
'When 1 lose my place it won't be
for giving beats free rides to New
York. If you was the presidents SON
for it than this here good-for-nothing
ticket, you'd have to pay up or get
| off,"
Corlears nonchantly drew bill from
his pocket lit was his last one), and
held it up to the conductor. Here,
keep this for yourself, and for the
Lords sake let me alone"
The mans surly face lowered an
grilY. 'Iain't that kind, " he growled,
doggedly, and motioned to the brake
mau. Then he raised his hand to the
cord above his head "I'll give you
two minutes to decide" he said.
A brakeman and trainman Joined
the group. Corlears set his face firm
ly. Il guess I've had more than IS
worth out Of that ticket" ne thought
to himself, The conductor looked at
him sullenly, watch in hand
"Well!" he growled. Then he pulled
the cord, the train slowed up, and
Corlears found himself standing be-
side the snowy track, watching a re-
ceding point in the distance As the
train moved past him, Corlears was
conscious of n man standing motion
| less on the other side of the track. 1t
was desolate scene that lay about
them. The pale light of waning
winter moon fell upon long wastes of
snow-coYered fields, broken here and
there by lines of black poplars, and
defined at the eastern edge by a long
stretch of woods, massed darkly be-
tween the white fields and the pale
sky. Behind, the railroad tracks
stretched between the rows of tele-
graph poles, like long line of music
written across the snow. Just ahead
/ the road entered mountain gorge,
! through which a river flowed OBJ
scurely.
The two men became conscious of
each other apparently at the same mo-
ment. The man across the track wore
a silk hat, and looked like clergy
man. You've done n pretty clever
thing" he said drawing a pistol from
his pocket and taking deliberate aim
Mt Corlears, "but you don't find me
| wholly unprepared.
Corlears laughed. That's where
you have the advantage of me. | ad-
nit that L am altogether unprepared.
throw up my hands. You'll hardly
find it worth while robbing me, how
ever, as I've Just been put off the
train for lack of car fare.
The man put mp his revolver. eek
/ cuse my mistake" he said, politely
81 jumped off the train on the other
side. Do you know the country?''
COrlears shook his head. About
midway between Columbia and Ches-
ter, I should say" The man scanned
him narrowly.
What are you going to do?" he
said. Corlenrs set his teeth "Walk
to the next station. if / don't freeze
on the way, and after that-get to
New York some way"
on say that you have no money!"
I've just S2.1G." There was n
pause. The man appeared to be con
sidering. At last he spoke.
IF you'd like 10 earn $500. + cnn
put You In the way Of it,"
81 should be delighted" Corlears
drawleJ, ironically "I might earn il
shoveling snow There's a good deal
OF it about
'Im perfectly serious" the man
reioiucd. Listen. You want TO go
70 New York want to keep away
from IT, / bought n ticket 10 New
York, but 7 left the train when it
slowed mp To- put you on. Tve-er-
changed my mind
Corlears nodded 'I see, " he said.
Ivory good You are about my
height and build Change slotbcs
with me, take my ticket walk on to