The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-17

Corlears nonchalantly drew a bin
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 angri
ly. II amt that kind,' he growled
doggedly and motioned to brakeman.
Then he raised his hand to the cord
above his head. I'll give you two
minutes to decide" he said.
A brakeman and a trainman joined
the group. Corlears set his face firm
ly. Il guess I've had more than So
worth out of that ticket he 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 Cor
lears found himself standing beside the
snowy track watching receding point
in the distance. AS the train moved
man standing motionless on the other
side of the track. 1t was a desolate
scene that lay about them. The pale
light of waning winter moon fell up
on long wastes of snow covered fields,
broken here and there by lines of
black poplals and defined at the east
ern edge by long stretch of woods.
The two men became conscious of
each other apparently at the same
moment. The man across the track
Wore silk hat and looked like a
clergyman. you've done pretty
clever thing" he said, drawing pistol
from his pocket and taking deliberate
aim at Corlears, but you don't find
me wholly unprepared."
Corlears laughed grimly. Chats
where you have the advantage of me.
l admit that am altogether unprepar-
ed. l throw up my hands. You'll
hardly find it worth while robbing me,
however, as I've just been put off the
train for lack of car fare"
The man put up his revolver. "EN-
cuse my mistake" he said politely. II
jumped off the train on the other side.
I'm not a highwayman, but took you
for something worse. Do you know
the country?" Corlears shook his head
about midway between Columbia and
Chester, should say" The mar
scanned him narrowly.
What are you going to do?" he said
Corlears set his teeth. Walk to the
next station if don't freeze on the
way and after that-get to New York
some way"
"You say that you have no money!"
give just S2.16." There was pause
The man appeared to be considering
At last he spoke.
"If you'd like to earn $500, can put
you in the way Of it,
81 should be delighted" Corlears
drawled ironically. 81 might earn il
shoveling snow. There's good dea
of it about"
''Hm perfectly serious" the man re
| Joined. Listen. You want to go tt
New York; want to keep away from
it. l bought ticket to New York, bu
l left the train when it slowed up Il
put you off. Fve-er-changed my
mind"
| Corlears nodded 81 see," he said.
Every good. You are about m.
height and build. Change clothes will
me, take my ticket, walk on to the mex
station and board the first train TO
New York. If you meet my anxious
friends and they offer you pressing
attentions. don't decline them on tn,
score of being some one else"
"And them"
The man smiled. "You will be take1
excellent care of. and you will be me
at the Grand Central station with ;
carriage Then they will discover thei
mistake, and they will apologize. II
the meantime you will have got t.
New York, and you will be $500 richer
He counted out five crisp new $10
bills. Corlears saw them distinctly il
the moonlight.
SIS it bargain?"
Corlears trudged on in silence for
moment. Let me see your ticket
please" The man handed it to him
Its good for stopoyers, I see, so
can use it all right
The man eyes glittered. "Do 20,
agree?' he said eagerly.
"I'll take the ticket" Corlears SAT-
slowly, land in exchange for it II
swap clothes with you, and I'll kee
my mouth shut until we get to Ney
York, but you can keep the $500"
Don't be Il fool" said the man. 81
will be worth more than that to me
it works" Corlears shook his hea(
Il tried to beat the railroad compan
out of fare, l must admit" he re
piled, "but usually play fair.
haven't made much of success of ~
life but I've lived it squarely SO fal
It's habit, suppose"
The man gave kind Of groan- $50
, knows wish l could say as much"
The exchange OF clothing was qucl
ly made. I'm in a stovepipe hat,
J Corlears said. with laugh, thong
it's rather cold comfort in this sno,
heap"
"Goodby," said the man, and he IA
| quickly off in the opposite direction
his long black shadow trailing gr,
teSQuely after him.