The Princeton union., 1900-09-20

A-AS NfAIAS4 $S ~ lI-ANEAN- -1-AN IsssbIs8 = l1
Corlears nonchalantly drew a bill
from his pocket cit 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 angrl-
ly. ~ amt that kind" he growled
doggedly and motioned to a 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 trainman Joined
the group. Corlears set his face firm
ly. II 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 pllled
the cord, the train slowed up, and Cor
lears found himself standing beside the
snowy track watching a rcceding point
in the distance. AS the train moved
past him Corlears was conscious Of a
man standing motionless on the other
side of the track. 1t was desolate
scene that lay about them. The pale
light Of waning winter moon fell up
on long wastes cf snow covered fields,
broken here and there by lines Of
black poplars 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 lat and looked like q
clergyman. "You've done pretty
clever thing" he said, drawing a pistol
from his pocket and taking deliberate
ain at Corlears, "but you don't find
me wholly unprerared."
Corlears laughed grimly. That's
where you have the advantage Of me-
I admit that am altogether unprepar-
ed. I throw up my hands. You'll
hardly find it worth while robbing me.
however, as l've just been put off the
train for lack of car fare.'
The man put up his revolver 'Ex-
cuse my mistake" he said politely. Il
jumped off the train on the other side.
I'm not highwayman. but l took you
for something worse. Do you know
the country?" Corlears shook his head.
"About midway between Columbia and
Chester. l should say" The man
scanned him narrowly.
"What are you going to doY' 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!
"I've just 50. .1G." There was pause.
The man appeared to be considering.
At last he spoke.
IF you'd like to earn $500, 1 can put
you in the way Of it,
81 should be delighted,S Corlears
draWled ironically. II might earn it
Of it about"
"rm perfectly Serious" the man re-
joined. 'Listen. You want to go to
New York; want to keep away from
it. bought ticket to New York, but
l left the train when it slowed up to
put you Oft. l've-er-changed my
mind"
Corlears nodded. II see," he said.
every good. You are about my
height and build. Change clothes with
me, take my ticket, walk on to the next
station and board the first train for
New York. If you meet my anxious
friends and they offer you pressing
attentions, don't decline them on the
score of being some one else"
"And then?"
The man smiled. You will be taken
excellent care of, and you will be met
at the Grand Central station with 4
carriage. Then they will discover their
mistake, and they will apologize. In
the meantime you will have got to
New York, and you will be $500 richer.
He counted out five crisp new 500
bills. Corlears saw them distinctly in
the moonlight
'Is it a bargain?'
Corlears trudged on in silence for a
moment. "Let me see your ticket,
please" The man handed it to him.
cts good for stopovers, l see, so
can use it all right"
The mans eyes glittered. do you
agree?" he said eagerly.
''I'll take the ticket" Corlears said
slowly, "and in exchange for it I'll
swap clothes with you, and I'll keep
my mouth shut until we get to New
York, but you can keep the $780,"
'Don't be a FOOL" said the man. 1T
will be worth more than that to me if
it works." Corlears shook his head.
II tried to beat the railroad company
out Of fare, I must admit" he re-
piled, ''but I usually play fair. l
haven't made much Of a success of my
life, but I've lived it squarely so far.
It's habit, suppose"
The man gave kind Of groan. "God
knows I wish I could say as much"
The exchange Of clothing was quick
ly made. "I'm in a stovepipe hat, "
Corlears said, with a laugh, Though
it's rather cold comfort in this snow
heap"
"Goodby," said the man, and he ran
quickly off in the opposite direction,
his long black shadow trailing gro.
tesquely after him.
The next morning when Corlears,
n