Evening star., 1901-07-13
NOT ACCORDING TO RULE

There was something resolute and COM
manding in the tone of the conductor OF
the famous express train as he uttered the
word upon f1inging open the door,
b The broad-shouldered firm-jawed, vete-
ran conductor of the line looked busi-
ness-like that all of the passengers in the
crowded coach at once got busy hunting
up their tickets, and when the conductor
reached them they all had their paste
boards ready.
All but one.
This one was a ruddy faced, wen-groom-
ed, fne-looking. old gentleman with white
side whiskers
He fumbled in his wallet for his ticket
but it wasn't there. Then he began hur-
rled search of his pockets. He appeared
to be unsuccessful
BY ginger"' he was heard to mutter
I'm almost certain that l brought
those
And then he stood up and made sys-
tematlc search of his pockets, turning over
old dog's-eared letters formal-lookins
papers and heavy looking envelopes tied UP
with red tape.
But he didn't find what he was hunting
for.
Then he clawed his Gladstone bag down
from the rack above his head. tugged at
the lock and finally got it open. He spent
flVe minutes in turning the contents OF the
Dag topsy-turvy, perspirlng all the tine
and muttering things that wouldn't go Tor
minute in family newspaper that has
large circle of young readers.
"Tickets.
The broad-shouldered, firm-jawed, vete-
ran conductor of the line was towering
right over the well-groomed old gentleman
with the ruddy face and the white SIDE
whiskers.
Say, just wait minute, will you?' said
the latter-not. indeed with a degree OF
a
to the looming conductor. Il know that
L put those pesky passes somewhere, but
they've got away from me for the mo-
ment-just pass on, and I'll see what IN
tarnation has become of 'em!
The conductor scowled, as all conductors
with proper appreciation of their posi-
tions do under like circumstances But he
went forward. and the fine-looking old gen.
teman continued his frpitless search. He
gave it up after about fifteen minutes, and
leaned back in his seat looking mad.
Then the conductor returned and bore
down upon him.
Your ticket. sir!''
1t was said in an Ominous tone, and
with an ominous flicking of the conductor S
punch.
Haven't got any ticket, dang it, growled
the well-groomed old gentleman. Lost it
l guess. But here's my card and the
old gentleman handed the conductor his
pasteboard, which set forth the fact that
he was the first vice president of the road
A>oW, IlSHt dt tHlS pOluI III tHe q
if the writer We're to let the truth get away
from him and follow the inevitable rule in
such cases made and provided, he would
have the conductor remark grOuchily to the
old gentleman that, card or card, vice
president or vice president, he'd have
to show something emitting him to ride
on the line, or be put off at the next sta
ton. Then the writer would have gone on
to narrate how the old gentleman was
filled with admiration over the conductor s
strong sense of 'iuty, and how he coughed
up his fare in good money, and now, two
days later, the conductor found himself
appointed division superintendent.
"Oh. very WELL sir" said the conductor
bowling and scraping profusely as he turned
the card over in his hand. Don't men
tion it. Thanks. The pleasures mine
Of course, you probably dropped the pass
somewhere. But it's all right. Are you
comfortable. sir? Is the porter taking
proper care of you? Ahem! Fine day for
travelling sir?"
"Uh-huh," replied the first vice president
of the line. looking out of the window.
I'm glad l didn't get chesty with the
old duck before 1 got next to who he
was" murmured the conductor to himself
as he passed to the next car.
And if. according to all of these stories
the conductor had got real gay and con
scientious with the ruddy-faced old gentle
man, there'd have been a hard winter
ahead for him and his young ones. and no
mistake.
It's too bad that all truthful stories
haven't got endings like the stories in the
books For Good Boy