The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-02

or this-I mean. this is my card And I
presented him with one"
Did you think your card had any special
value as a RELIEF interrupted the Man
with the Clipped Eyeglasses.
That is i~nane-worst I ever heard" said
the Unthouehtful Person. NO. I merely
tried to identify myself. ] showed the bar
Der my letters. my handbook. and the en-
broidery on my shirt
But dbl you pay the man. asked the
Man With the Clipped Eyeglasses.
Il must admit that I did. Started up to
the Office. met a friend on the way. bor-
rcwed a dollar and took up my J.. q. l."
The U~nthoughtfui Person rolled another
cigarette. tossing the surplus tobacco at a
mark-which he missed.
Match. Thank you. I ought to be used
to embarrassing situations. Been in enough
of them"
"To enumerate-" limited the Man With
the Clipped Eyeglasses.
The Cnthoughtfui Person took n vest
pocket memorandum from somewhere. and
began crumpling the pages.
Haven't got EN- all down." he said. as
he took the inevitable cigarette from his
mouth and sputtered angrily at a small
patch Of paper that chung To his under lip.
You sec. several things were well hack in
the past Eefore 1 became impressed with
the Importance of keeping "A record of them.
So | had 10 trust to my memory for the
back dates. Not very reliable. you know-a
fellows memory. Plays tricks. Gets dates
twisted. Sometimes facts ditto. But here
Is what I've got:
;June'-exact date blank: l couldn't re-
Y>ernI., % I,,, Ia 49, - .rSpn
sage from home TO meet pretty girl coming
back from boarding school. Cash on hand.
20 cents. Had to meet her. Got to station
on time: capital reduced. result contribution
TO street car corporation. to 10 cents. Train
three hours late Hungry. Immensely hun
cry. Irresis:ibly hungry. Bought coffee.
Capital reduced to 5 cents. Had hopes that
girl would go to friends i'm walking distance
OF station. Took a chance. anyhow. Met
girl. pretty as ever. very glad to see me.
Holy smoke. Friends lived thirty blocks
away. Had to take car. i squirmed. Did
no good Capital stiil 5 cents. No help for
It, Confessed. Girl laughed. She had s.
tHl-no less. I borrowed the five. Offered
1t to conductor. He ~growled. stood on
my dignity. He took the bill. Began count
ing out change. All In nickels. Girl E:ggIed.
St1 q u III NftflflutlDI u
count Of nickels. Girl flushed. Stopped me
Stuffed coin into her pocketbook. never
did know how much the conductor held ont
Things continued 10 happen. but | have
only a misty recollection OF them until
August, lsss-Took summer trip. Had
railroad mileage book. Stayed too lo3r.
Got broke. Started back home. serene in
the fact that I had a mileage book. Had
Just q. Took sleeper. Went to bed. Had
nightmare about one hour later. Thought
Rear had me and was shaking me like a
terrier does-or would do-a rat. Yelled.
Another shake. Woke up. Man. brass but-
tons and lantern. at side of berth. Well.
said I. Say said he. Well said I.
How far you wanta go?' said he. st.
Louis said 1. -Four dollars said he. Get
OUT said I. I gave the man my mileage
book. Take II out Of that It's short
said he. Rats said I. -Four dollars said
he. GO to bed said I; I'm too sleepy to
be jollied.' Straight said he; mileage
book $40 miles short. Just takes you to-
(sOme ungodly way station.) 1 woke up.
Declared I'd been robbed. He showed me
the book: short $40 miles, ! hadn't thought
to figure! And ] didn't have a cent. Sit
down and let's talk this thing over said /.
He sat. I talked. ar~gued-and argued.
Finally he relented. ! was to send him the
"a. But he didn't give me his name and I've
never seen him.
".Street car 'picnic.' Steamboat ex.