Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-06-12

where a new conductor came on. In
about an hour Corlears saw him ap-
proach, though he pretended to be still
asleep. The new man was very direct
in his methods.
"Look herew he said, shaking Cor
lears by the arm. "This ticket won't
gov'
Il guess it will go as far as New
York." he returned easily, land then
Ill see Mr.. Howson and tell him he's
got some fool conductors on this end Of
the line"
'There's no use In bluf1ng," the man
growled. "Either you've been taken
in yourself or you're trying to fool us.
Somebody's trying to beat the road
out Of fare, and l tell you it won't
60 with me-"
Corlears looked the man up and
down. "What do you propose to 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. "As
it is, you will lose your place."
"When l lose my place, it won't be
for giving beats free rides to New
York. If you was the presidents SON.
in-law and had nothing better to show
for it than this here good for nothing
ticket, you'd have to pay up or get off,"
Corlears nonchalantly 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 nae alone!
The mans surly face lowered angri-
~. II amt that kind" he growled
doggedly and motioned to brakeman.
| Then he raised his hand to the cord
above his head. "1'll give you two
minutes to decide" he said.
| A brakeman and a trainman Joined
the group. Corlears set his face firm
~. 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 pulled
the cord, the train slowed up, and Cor.
lears found himself standing beside the
!! snowy track watching a receding point
! in the distance. AS the train moved
past him Corlears was conscious of q
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 poplars and defined at the east
ern edge by long stretch Of woods
The two men became conscious 81
each other apparently at the SANK
moment The man across the trace
wore a silk hat and looked like =
| clergyman. you've done a pretty
clever thing" he said, drawing a pisto
from his pocket and taking deliberate
aim at Corlears, 'but you don't fine
me wholly unprepared."
Corlears laughed grimly. 'That':
where you have the advantage of me
l admit that am altogether unprepar
ed. throw up my hands. You'll
hardly find it worth while robbing me
however, as I've just been put off thu
train for lack Of car fare"
The man put up his revolver. "Ex
cuse my mistake" he said politely. g,
jumped off the train on the other side
I'm not highwayman, but l took 20,
for something worse. Do you know
the country| Corlears shook his head
"About midway between Columbia AM
Chester, I. should say" The maj
scanned him narrowly. ~
"What are you going to doT" he said
Corlears set his teeth. walk to tn
next station If I don't freeze on tn
way and after that-get to New Yorl
some way" .*>=
'You say that you have no money!"
1--WE just 81. 16." There was a pause
The man appeared to be considering
At last he spoke. q.
III you'd like to earn $500, can pu
you in the way Of it." 4
II should be delighted" Corlear
drawled ironically. II might earn
shoveling snow. There's good dea
Of it about" @
''I'm perfectly serious" the man re
Joined. Listen. You want to go t.
New York; want to keep away iron
!. 1t. bought a ticket to New York, bu
i left the train when it slowed up t
put you off. I've exchanged m:
mind" @} . s.-'
Corlears nodded. II see" he said.
every good. You are about m.
height and build. Change clothes wit
me, take my ticket, walk. on to the mex
station and board the first train 70
Il New York. If you meet my anxiou
4 friends and they offer you pressin
4 attentions, don't decline them on tn
score Of being some one else"
And then 2' Il 81 :.ss5=.
The man smiled. ~ on will be takel
8 excellent care Of, and you win be ). me
j ut the Grand Central station with
carriage. Then they will discover thei
lmistake. and theY. I'll apologize. \