Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-03-19
A Cold
Hon eymoon
BY IRVING BAcHELLER


TT WAS our wedding journey. We
had come up to San Francisco on
our way to New York by rail. The
journey was rather too costly for the
income 1 enjoyed, but, alasi 1 had
promised
''You can get scalpers' tickets" a
friend had said to me, "they will save
enough to pay Pullman fare"
] had small knowledge of scalpers'
tickets. or their cheapness had often
heard, but of their power to democrat
ize a man and change everything that
Is his, from his name TO his character,
/ knew nothing.
/ had taken stateroom in which
we were TO have a week Of our honey
moon quite to ourselves. A little be-
fore train time went out TO inyesti-
gate the matter Of scalpers' tickets.
az can fix you all right" said the
agreeable gentleman, who dealt in
them. "Here are two tickets good for
a man and woman. They will save you
$40. First-class, and guarantee their
acceptance"
1 looked at them hurriedly-there
worth while. Twenty dollars would
nearly pay for the stateroom.
I took them. He tucked them into
an envelope. I paid him the money
and hurried back. The stage was
about to leave and my wife was wait
ing at the ladies' exit. We got aboard
with all haste and we're shortly on
our way TO the depot. When we were
on the train at last looked at the
two tickets. That for my wife had
been issued to one Miss Bridget MUIR
ply.
"Miss Bridget Murphy" / softly
exclaimed. "What does that mean?"
studied the half-yard Of coupons
and the regulations of the company.
The ticket had evidently been bought
by Miss Murphy. IL was good from
Seattle 20 New York via San Fran
cisco. She had used It TO the latter
point and then sold IL, for some rea-
son, to the scalper. The thing that
worried me was the fact that the
ticket was not transferable, according
to the contract on its face. Miss MUIR
ply must present 10 herself and in
dorse il in the presence Of the con-
ductor. If any other endeavored TO
use ii the ticket was forfeit to the
company. The train was under way.
/ excused myself and went to the
smoking room. Sitting there quietly
/ examined the other ticket. That
was signed one Sam. Swackhammer.
II was the handwriting of a black
smith and not easy TO initiate. II had
a sledge hammer swing 10 IL. The
truth came clear TO me after little
thought. A scalpers' ticket was one
a man paid for partly in money and
partly in his hope Of Heaven. could
not afford TO buy new tickets and,
for the rest Of the trip, must be Mr..
Swackhammer and my wife lady of
the name Of Murphy. I presume my
first name was Samuel, but the man
had written IL Sam. must manage
II somehow and quickly. I took out
my pencil and tried to initiate the
clumsy signature. As soon as I got
the swing Of II FASTENED TO my bride.
She had happy smile and was look
ing out Of the window. She wished
me to view the scenery, but saw my
perturbation as she looked up at me.
"Darlingl" she exclaimed, "what il
the matter?"
"Only this" I said, ga mistake has
been made, and until we get to New
York your name will have to be MUIR
ply"
"Murphyi" she exclaimed, "what
do you mean?"
well, / got the wrong tickets some
way" ] said. 81 don't know how e
happened-I was in great hurry. We
must make the best of IL now. Just
sign the name of Murphy on your
ticket. IT will be all right. There IL
Is, Bridget Murphy" said, holding IT
up to her.
"what a horrible namei" she said,
with a sigh.
'Here," said, stake my pencil and
see II you can initiate IT,"
"Why, Tom" she exclaimed "that
would be wicked. don't think it's
nice at all"
eft isn't nice" answered. "but It's
necessary. can't see anything else
10 do. Besides you mustn't call me
Tom. You must call me Sam"
81 couldn't do it," she said, de-
sisively.
She turned and sat looking thought
fully out of the window.
"And do you think I shall let you
call me Bridget?" she asked, in tone
Of injury.