Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-01-31
They were all laughing and chatter.


them through the gate. He thought OF
Stimulating a sudden illness, but he did
not want to frighten Tilly, and then
that scamp of a Tim was sticking so
| persistently to her side!
SO he ratified his % cents bravely in
his pocket and clambered doggedly
aboard the train. He even squandered
two precious nickels in the purchase
of peanuts, for, thought he, "27 cents
are no more use to me than z, Let me
therefore cultivate a reputation for
liberality."
While the rest were chatting with all
the enthusiasm of carefree youth O.d
Slouch sat miserably trying to figure
out some pan of campaign. If Wicked
Bill had been in his shoes Old Slouch
could have saved him without turning
hair. "At this critical juncture,"
he would have written, "Bill anXiously
thrust his hand into the pocket of his
coat. His index finger discovered a
hole in the lining, and at the bottom
of the aperture, he felt something fiat
and hard. Breathlessiy our hero drew
it forth. 1t was a twentydol.ar gold
piece!"
But fertile as O,d Slouch was in re-
sources for the relief of suffering ban
dts and imprisoned and impoverished
heroes, he was absolutely barren of in
vention in his own behalf. So dis
turbed was he that when the bright
eyed Tilly turned from the attentive
Tim and called to him across the aisle
he answered her so absent-mindedl dly
that she was piqued and turned again
to Tim before he couldrepair his error.
"Tickets!" said the conductor,
sharply. The dreaded summons had
come and found him still unprepared.
Old S!ouch began to tumble through
his pockets. Everybody else had the
necessary pasteboards, but Old Slouch
still fumbled, getting redder and red
der every moment. The conductor
looked at him with increasing stern
ness.
"I-er-I'm afraid" murmured Old
Slouch, family, when his search had
obviously become a farce, "Im afraid
I've lost my ticket"
"Didn't you drop it on the floor?"
sugge ted Jake. All hands scrutin-
lied the floor.
"Well, WE'LL" said the conductor, i'm
patiently. You'll have to pay your
fare then"
"To be sure" said Old Slouch, mis-
erably. and he felt for his II cents.
"Well, declare" he exclaimed in we'll
simulated amazement. 81 haven't any
money
what" roared Tim. Had Old SLOUGH
been himself he would have detected
something very like CONSERVATION in
his friends tone. AS it was, he saw
only ridicule and he took fatal step.
THAT is to say" he went on, pull
ing himself together, nothing but
$50 bill"
"oh!" said Tim, plainly relieved.
That's all right" said the friendly
Jake. 'I'll pay it. Here you are"
And he gave the conductor 40 cents.
Tim rose and sauntered up the asle.
"Come and have smoke?" he said
to Old Slouch. The latter responded
with alacrity. Here was his opportun-
ity at last. But as the door of the
smoker closed on them Tim broke out:
Say, old man, you nearly scared me
into a fit. l had only enough to buy
my ticket one way, but 1 came along
because knew l could borrow a dol
lar or two from you."
Old Souch collapsed. 81 near fell
on the floor" his tormentor went on,
"when you said you didn't have any
coin, but when you mentioned the
fifty, why, knew ii was all right"
'But it amt" Old Slouch replied,
weakly.
"No?" roared the other.
"Not cent" said Old Slouch huski-
ly. 81 was going to borrow from YOU"
"Well," said Tim, when he had par
TALLY recovered from the blow, you'll
have to touch Jake"
Rather not" said Old SLOUGH, short
ly. "You do it,"
Rather not myself" Here the two
looked in opposite directions.
zone of us has got to-" said Tim at
last.
snatch you for it," from the dis.
tinguished author. So they matched
and Old Slouch lost.
II Spolltu MS cay. Illly WAS ulS
posed to be nice to him, but he was
so taciturn, thinking all the while OF
the unpleasant task that awaited him,
that she turned in despair to Tim,
who had never been in better spirits
in his life. II was a beautiful moon
light night and they planned to re.
turn to the dock in time to catch the
last train for town, which left at ter
o'clock.
They were about mile from shore
when the wind died out. They drifte6
idly for half an hour. Jake looked al
his watch
"We'll miss the train and have tc
stay all night at hotel, if there i.
one in the place" Horrible visions Of
hotel bills crossed Old Slouch's mind
Then he had an inspiration.
"Let's row for it," he suggested
And row they did-rowed as they hat
ppyar rnyypd hefnra ha and Tim rh,