The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-23

position IN my lie, anu dS CdHfdsecu
| that train for the fifth time l swore
mentally and vocally that never, no
never, again should Mrs. Topping have
the right of way through my pockets.
Growing desperate as the train flew
onward. / accosted simple but pros
| porous looking old gentleman in one Of
the sleepers, and, taking him aside,
explained my predicament. But he
only glared at me over his glasses and
crowIed: Sir! How dare you" Then
he rang for the porter. and l heard the
whispered caution: You want to watch
that fellow. He's up to some rascal
! ity.' AS retreated toward the smoker
,, was aware that the conductor, the
| brakeman, the porters and even the
news agent were watching me Wild
furtive and wholly uncomplimentary
elances telegraphed to every agent
along the route, to my bookkeeper and
TO the friends l had ahead at Topeka.
Then / stood on the platform IN the
hope that might see familiar 1ace
at the stations where we hesitated or
took water. But the few who board.
ed the cars were utter strangers, ana
I reflected with bitter realization that
it was too early in the morning Tor
INV influential friends to respond e1'
fectiyely to my wild telegraphic ap-
peals for help. When we got to val
lev Center the conductor got parucu-
larly watchful of me, and as we were
pulling out of that place he came along
side of my uneasy seat and oesan'
You claim to be we'll acquainted along
this road. don't you" said yes. with
q clad note of hope in my voice, but ne
floored NE with, We'll, think you're
putting up q job on me. That's what
I think tried to look indignant, put
he resumed: If you're so well known.
it's funny you don't know the sherl1
of your own county.
".Sheriff McCook?' I said.
ayes. Sheriff McCook,' he sneered;
YOU run right into him back there al
Valley Centre and he never took Oh
his hat and saluted you. You never
showed any signs of knowing him. ana
I've about made up my mind 10 tnro"
Won off at the next water tank.
How did you know it was Sherln
rMcCook?' I asked, forgetting my PRIDE
and certain that 1 would have known
McCook among thousand.
81 took up his ticket, didn't /!
crinned the conductor, 'leastWisc seen
his pass
Pass. the idea struck me like a
fash of light at night.
Where is he! Where's McCook? l
snauped. and the conductor had no
sooner pointed out the stranger than
WAS beside him. The interested con-
ductor watch me with amused Dut ma
licious interest.
81 understand you're Sheriff Me-
Cook. of Greer County, l said to ing
stranger. And, as he nodded assent
| went on with my tale. l wanted tue
loan of $40. I was the southwestern
manager for the big T. and L.. Ooin'
pany, I became eloquent of my dis
tress for that ten, but the stranger
only laughed at me, said he had heard
that racket before, intimated that ne
was no jay The insolent manner Oh
the man rs we'll as our quick approach
to the 'jumping-of place must nave
nerved me to say:
"'See here, stranger! l 90 heeu
that money and tried to borrow IL Oh
the word Of business man. I've got
TO have it, I happen to know that
you're travelling to Chicago On sherin
McCook's annual pass, and you're not
McCook. He's q friend of mine; put'
SO help me Jehosaphat, if you don't dlg
ND n $40 bill I'll expose you and nave
that pass taken up. It'll cost you
fare to Chicago and it'll cost McCooh
his pass, but
II went no further with my threat
It wasn't necessary. The stranger
weakened the minute I mentioned the
pa IS and reached down into bis pocket
for a $50 gold piece. which ne forced
me to borrow 1 got it just as we
ran into Arkansas City, and 1t took
that conductor all the rest Of the Trip
to explain to ME his motives, his rlsks'
his newness and dozen other eS-
cuses for refusing to let me rice on my
face
And it was close shave, wasn't
ite" resumed the manager; "out
taught me one lesson. My pocket mas
been holy place ever since."-lohn H.
pofterv in the Chicago Record-Herald