The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-28
The UNJUST TRAVELLER

Never again. ! have resolved Hence
forth 1 shall earn my bread by the sweat
of my brow. ] shall work earnestly and
industriOusly for the salary which /
draw. l shall neglect sleep and peace Of
mind, and will render the company eff
flcient and conscientious service. Too
long have l drawn my salary for loafing
while ] should have worked"
Having thus addressed his better self
Chief Conductor Podtyagn Immediately
felt an irresistible inclination for duty. It
lacked "a few minutes to Il. m, but he
aroused the rest of the conductors and
guards from their peaceful sumbers. and
commenced tour of the cars, bent upon
examining tickets.
Tickets. please" he sang our merrily,
making a clicking noise with his puncher.
Sleepy figures are seen to arise from
the semi Of the day coach; they
shake themselves together. and sleepily
offer their tickets for inspection.
Tickets. pleasei'' Podtyagin addresses
a lean, sicl.ly looking passenger wrapped
in a fur coat and surrounded by pillows.
Tickets. please,"
The invalid does not respond He is
fast asleep. The chief conductor touches
his shoulder and impatiently repeats:
Tickets. please
The passenger opens his eyes, SILVER
ing nervously, and regards the Official
with terror:
''Wh-wh- what's the matter?"
81 am telling you plainly enough. Tick
cts, please, Plea-ea-se"'
Good gracious" means the invalid.
with plaintiff grimace. My lord, l am
a sufferer with rheumatism; have not
slept wink three nights. and just took
q dose of morphine in order To get a
little sleep. and you bother me for a
ticket This is pitiless. inhuman, II you
knew how, difficult it IS for me to fall
asleep. YOU would not disturb me with
such rubbish. IT is heartless, It is sense
less. What do you want with my ticket
anyway? What rot"
For a moment Podtyagin hesitates.
Should he feel offended or not? He de-
cides to feel offended
mo noise. please, This is not saloon:
this is a railway cart he remarks
People in saloon would certainly
have more sense than you. replies the
invalid, in the midst of a lit of coughing
"How can l fall asleep again? What
queer manners, I have Travelled abroad
for years and no ever asked 10 see my
ticket at two O'Clock in the morning
And here they are 50 hanged Particular
why don't YOU so abroad aud stay
there if you don't like our ways?"
That's all right sir. You are not con
tent TO murder passengers with had ven
tilation. smoke. and draught: You must.
curse you. add the torture Of idiotic
fornalities. l would not care so much If
II were really for the sake OF control
But every eat knows that half the people
on the train have no tickets"
Podtvagin loses his temper.
Il say. Mr.. Passenger. If you do not
cease disturbing the public with your
noise / will be obliged to pat yen OF at
the next station. and make a report to
the proper authorities
Incredible insolence"' is heard from
the other passengers Why does hc an
noy the invalid? Listen. conductor, You
had better let him alone.
chorus of indignation from he public
scar>ss the chief conductor.
But the gentleman himself started the
racket. l merely asked him for his tick
- All right, / viii let it pass. But you