Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-07-20
WITH rumble and jar suggesting
w an accident, the train came to


a halt between stations, startling the
passengers, and the conductor, who had
been taking fares, went forward tc
discover the difficulty. A slight fe-
male figure in black, surmounted by
an old-fashioned poke" bonnet, Sal
still as though nothing unusual had
happened, and a small elderly man
with white hair and blue eyes placed
his book gently, almost caressingly
across his knee and looked curiOusly
at the passengers. To all appearances
he was student, a dreamer of dreams
one little accustomed to the ways of
the business world. He sat in the
third seat behind the little figure in
black; while just across the aisle 4
big fellow with long, bushy beard and
dressed in the garb of the typical CAL
ifOrnia miner of those days, seemed
interested in finding room for his long
and restless legs. or in twisting his
able position, than in learning of any
possible accident to the train.
! The conductor soon returned.
"Break in the engine-take an hour to
fx it, he CURLY replied to a passenger
hs he went on taking fares. When he
reached the figure in black, he assumed
even more than his usual brusqueness.
Fare" he demanded harshly, but
he woman did not move
/ "Ticket," he insisted, touching her
arm.
"Sjr?" she queried in tremulous,
Startled tones.
"Fare-fare. Pay your fare" His
voice was loud and strident
All the passengers we're looking and
listening. The elderly man sat quiet
~ watching with an expression of
sympathy on his kindly face. The big
fellow with the SLOUGH hat and tanned
beard Strengthened up in his seat in
an attitude of curious attention and
with slight Tightening of the cords of
his neck.
'You took my ticket when we left
Albany" said the tremulous voice.
Il did not" fatty asserted the con-
ductor.
The elderly man looked on with as
Constituent and the Californian
scowled.
where are you going?" asked the
conductor impatiently.
ITO Skerrytown."
"Well, l haven't taken up a ticket
for that station on this trip. Five
dollars and seventy-five cents, please -
20 sir! I did pay my fare and yo,,
took my ticket have no more money
Or would give it to you, for I must go
pn."
"Well, you can go if you pay; if
you don't, you can't; and I can't wait
here all day, either"
would you make all these people
think I am a theft" said the old lady
piteously.
A deepening hum of sympathy ran
through the car, but the Californian,
epringing to his feet, demanded:
Didn't you take that lady's ticket
before?"
: whats that your business?" sneered
the conductor.
It'll make it my business. How
much is her fare?'
"Five-seventy-five."
Heres the cash. Give the lady a
check, and see that you don't try to
make her pay third time.''
20 sir" exclaimed the old lady, II
am not subject of charity. will re-
pay you as soon as get home.''
eyes, yes" he answered kindly, IT
know that will be all right. Let me
tell you no one thinks you are trying
ito run your face on this road
! "And let me tell you,' growled the
conductor, ''that if I hear any more of
your insinuations I'll throw you off
the train.'
1t was amusing to see the big Cali
Fornian's face. A prolonged whistle
escaped his lips. Then he spoke quiet
~:
''Well, now, I won't insinuate any
more; but I'll tell you plainly that
you are a THETA man that collects
fares second time from old ladies and
puts the money into his private
pocket"
Someone clapped approval and the
whole car rang with the response. The
Californian quietly took his seat.
Doggedly tha conductor gave the
lady check and went OH taking fares.
When he reached our gentle-eyed,
elderly man, the latter said:
! "Are you quite sure, now, that the
lady had not already given you a
ticket? think she had,
who cares what you Think"
well. you may not care; and yet,