The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-17
JUuz7,zleb0y In Tyustland
Nv IOHN KENDRICK BANGS

great tear trembling on the lid OF
his left eye, but believe in the ulti-
| mate triumph Of right.
"Say no more, Mr.. Armourdillo,"
! said Jimmieboy, wrought up to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm. I'm that
youth; depend on me-"
You're a good thing-1 mean boy
snuffed the Armourdillo, embracing
Jimmieboy. And to show you how
appreciate your kindness, here is
free pass over my trolley. Any time
Won want to send a ham sandwich or
| a Hamburg steak to a friend for a
Christmas present, no matter wnere
he is. inst show that to the conductor
on one of my cars and nell put 1t
| through for you free of charge. And
| now here we are at the station. Just
get aboard the first train That comes
in and tell the conductor to let you OFF
at the Iron Pigs.
| "Where does ne live?' asked Jimmie.
boy.
'.At Pigsburg,' said the Armour
dillo.
| And my ticket?" asked Jimmieboy.
Il haven't a ticket"
|
| said the Armourdillo. "All you need
is bill of lading."
"Rut 7 haven't even got that" said
Jsmmieboy.
"Well-tell the conductor you're a
friend of mine, and it will be all right,
said the Armourdillo.
| And just then the train came rushing
| into the Mooleyville station and JIM
| mieboy was hustled on board. There
was hardly time to say goodbye to the
kindly hearted ArmourdillO before the
train drew out of the station, and then
the lad looked about him.
The car he was in was very curious
! looking affair, with Stats and huge
! sliding doors at the sides. His fellow
! passengers consisted of a sleepy old
Texas steer, who sat opposite, chewing
i on a straw and gazing languidly at the
passing country; a stout woolly sneep,
with half dozen of her children, and
a couple of calves, all on their way to
Chicago They eyed Jimmieboy with
indifference, and made him feel very
uncomfortable by their comments upon
his personal appearance, one of the
calves remarking something about bob
veal. the exact import of which Jim
mieboy failed to catch, and the old
sheep warning her children not to go
near him lest he should eat them. 1t
was quite evident that he was not pop
ular with his fellow travellers, so ne
turned away from them and gazed out
through the car Stats at such sights as
! the trip presented.
Presently the conductor arrived.
| Tickets" he cried.
! II haven't any ticket" said Jim
mieboy.
We'll, then, where's your bill of lad
| ing?" asked the conductor roughly
Il haven't any bill of lading, either
said Jimmieboy.
He's not fit to travel alone" sneered
| the Texas steer. Better let me toss
! MIN overheard, conductor
You'd better not cried Jimmieboy,
valiantly I'm a friend of Armour
dillo, and he owns the road
"Oh-tnat's it, eh?" said the con-
ductor We'll, why didn't you say so
before? Who're you consigned top
I'm going to see the Iron Pig at
Pigsburg." said Jimmieboy.
All right" said the conductor. The
fare is ten dollars.
! Ten dollars!' roared Jimmieboy.
why, l haven't got ten cents!"
Don't need it," said the conductor,
| if you're a friend of Armourdillo."
And then he began to figure on a pad.
| Twice two is eight plus six is fifty
four, multiplied by two is nineteen, d.
vided by eight is fifty That's
what you get. Will you have it in
cash or by check?"
What do you mean?" asked Jimmie
boy, very much puzzled.
The fare to Pigsburg is ten dollars
said the conductor. Out of which you
get rebate of twelve dollars and one
| half. You haven't paid your fare,
lars and half. Here's the money"
| The conductor handed Jimmieboy the
cash and the puzzled boy scratched
his head in silence for a moment, and
then ne asked
But I don't understand this rebate
question. What is it,"
Il will tell you," said the conductor,
sitting down alongside of him, but just
then the brakeman on theh roof yelled
out: "Pigsburg!" and Jimmieboy was
compelled to alight without having the
rebate idea explained to him, for which
| am very sorry, for l think it would
! nave added to the interest of the COM
position ne wrote on his return if he
had made some reference to that part
OF the Armourdillo's charitable work.
"Keb, sir" said the man at the sta
ton.
! Yes, sir said Jimmieboy Il want
to go up to the Iron Pigs. How much ?"
How much have you got?" asked
| the cabman.
! Two dollars and a half said Jim
mieboy.
The fare is two-fifty," said the cab
man, and a moment later Jimmieboy
was on his way to the house Of the
Iron Pig.
| Good Meats, Fresh and Salt Fish,