The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-19
And asked him what he thought Of Il.
Now the clerk was q wide-awake New
Yorker and he said at once: &

him, and felt that he was practically one
of the high officials of the road.
He sat there until he was SO hungry
he didn't know what to do and then he
asked where the railroad restaurant
was, and he went down there meaning
to spend at least quarter on his lunch,
but it looked so very swell that he felt
1t would be small in him to spend less
than dollar, and that is what the lunch
cost him. exclusive of the tip. He had
no change smaller than a half dollar, so
he asked the waiter to change the silver
for him, and that obliging fellow
brought back two quarters, which was in
the nature of hint. And Binkersley
:. took it-that is, he gave a quarter to
the waiter.
After lunch he "felt fine" and he went
up to the Offices again.
Very sorry, sill" said the clerk, "but
we've just received a telephone from,
Mr.. Gregory and he won't be back until
tomorrow or next day. He's called
out of town."
Binkersley was disappointed, but he
was a philosophical sort of chap and
he had had good time, and it was only
prelude to big business.
That evening he took his wife to the
theater, thing he had not done since
j.. he stopped getting billboard tickets.
The theater cost good two dollars, for
he got the very best seats in the second
balcony, and after the play nothing
would do for this man-about-to -get-a-
pass but supper at one of Young's res
taurants, and that made another dollar
look extremely i'll.
Next morning Mr.. Binkersley went
uptown, and he went in cab. 1t was
expensive, as he well knew, but it could
be charged to expenses eventually.
The passenger agent was in, but he
was busy.
s'Tell him." said Mr.. Binkersley with
an importance that he could not con-
ceal although he tried to, tell him that
my cab is waiting for me outside and
that I'd like to see him at once. have
been here twice before!"
This had the desired effect. That ia
to say, the boy delivered the message,
and in q moment Mr.. Binkersley heard
roar of laughter from the inner room
and said to himself: Hes in a good
humor."
A moment later the boy returned and
said with difference that seemed the
real thing to simple Mr.. Binkersley:
Come this way, sir"
Mr.. Binkersley went that way and
was ushered into the presence of white
haired, bristly- bearded man who looked
more like genial farmer than the man.
ager of great business.
''Is this Mr.. Binkersley?" said Mr..
Gregory.
Eyes, sir" said Mr.. Binkersley.
$50 you don't want pass, don't you?"
said the passenger agent, carrying out
the spirit Of the letter which the sub
.urbanite had written for Mr.. Binkersley.
mo, SIR" said Mr.. Binkersley in 4
puzzled tone.
Then what did you come for?" said
Gregory.
"Why-er-why, mean want a pass
to Chicago and back, and in return I'll
tell people to take your road"
Mr.. Gregory had pictured different
sort Of man from the one who stood be-
fore him and some of the humor of the
letter seemed to leave it. He had evil
IDENTIFY been put up to writing it.
Suppose" said he, eve gave every
body in the country pass to any place
he asked for on condition that he advised
his friends to buy tickets. How soon
would we go into bankruptcy"
THAT would need some figuring"
said Mr.. Binkersley in such simple
manner that Mr.. Gregory took pity on
him and determined to give him pass.
We'll, look here, Mr.. Binkersley,
hear that your cab is at the door and
I don't want your coachman to catch
cold waiting for you, but also want you
to understand that am general passen-
ger agent of this road and if want to
give passes that is my own affair. You
dared me to give you pass and am
going to take your dare. Here is an
order for pass as far as Albany and
return. That will take at least six dol
lars off your expenses. I'm accustomed
to Having my own way and insist upon
your accepting the pass"
Mr.. Binkersley was filled with mixed
emotions. He was disappointed at the
mileage Of the pass, bat he also wanted
to set himself right with this man and
he said: n
well, thank you, sir, but you misun.
derstood the letter. meant all that in
joke. The fact is friend of mine
wrote it and didn't quite STE what he
was driving at. wish I'd written It
myself because wanted the pass all the
way to Chicago and back. The fact is
lam in position to influence a good"
The passenger agent had risen. "I'm
very glad to have had this opportunity
to see you, Mr.. Binkersley, and do hope
the driver hasn't caughtcold. You will
exchange this order for a ticket to AL
bany and return. If you need any more
passes write the letter yourself, as it will
be q safeguard. Good-day.''
He heard roar Of laughter as he
passed from the room 0f the passenger
agent.
SIS "a very pleasant and jovial gentle
man. thought MI. Binkersley..
alent to an election. For lieutenant