The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-08
A Change Of Sentiment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IorlRInnil


Conductor John Baker was in bad
luck. He had been discharged by the
company, he knew no business except
rallroadlng, and II Is not easy for a
discharged man TO get another berth.
Baker had wife and five children,
who were dependent upon him for
bread and butter, to say nothing Of n
roof over their heads.
The circumstances attending his dis.
charge were rather to his credit than
discredt. lie had violated rule OF
the company through the kindness OF
his heart. He had passed a man over
the road who told pitlful story with
out collecting a fare and had given him
quarter from his own pocket besides.
His act had been reported to the super.
intendent, and his discharge followed.
Baker was at loss to know who had
reported him. He knew all the train
hands well and was sure there was not
one of them who would thus injure
him.
And so for six long miserable months
he brooded while doomed to see his
wife and children hungry, ragged and
driven from one house to another til
they landed in rooIery. And all this
time that he was not hunting for sit
uatlon he was thinking of the pleasure
he would take, could he find the in-
former, in Furnishing him.
At last he found railroad superin-
tcndent who after considering the
cause of his dismissal gave him job.
Conductors salaries are not bountiful,
and Baker struggled for year or
more, denying himself and his family
every comfort that could possibly be
spared. before he made up the deticicn-
cy oceasloned by his laying Off and
paid of the accumulation OF small loans
during that period OF suffering. Bless
ell with an economical wife, he Mt last
accomplished the task and could again
look upon life with at least equanlmlty.
But he never forgot the circumstances
that led to his misfortune and never
ceased to wish for an interview with
the informer.
One day after Baker had taken his
new position woman with little
boy got on his train. When he asked
her for her ticket she began pitiful
moaning. and at the same time the
child began TO cry, but the ticket was
not forthcoming. Ticket" said Baker
sharply. 81 haven't any ticket" the
woman walled. my husband has Just
died and left me without money. I'm
going TO the poorhouse."
PAY your fare or get or" said
Baker resolutely.
The woman only responded by tears.
Meanwhile passengers sitting near
we're listening, syInpathlzlng with the
plor widow and scoWling ut the con
dlctOr.
Haven't you human heart under
your rlbsf" sueercd man.
"What n brute!" flashed woman
These and other remarks derogatory
TO the fllnty conductor were Kissed
here and there from the passengers.
bit they evidently produced no effect
uCOn him. lie stood looking ut the
woman, waiting for her TO pay her
fare. At last he made final demand
and, receiving only the usual response
OF means, took her child from her and
handed him TO tralnman. Then he
pulled the bell cord
While the train was slowing up
Baker stood mute In the aisle the wo-
man redoubling her means. Cries OF
Coward "Dogr pig" Brute"
greeted the conductor. He paid no at
tcnton TO them, though there was n
strange look in his eye. When the
train came to full stop he took the
woman by the back OF her dress and
hustled her off on 10 solid ground.
Then he turned upon her and rained
blows upon her with the rapidity OF
Gatliug gun. That his feet should not
be idle he kept them at work kicking
her shins
The car windows were thrown up,
and score OF passengers had their
heads out the windows. crying "Stop
him. Don't let the hound kill a
womanw "wOn't some one put an end
TO this barbarityT' and many other
remarks OF similar intent. But pro-
mlscuous crowd is never apt to do
knight errantry work unless some bold
spirit steps forth to take the lead. So
Baker pounded with no other interfer-
ence than words. Finally he gave q
jerk on the would be deadheads dress
that tore II from neck TO skirt, leaving
q mans vest beneath.
Then for the first time the onlookers
realized that the widow was not even
woman, much less a mother Baker
went at the man again with redoubled
yiSor and when he had pounded him
almost to jelly stopped and said:
"You spotter! SO you're still playing
your game, are you? | recognized you
the moment ! saw you as the man
passed and gave quarter to more
than n year ago. You caused my dis
charge, aud my family nearly starved
TO death. You've rlgged yourself up
as woman and borrowed the child to
help you keep up your contemplate
work. Take thatr
Again the blows fell on the spotter.
But there had been change Of sym
pathy. IL had passed from the sp0tter
! 10 the conductor. The cries were now
LAY IL on. conductorp' "Ciye II 10