Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-05-01

put one of the travelling inspectors OF
to 'em, it's odds that on that particu
lar occasion they'll happen to hav,
taken a ticket. And II not, well, the.
just say that they had no time to book
and offer the fare to the next station
where they get out, as innocent a.
lambs-and-"
But why does the inspector take tn,
fare?" interrupted Mr.. Bounceby, will
contempt. HE ought to make then
give their names and addresses, ant
report them for prosecution"
II he did, sir-there being no evi
dence of intent to defraud-the magis
trate void never convict, you see; and
so we simply look foolish. and the
company Is saddled with the costs
Magistrates always side with the work
ing man against a railway company
sir, unless the evidence Is quite pat
That's the worst Of 1t. All! There
are those two chaps getting into --.e
up-train now. II 1t was any use and
they didn't know me so well. I'd take
ride with 'em and see IL I couldn't
bowl them out. But as 1t is"
"Damme! I'll take a ride with the
fellers,' announced Mr.. Bounceby, with
sudden, pompous resolution.
And he hurried off in the direction
OF the third class smoker which the
two workmen had entered, and jumped
into 1t as the train was moving out
of the station.
He sat down. lighted a cigarette,
and began to read his evening paper,
appearing to be quite absorbed in its
contents. The two workmen glanced at
him, and proceeded to converse together
without paying any further heed to
| him.
Their conversation, at the outset,
contained nothing worthy of remark,
referring merely to some general top
les of the day and the prospects for a
forthcoming race at Kempton park.
Presently, however, to the great de-
light and triumph Of Mr. Bounceby, it
veered round to that particular sub
ject of all others on which he desired
to hear them discourse.
Il sy. mite" observed one of the
two. expectorating on to the floor and
setting his hob-nailed boot upon the
expectoration, as is the pleasant little
habit Of the British workman, "see
ovid Wig, on the platform at Lavender
ill-eh?"
''Yuss!" rejoined the other, with a
grin. And he didn't clap his bloom
in eyes on to us-ow now! Not at orl.
did e, mite?"
His companion laughed.
"One hasn't no need to be a bloom
In thort-reader to see how he suspeck
us" he said.
AYE" was the chuckling rejoinder.
e my suspeck; but e yn't never
GOWN to cop us. You and me wosn't
riz yesterday, nor the dy afore. what
o, mite?"
"Thort e. wos GOWN to get in along
wiz us. But s'pose e sor it was now
gow-us KNOWN i'm so well. Shouldn't
wonder, though, If e wasn't somewhere
in the trine, a-follerin' of us. should
you, Dick?"
mo, shouldn't Wot's more, l rath-
er 'opes e is. us 'appenin' to ave piste-
boards. o. X. for this occasion only
er, Bill?"
"Yuss. II ownly ed pull us up at
the barrier at Hoxton Rise, Snikes.
Wouldn't jest purtend as I'd lorst
my ticket and tumble in orl me peck
cts. and look In the linin' of my at,
and then just as e wos a-gowin' to run
us in. suddenly find as I'd got it in my
and orl the while? That would be
prime. wouldn't it?''
Eyer rite. mite. Or let i'm run yer
In afore yer yahnd yer ticket, and then
bring a haction agin i'm for forlse
Imprisonment Guess that d mike him
bit sick, eh?"
The other nodded and chuckled.
Il only wish as e might give me the |
charnst," he observed. Serve him
bloomin' well rite, 1t would, the spin
o. fox"
"Yuss. And 1t yn't as II we wos by |
any means the wust Offenders" an
swered his companion, in an ill-used |
tone. I'VE does by our fares, on an av-
eridge three dys week. doesn't we? |
', nile there's Jim Stockings Travelled |
from North Croydon to Battersea
Bridge and back every blessed dy for
this free mofs parst, and never pide
the company a solitary copper"
"Ah, Jim's is cute 'un. e is" said
the other, grinning appreciatively.
THAT is rippin' doge as he've hit |
on for travelin' gratis. Never heer
to beat 1t. Jim's patent, orl-
wys corls 1t, which e deserve a gowld
medal for 'avin' ever thort of any
think so bloomin' sly. wot do you
think, mite?"
low! It's fair masterpiece was
the emphatic rejoinder. Not but wot
there's risks abaht 1t. IL yer arsks
me. And sooner or liter, Jim e II get
cort. Yer mark my words"
well, If e does get oort, it'll tike
/ sharper bloke than old Wig. to catch
im," said his companion.
Dunno. The biggest fats sometimes
upon a smart cop" observed
he other, sententiously, as he knocked
he ashes out of his short clap pipe and
hen proceeded to refill it, slowly, with
'hag from screw Of dirty green pa
Ger.
"Ah! That's right enough" admitted
he other, lending emphasis to his as
.art hv a no iorlo ~, oovx;o,,s ownacf,r |