The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-09-10
); A Change Of Sentiment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
toriginal.l
Conductor John Baker was in bad
luck. He had been discharged by the
company, he knew no business except
railroading, and it 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 a
roof over their heads.
The circumstances attending his dis.
charge were rather to his credit than
discredit. He had violated rule Of
the company through the kindness Of
his heart. He had passed a man over
the road who told pitiful story with
out collecting 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 a loss to know who had
reported him. He knew all the train
hands we'll and was sure there was not
one Of them who would thus iniure
him.
And SO for six long miserable months
be brooded while doomed to see his
wife and children hungry. ragged and
driven from one house to another till
they landed In rookery. And all this
time that he was not hunting for sit
uation he was thinking Of the pleasure
he would take, could he find the in
former, in Furnishing him.
At last he found a railroad superin-
tendent who after considering the
cause Of his dismissal gave him a 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 deficien-
cy occasioned by his laying off and
paid off the accumulation of sman loans
during that period Of suffering. Bless
ed with an economical wife, he at last
accomplished the task and could again
look upon life with at least equanimity.
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 a 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. II 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 off," said
Baker resolutely.
Meanwhile passengers sitting near
were listening, sympathizing with the
poor widow and scowling at the con.
ductor.
Haven't you human heart under
your ribs?" sneered man.
"What brute!" flashed q woman.
These and other remarks derogatory
to the finty conductor were Missed
here and there FROM the passengers.
but they evidently produced no effect
upon him. He stoud looking at 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 trainman 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"' "Dogw "Pig" "Brute!
greeted the conductor. He paid no at.
tention to them, though there was a
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 to solid ground.
Then he turned upon her and rained
blows upon her with the rapidity of
Calling 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 q
woman!' Wont some one put an end
to this barbarity?' and many other
remarks of similar intent. But pro-
miscuous crowd is never apt to do
knight errantry work unless come bold
spirit steps forth to take the lead. So
Baker pounded with no other interfer.
ence than words. Finally he gave
Jerk on the would be deadhead's dress
that tore it from neck to skirt, leaving
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
vigor 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 I
passed and gave a quarter to more
than year ago. You caused my dis
charge. and my family nearly starved
to death. You've rugged yourself up
as woman and borrowed the child to
help you keep up your contemplate
work. Take that"
Again the blows fell on the spotter.