The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-05-24
A Cold
Honeymoon
BY IRVING BACHELLER


TT WAS our wedding journey We
4 had come up to San Francisco on
our way to New York by rail. The
journey was rather too costly for the
income l enjoyed, but, alas! l had
promised!
'iYou can get scalpers' tickets"
friend had said to me, "they will save
enough to pay Pullman fare"
l had small knowledge of scalpers'
tickets. OF their cheapness | had often
heard, but of their power to democrat
ize a man and change everything that
ia, his, from his name to his character,
knew nothing.
/ had taken staterOOm in which
we were to have a week of Our honey
moon quite to ourselves. A little be-
fore train time l went out to investi-
gate the matter of scalpers' tickets.
IT can fix you all right" said the
agreeable gentleman, who dealt in
them. "IIere are two tickets good for
a man and woman. They will save you
500. Frst-class, and guarantee their
acceptance"
l looked Mt them hurriedly--there
was no time to lose. 1t was saving
worth while. Twenty dollars would
nearly pay for the stateroom.
l took them. He tucked them into
an envelope. paid him the money
and hurried back. The stage was
about to leave and my wife was wait
ing at the ladies' exit. We got aboard
with all haste and were shortly on
our way to the depot. When we were
on the train at last I looked at the
two tickets. That for my wife had
been issued to one Miss Bridget Muir
ply.
: "Miss Bridget Murphy" I softly
exclaimed. what does that mean?"
/ studied the half-yard Of coupons
and the regulations of the company.
The ticket had evidently been bought
by Miss Murphy. 1t was good from
Seattle to New York via San Fran
cisco. She had used it to the latter
point and then sold it. for some rea
son, to the scalper. The thing that
worried me was the fact that the
ticket was not transferable. according
to the contract on its face. Miss Muir
ply must present it herself and in
dorse it in the presence of the con-
ductor. If any other endeavored to
use it the ticket was forfeit to the
company. The train was under way
I excused myself and went to the
smoking room. Sitting there quietly
| examined the other ticket. That
was signed one Sam. Swackhammer.
1t was the handwriting Of black
smith and not easy to initiate. 1t had
sledge hammer swing TO it. The
truth came clear to me after a little
thought. A scalpers' ticket was one
man paid for partly in money and
partly in his hope of Heaven. could
| not afford to buy new tickets. and,
for the rest Of the trip. ! must be Mr..
Swackhammer and my. wife a lady of
The name Of Murphy. 7 presl my
first name was Samuel. but the man
had written it Sam. I must manage
it somehow and quickly. I took out
my pencil and tried to initiate the
clumsy signature. AS soon as I got
the swing of it FASTENED to my bride.
She had a happy smile and was look
ing out of the window. She wished
me to view the scenery, but saw my
perturbation as she looked up at me
"Darling!" she exclaimed, "what is
the matter?"
"Only this" said. "a mistake has
been made, and until we get to New
York your name will have to be Muir.
ply"
"Murphy!" she exclaimed. "what
do you mean?"
swell, I got the wrong tickets some
way" l said. ~ don't know how it
happened-I was in great hurry. We
must make the best of it now. just
sign the name of Murphy on your
. ticket. 1t will be all right. There il
is. Bridget Murphy" said, holding i,
up to her.
"What horrible name!" she said
with sigh.
"Here," l said. take my pencil and
see if you can initiate it."
"Why. Tom" she exclaimed "that
would be wicked. I don't think its
nice at ALL"
ut isn't nice" answered. "but it's
necessary. I can't see anything else
TO do. Besides you mustn't call me
Tom. You must call me Sam"
. II couldn't do it," she said, de-
: cisively.
She turned and sat looking thought
: fully out of the window.
|. "And do you think I shall let 20,
call me Bridget" she asked, in toni
: of injury.
,