The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-07

no street, is "a quarter after 81
or e'15 minutes after s." They insist
on checking their baggage with the
ticket office. They want to use the
office telephone when booths are open
in the corridors. They invariably de-
mand the arriving time Of their train
at their destination. They want to
know if it is necessary to change cars.
They want to deposit their packages
in the ticket Office until they return
from a jaunt up the street. They ask
the direction, the time of the day, the
cost of street car fare, the name Of a
good hotel, the population OF the city.
Some even have asked where old
Harve Parsons and Dodd CASTOR live.
They are a funny f1ock-these women
who travel alone on railway passenger
trains.
Prize Question Story.
The prize story of a ticket purchase
is told by Cliff Lowe, ticket agent of
the Rock Island Lines. A rough look
ing individual, from all appearances
ruralist, appeared at the window one
day and repeated in a high school or
alton voice:
st want a ticket to Susie, oklaho-
ma"
Lowe is pretty we'll acquainted with
the town lineup along the Rock Island
territory and this was a new one to
n
What was the name of that town 20
he questioned the farmer.
Susie. he repeated, Susie, Susie,
Susie, Oklahoma
Lowe asked him to spell it.
"S-u-S-i-e," came back to him.
Down came an office reference book.
No "Susie, Oklahoma" in it. Then a
big fat guide-still no Susie" Fol-
lowed a folder-but no Susie" graced
the closely printed list
1--WE have no such town on our line
and can find no Susie on any other
line in Oklahoma" Lowe replied after
fifteen minute search through the
available references.
Say, young Teller, don't you sup
pose l know where I'm going" re-
torted the farmer, angered at loves
town as this here Topeker, but let me
tell you, mister man, it's comm
town and it's on the map"
DO you live there?" inquired the
cket agent
NO. answered the enraged patron,
but my sister does and she knows
how to get there. She told me to take
this here Rock Island of yours"
Once more Lowe poured through his
folders. After a ten minute search the
farmers voice came to him from the
window.
Say, my lad" he yelled, ct believe
am mistaken about that Susie after
a. recollect now that it was Sarah
want to go to-"
Sarah, Oklahoma, in the records at
the Rock Island office. Finally Lowe
took his pencil and followed slowly
the list of Oklahoma towns beginning
with the letter IS" Finally he turned
to the whiskels peering madly through
the bars.
'I'n have to quit" he said to the
farmer. 1.-The closest relative to
Sarah that I can find is this one
Sayre.''
The agriculturist turned and sent a
glistening stream of tobacco juice to
the spittoon just across the room.
Then he stroked affectionately his
streaked beard.
Young Teller" he exclaimed at last.
You have it. That is where I want
to go-to Sayre. It's funny, hain't it
how do you suppose I thought of
Sarah and Susie-by gosh, that was
a good one on me. Har! har! hart
1t was too much for Cliff. Turning
to his clerk he asked him to make the
sale, then grabbing his hat he pulled
the brim far down over his eyes, took
a longing look at the office gun and
left the Office, banging the door after
him.
And this is just sample of the
problems that the ticket men solve
daily.
Furthermore, it is stated on author
ity that some ticket men live to a ripe
old age, marry raise children and die
a natural death. But it is a question
of the survival of the f1ttest-that's