Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-09-25
CAUGHT
A TARTAR
By ARNOLD DUNCAN

MA pocket and began 10 read. When
the conductor came around for his
ticket be thrust his hand into his
pocket for hts wallet and looked very
much chagrfned. Then he went
through bis other pockets. and. not
andlng II, he said.
conductor. Just before leaving my
hotel this morning changed my suit.
putting the cue had been wearing
with my money In the coat pocket In
my trunk. what's worse. my trunk did
not reach me az the station and is TO
come by a later train. n you'il let me
go through 10 b.. when we got into
the station IN telephone for a friend
10 bring me my fare and will give II
% you"
'sTicket." was the conductors laconic
reply.
II have said all I have 20 say" con
tlnued the passenger. Il have no
money 60 pay now. but IN have plenty
M the end of the route"
you'll have TO pay your fare or
get or"
'Not here, I trust. In this swampy
country. You viii az least carry me
10 the next station"
"Not unless you pay your fare from
the one where you got on"
"Are your orders such ss warrant
you IN such inhuman actionY'
"our orders are TO put those who Ne
fuse to pay fires OF the train"
Well" said the passenger ruefully.
"you'il have 10 put me OF. I've left
my money behind and have nothing TO
pay with"
The conductor pulled the bell. and
the train stopped The passenger made
no resistance. but walked 20 the plat
form and got OF into a swamp. The
train went on. leaving him standing on
the track looking after H. Then, FIRST
looking up and down the line OF the
road. he started on foot TO pursue his
journey.
A few days later the passenger who
couldn't pay his fare went into the
Offices of the road and asked 20 see the
general superintendent. He waited
half an hour, then was ushered into the
room of sleek looking man who
asked him what he could do for him.
He told the story Of being put or the
train and said he had come 20 effect a
settlement for damages or he would
sue for them. The superintendent said
that IL he would call In at room No. I
he would find the official who adjusted
all claims. The passenger went In
there. had talk with the claim officer.
who got out OF him all the information
he desired, asked him what he would
settle for. got him to put Il In writing.
took his address and said he would
write him about the matter.
The passenger never heard from him.
Not long AFTER this II was evident
that there was manipulation In the
stock Of the road. No one, not even
the president. could find out who was
at the bottom of t. The price OF the
securities would go up hit, then
gradually sag. then rise again. But
the general tendency was upward.
The affairs of the road were known
only to a few, who could see no reason
for an advance. Indeed. business was
falling OFF dreadfully. Two feeders,
one at either terminal, were divertins
their business to other roads. Then
the price OF the stock began to 90
down like lead. Finally II reached n
point where the fiuctuation ceased
The president of the road communi
Gated with the feeders. asking what
had caused them to divert their busi-
ness from his line to others. He re
ceived no satisfaction Nevertheless
the diversion ceased and trade began
to flow again over the line where u
bad flowed originally. The president
was puzzled. He sent for some OF the
principal stockholders and asked them
IL they knew anything about the mat
ter. They didn't. but admitted that
during the recent furry In the stock
they had sold most OF their holdings.
One morning the president took up
a newspaper and read In the financial
columns that a new railroad magnate
had appeared. John Talcott, man
who had achieved some success nj re
organizing roads IN the west, had come
controlling interest In two lines and
1t was suspected that he had picked NJ
in open market a majority Of the stock
Of a connecting link between the two
That connecting link the president
knew to be his own line.
That morning, when he went to his
office, he found a note from the new
railroad star inviting the president 20
call upon him. He did so and found
the party so busy that he was obliged
to wait an hour before he could gain
admittance. When admitted he saw
a plain western man, who said to him
In plain western fashion:
Next month occurs the annual cleo
ton Of directors Of your road. Two
thirds of the stock belongs to me and
my friends. / have sent for you to
give you notice that neither your serv