Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-01
Caught a Tartar.

came around TOT MS uCket ne lHIuSt Ills
hand into his pocket for his wallet and
looked very much chagrined. Then he
went through his other pockets, and, not
finding it, he said:
Conductor, just before leaving my ho-
lei this morning changed my suit, put
ting the one had been wearing with my
money in the coat pocket in my trunk.
What's worse, my trunk did not reach
me at the station and is to come by a la
ter train. If you'll LET me 90 through to
B., when we get into the station I'll tele-
phone for friend to bring me my fare
and will give it to YOU"
Ticket" was the conductors laconic
reply.
al have said all have TO say" con-
tinued the passenger. al have no money
to pay now, but I'll have plenty at the
end OF the route"
"You'n have to pay your fare or get
off,"
"Not here, | trust, in this Swampy
country. You will at least carry me to
the next station"
"Not unless you pay your fare from the
one where you got on"
care your orders such as warrant you
in such inhuDan action p
"Our orders are to put those who re-
fuse to pay fares off the train"
"Well," said the passenger ruefully,
you'll have to put me off. 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 TO the platform and
got off into swamp. The train went on,
leaving him standing on the track looking
after it. Then, first looking up and down
the line Of theroad, he started on foot 10
pursue his journey.
A few days later the passenger who
couldn't pay his fare went into the offices
of the road and asked TO see the general
superintendent. He waited half an hour,
then was ushered into the room OF a
sleek-looking man who asked him what
he could do for him. He told the story
of being put off the train and said he had
come to effect settlement for damages
or he would sue for them. The super
intendent said that if he would call in at
room No. 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 it in writing, took his
address and said he would write him
about the matter.
The passenger never heard from him.
Not long after this it 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
it. The price Of the securities would 60
up a bit, then gradually sag, then rise
again. But the general tendency was up
ward. 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 diverting their
business to other roads. Then the price
of the stock began TO 90 down like lead.
Finally it reached a point where the
fluctuation ceased.
The president of the road communi-
Gated with the feeders, asking what had
caused them to divert their business from
his line to others. He received no salts
faction. Nevertheless the diversion
ceased and trade began to flow again
over the line where it had flowed orig
inally. The president was puzzled. He
sent for some Of the principal stockhold-
ers and asked them il they knew any
thing about the matter. 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 COL
umns that a new railroad magnate had
appeared. John Talcott. man who had
achieved some success at recognizing
roads in the west, had come east and with
associates had bought controlling in
terest in two lines, and it was suspected
that he had picked up in open market a
majority of the stock Of 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 TO call
upon him. He did so and found the
party so busy that he was obliged to
wait an hour before he could gain admit
tance. When admitted he saw a plain
western man, who said to him in plain
western fashion:
"Next month occurs the annual elec-
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 services nor
those OF your principal officers will be
needed for the ensuing year. If you will
inquire of your official in charge OF claims
you will find my name there as one who
offered to settle damages for being put off
one OF your trains for few hundred dol
lars"
"Had KNOWN" said the president,
aghast, 81 would have
"But you did not know. ! was one OF
those defenseless creatures-the public"