Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-01

asleep. He made no response to the /
demand. and the conductor poked him. |
The passenger woke up. blinked his |
eyes at the conductor. then began to |
feel for his pocketbeok. 1t was not in |
his hip pocket. where he first looked |
for it and he began a series of sudden |
thrusts in all his other pockets.
Conductor" he said. not having
found it, ''some pickpocket has reliev-
ed me of my tickets and 500 in cash"
Ticket" repeated the conductor, ap-
parently oblivieus to this ingenious ex-
cuse.
81 tell you I've been robbed of my
ticket. Pass me TO the end of the
road and l will see that you get one
as soon as L can cash a draft"
Give me either ticket or the mon
ey for your fare or you'll have to get
of the train"
''What-in all this rain?'
"YeS, in all this rain. In the first
place, you were not asleep at all when
l came round. but pretended to be. In
the second place, you can't beat your
way on this road, and, in the third, fork
over or I'll put you off"
Other passengers were by this time
! interested in the debate. They saw the
man look at the conductor with a Pc
culiar expression. in which surprise
and condemnation were mingled.
| Though young. his face had in it the
/ look of one who was accustomed to
/ command. His clothes were covered
with the dust of travel, but were not
| shabby. AS he looked at the conduc-
| tor his countenance hardened; then he
| said quietly:
Put me off,
The conductor sliced the bell cord.
pulled it vigorously. and the train came
to a stop between two fields
The road was ditched on both sides,
and the passenger had difficulty in
finding a footing. The train started
on. He stood staring at 1t for few
moments, then looked about him for
shelter. There was but one house in
sight, and that was fully two miles
away. The rain beat down. wetting
the elected passenger to the skin. and
cold northeast wind intensified its
!
best route by which to reach the house
mentioned. he started toward it.
He was an hour reaching It. facing
as he did the storm and several times
having to retrace his steps. On ar
irving he found 1t to be far better than
the average farmhouse and was re-
ceived by kind hearted. hospitable per-
sons. He begged shelter and some dry
clothing. which was given him. but a
chill warned him that he bad better
go to bed at once.
His hosts. the Iivermore family. con-
sisted of the father mother and their
daughter. Jennie The father had been
obliged on account of i'll health to take
up his residence in the country and
was trying to make living by farm
ing. Though he had become we'll
again. he found city life had not
given him the experience a farmer
needs. and he was rapidly running in
debt. Nevertheless the family was All
kindness to the stranger. His chill
was succeeded by fever. and in less
than a week he was at the point of
: death. Then he rallied and in short
time was convalescent.
During his illness Mrs. Livermore
was his chief attendant. but when he
was getting we'll she turned him over
to her daughter The weather was
becoming warm. and Jennie placed a
big chair on the porch for him and
covered him with blankets. There he
sat most of the day in the sunshine.
From the porch he could look down
on the railroad and the place where
! he was elected in that pitiless storm.
ITS a shame" said his little nurse
. Jennie. that you should have been
forced to risk your life as you were
| How much would it cost to sue the
company"
why do you ask?'' The invalid
looked at the girls indignant features
} with interest.
Because I had a legacy of $500 left
me not long ago. and IL that would dc
J think ! would let you have It."
, The stranger regarded her with an
amused expression. Such unthinking
t generosity was refreshing.
. will yoH give 1t to me for the pur
pose of securing justice?" he asked.
She sat, turning the matter over ir
her mind for few minutes, and al
t last generosity won.
YES" she said resolutely. 81 will
t Only you mustn't say anything to IA
t Their or mother about the matter, fol-
they might not approve"
probably not" replied the stranger
/ sententiously. II may accept you
offer. Keep your money where yor
can have IT ready whenever 1 cal
for it."
d The stranger sent for funds. which
!, he received during his convalescenct
y and paid his physician. He begged t.
4 be permitted to pay for at least hii
: keeping. But this was refused him.
He had written the auditor of thu
railroad company by which be had suf
fered. stating his case and asking wha
indemnity would be paid. II any. Tn
! reply was that the company admittet
no legal liability whatever. but IL b,
I would state me IOWeSr sum No wdTT7