The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-05-09
THE
STRANGER
How He Secured Damages
From 4 Railroad
Company
BY HALE


Tickets"
The conductor stood by a man with
his hat over his eyes, apparently
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 pocketbook. 1t was not In
his hip pocket. where be 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 cblivious to this ingenious x
cuse.
II 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 | can cash q draft"
"Give me either q ticket or the mon
ey for your fare or you'll have to get
of the train"
"What-iD all this rain?"
Eyes, in all this rain. In the first
place. you were not asleep at all when
! 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 c~ountenance hardened: then be
said quietly:
Put me off,"
The conductor siezed the bell cord.
pulled It vigorously. and the train came
to a stop between two fields.
The road was ditcbed on both sides.
and the passenger bad difficulty In
finding a footing. The traip started
On. He stood staring at 1t for q 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
a cold northeast wind intensified Its
chill. Taking a glance at the probable
best route by which to reach the house
mentioned. he started toward 1t.
he was an hour reaching 1t. facing
as he did the storm and several times
having to retrace bis steps. On ar
irving be fonnd 1t to be far better than
the average farmhouse and was re-
ceived by kind hearted. h~ospitable per-
sons. He begged shelter and some dry
clothing. which was given him. but a
chill warned him that be bad better
90 to bed at once
His hosts. the Lvermore family. con-
sisted of the father. mother and their
daughter. Jennie. The father had been
obliged on account Of III health to take
up his residence In the country and
was trying to make q living by farm
ing. Though he had become we'll
again. be found BIS city life had not
given him the experience q farmer
needs. and he was rapidly running in
debt. Nevertheless the family vas all
kindness to the stranger. His chill
was succeeded by a fever. and In less
than a week be was at the point Of
death. Then he rallied and In a 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 ri
becoming warm. and Jennie placed q
big chair ON the porch for him and
covered him with blankets. There be
sat most of the day in the sunshine.
From the porch he could look down
on the railroad and the place where
be was elected in that pitiless storm.
ITS q shame" said his little nurse
Jennie. that you should have been
forced to risk your life a. you were.
How much would It cost to D 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 II that would do
think ! would let you have It"
The stranger regarded her with an
amused expression. Such unthinking
generosity was refreshing.
viii you give It to me for the pur-
pose of securing justice?" be asked.
She sat. turning the matter over In
her mind for a few minutes. and at
Inst generosity won.
yes" she said r~esolutely. ~ will.
Only you mustn't say anything to ia
ther or mother about the matter. for
They might not approve"
Probably not" replied tho stranger
SYSTEMATICALLY. ~ may accept your
o6sr. Keep Jour money where you
can have It ready whenever ! call
for Il"
The stranger cent for funds. which
~ received during biz convalesconcG
ana paid his physician. He beggsd q
b permitted "a pay Tor 1t isast 81