The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-07-18
THE
STRANGER
How He Secured DAMAGES
From a Railroad
Company
By DOROTHEA HALE

''Ticketsr'
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. Itwas not In
his hip pocket, where he first looked
for II. and he began series Of sudden
thrusts in all his other pockets.
Conductor" be said, not having
found II. some pickpocket has reliev.
ed me of my tickets and 500 in cash"
'Ticketw repeated the conductor, ap.
parently oblivious to this ingenious ex.
cuse.
81 tell you I've been robbed of my
ticket. Pass me to the end Of the
road and will see that you get one
as soon as l can cash draft"
"Give me either ticket or the mon
ey for your fare or you'll have to get
or the train"
''What-in all this rain?"
"Yes, In all this rain. In the hrst
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 countenance hardened; then he
said quietly:
PUT me off,"
The conductor sliced the bell cord.
pulled 1t vigorously. and the train came
to stop between two fields
The road was dltched on both sides
and the passenger had difficulty IN
finding a footing. The train started
on. He stood staring at 1t for a 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 glance at the probable
best route by which to reach the house
mentioned. he started toward 1t.
He was an hour reaching it, facing
as he did the storm and several times
having to retface 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
chin warned him that he had better
60 tn bed at once.
Hts hosts, the Lvermore family, con
sisted of the father. mother and their
dansh'pr. Jennie. The father had been
Obliged on account Of III health to take
up MS residence In the country and
was trying to make living by farm
Ing. Though he had become we'll
again. he found his city nfe had not
given him the experience farmer
needs. and he was rapidly running In
debt Nevertheless the family was all
kindness to the stranger. His chill
was succeeded by a 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. Nvermore
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
'Tts 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
companyT
"Why do you askr The invalid
looked at the girls indignant features
with interest
because 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.
"WilI you give It to me for the pur-
pose of securing justice?" he asked.
She sat. turning the matter over In
her mind for a few minutes. and at
last generosity won.
YES" she said resolutely, II Will
Only you mustn't say anything to ia
Their or mother about the matter. for
they might not approve"
"Probably not" replied the stranger
81 may accept your
offer. Keep your money who're you
can have It ready whenever call
for It."
The stranger sent for funds. which
he received during his convalescence
and paid his physician. He begged to
be permitted to pay for at least bis
keeping But this was refused him.
He had written the auditor OF the
L.. tnh N IN emf