The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-20
THE
STRANGER
How He Secured Damages
From a Railroad
Company
BY DoRoTHEA HALE


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 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 800 in cash"
'"TicketY' repeated the conductor, ap.
parently obIivious 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 / can cash a draft"
"Give me either a ticket or the mon
ey for your fare or you'll have to get
off the train
"What-in all this rain?"
Eyes, 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 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 it 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
cold northeast wind intensified its
chill. Taking a glance at the probable
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 it to be far better thar
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 had better
go to bed at once.
His hosts. the Lvermore family con
sisted of the father. mother and their
daughter, Jennie. The father had beer
obliged on account of i'll health to take
up his residence in the country and
was trying to make a living by farm
ing. Though he had become well
again. he found his 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 a fever, and in less
than a week he 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 was
becoming warm. and Jennie placed q
big chair on the porch for him and
covered him with blankets. There lie
sat most of the day in the sunshine.
From the porch he conld look down
on the railroad and the place where
he was elected in that pitiless storm
ats a shame" said his little nurse
Jennie, "that you should have beer
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 5000 left
me not long ago. and if that would dc
/ think / would let you have it."
The stranger regarded her with an
amused expression. Such unthinkine
generosity was refreshing.
"IVill you give it to me for the pur
pose of securing justice?" he asked.
She sat. turning the matter over IN
her mind for few minutes. and al
last generosity won.
eyes, she said resolutely. 81 will
Only you mustn't say anything to ia
Their or mother about the matter, fol
they might not approve"
"Probably not" replied the stranger
sententiously Il may accept your
offer. Keep your money where you
can have it ready whenever cal
for it.
The stranger sent for funds, which
he received during his convalescencf
and paid his physician. He begged t.
be permitted to pay for at least his
keeping. But this was refused him.
He had written the auditor of tbs
railroad company by which he had sui
fered stating his case and asking wbsi
indemnity would be paid. if any The
reply was that the company admitted
no legal liability whatever, but if he
would state the lowest sum he would
take in settlement his claim would b.
considered.
When the stranger read this he wa.
sitting on the porch and Jennie wai
attending him. He smiled, and Jenni,
asked him at what he was smiling.
Il will name a very low sum-th,
amount you propose to lend me to TT.
the case. After that shah hear moth
ing more from the auditor"
"Why not?"
Because his object is to induce M
to name a sum that | will accept TO
my claim. He will file my reply, an,
If the case ever comes to trial he vii
show it as evidence that $500 was al
/ had asked in settlement"
How do you know so much abou
these matters?"
kindly give me writing materials,
replied the stranger without answering
her question, land l will prove to yoi
that am right
He wrote letter offering to accep
5000 in settlement for his claims, ask
ing an immediate reply since he wa
about to leave the place from whicl
his offer was made. Though he re
manned there two weeks longer, no an
swer came.
81 wonder how in the wide worl'
you knew all that?" remarked Jennie
But the stranger did not seem in
| clined to explain things. When b