The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-05-19
THE
STRANGER
How He Secured Damages
From a Railroad
Company
By DOROTHEA HALE

The conductor stood by 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 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"
"TicketT repeated the conductor, APP
/ 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 l will see that you get one
as soon as 1 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 a pc
culiar expression, in which surprise
and condemnation were mingled.
Though young his face had in it the
Loot of ~ -,
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 Il stop between two fields
The road was ditched on both sides,
and the passenger had difficulty in
finding a footing The train started
p. 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
rs he did the storm and several times
having to retrace his steps On ar
irving he found it to be far better than
the average farmhouse and was re-
r. ceived by kind hearted. hospitable per
To- sons. He begged shelter and some dry
clothing, which was given him. but a
chill warned him that he had better
60 to bed at once
= His hosts. the Livermore family. con
sisted of the father. mother and their
daughter. Jennie The father had been
obliged on account of i'll health to take
e up his residence in the country and
was trying to make a living by farm.
II ing Though he had become well
g., 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 al
Z kindness to the stranger. His chill
: was succeeded by ? fever, and in less
O. than a week he was at the point oil
T. death. Then he rallied and In a short
. time was convalesCent
During his Illness Mrs. Livermort
was his chief attendant. but when hi
was getting we'll she turned him owe
Is to her daughter. The weather wa!
T. becoming warm. and Jennie placed (;
big chair on the porch for him an(
covered him with blankets. There h,
sat most of the day in the sunshine
4 - oil 4
on the railroad and the place wher
he was elected in that pitiless storm
i IT'S a shame" said his little nurs
- Jennie. that you should have bee
. forced to risk your life as you were
How much would it cost to sue TIN
company"
I'd why do you ask?" The inval
ne looked at the girls indignant feature
Id with interest.
"a Because 1 had a legacy of 5000 lef
= me not long ago, and if that would d
80 I think / would let you have it"
% The stranger regarded her with a
rs amused expression. Such unthinkin
de generosity was refreshing.
a will you give it to me for the pul
N pose of securing justice?" he asked.
/, Sne Sdl' buIulnS lhS hidttSA WI
~, her mind for a few minutes, and g
last generosity won.
p" Yes she said resolutely. 81 vii
Only you mustn't say anything to f;
Their or mother about the matter. fC
a1 they might not approve"
Vt probably not" replied the strange
sententiously. "I may accept yoI
ma offer. Keep your money where 70
ga can have it ready whenever L ca
m for it,"
n The stranger sent for funds. whiC
he received during his convalescent
:, and paid his physician. He begged
ne be permitted to pay for at least h
on keeping. But this was refused him