Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1006 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~~ —— - ere ae . — = ‘. : . : mre : Ss ans eee ee eee “2 a ew: = a —— on —— : ees 2 ‘ ——— ~ 0 ——" ay — - ticket. es) eee ay Springfield, ee a o * > ge ~. Gite ~ yy ee +> ‘Had to tap me, did you? By the jumping frog, I don’t let anybody tap me! If you are twice as big as me I don't care for you the toss of ared cent. Mind that, Mister Man.” ‘* lve got to see your ticket, I tell you,” cried the conductor impatiently. ‘“‘Got to, have you? That’s a big word out of a little mouth. Why don’t you carry a club with you, aud tap passengers on the head when you come round? It will save your breath.” **Come, boy, no nonsense! Let me see your I must go on.” ‘Go on! I don’t care!” retorted Frank. ‘I didn’t ask you tostop. If youcalculate to pound me into showing my ticket, you’re barking up the wrong tree, that’s all,” Frank settled back in his seat, opened his news- paper, and began to read again, as serenely as if the conductor were a mile away. The latter stood perplexed. He demanded the ticket again, in a fierce tone, but the boy paid no more attention than if it had beena buzzing fiy. The conductor pushed him. No attention, He raised his hand as if to strike him again, But he was a little dubious about stirring up this wasp. Pll have you put off the train,” cried the angry official. ‘‘ The rules of the road must be observed,” ‘*Tf you do I'll make your old road howl,” an- ‘swered the boy. ‘‘I reckon there’s somebody knows a thing or t7vo besides you road emperors, Maybe you think passengers have nothing to do but to show up tickets. You've seen mine often enough now, and if you touch me again lll make you see stars.” | The conductor, who was a sinall-sized and ra- ther mild-looking individual, looked at the seem- ingly furious boy, and concluded it might be wna not to meddie with such a bristling porcu- ne, ’ He had quite forgotten that he had taken up his young passenger’s ticket to Bloomington, nae never dreamed that he bad no ticket to show. **T will put you off at Springfield, young man,” he said, ‘‘ That's our next stop, and the rules of _ the road must be obeyed,” ‘‘ All right. Springfield’s the capital of Illi- nois, isn’t it?” ‘*Then it’s bound to be brim full of law ers, and it’s just the place to get in my work on this one-hoss railroad, Now 1 reckon you'll let me finish this murder case, and won’t come here stirring me up asif I was a pig in a puddle,” Frank turned again to his paper, while the smiles with which the other passengers had heard this colloquy now broke into a chorus of laughter. The conductor looked helplessly at the impas- sive boy. Should he stop the train and put him off then and there? He would think of it, he concluded, and meanwhile went on punching the tickets of the remaining passengers, Frank con- tinued to read as demurely asif nothing had oc- curred. ** You're a bold boy,” said one of the passen- gers to him, after the conductor bad left the car. **1’d as soon beard a lion in his den as a conduc- tor on his train, These fellows are lords, you know, in their own domain,” “T don’t let nochap hit me withont hitting back,” averred Frank; ‘‘not if he’s as big asa rain-water-barrel. I reckon I pared that lion’s claws for him,” . *‘T don’t know but you did,” answered the passenger, with a laugh, which was echoed from the neighboring seats, , ‘* These hustlers get mighty limp when a fel- low like mo takes the starch out of them,” con- tinued Frank, ‘‘I guess that one wants Jaun- drying again, to stiffen bim up,” | ‘Give us your hand, boy, By the Rocky Mountains, you're a sundowner!” cried the de- lighted passenger. ‘I dunno ’bout that,” rejoined Frank, ‘* but the chap that tries to sit on me is going to feol pins—and straight ones, too.” 3 Frank had made a chatty acquaintance, and during the rest of the journey to Springfield a lively conversation was kept up between tho two. On reaching the city of Springfield the train came toa halt. It had not fully stopped = when the conductor bustled into the car, and step briskly up to the easy-going boy. ** Now, sir, there’s got to be an end to this “nonsense. You've got to show your ticket, or =: iy so?” said Frank, rising and stretching ‘Where are we, if I might ask?” sees And here you'll stop if you don’t show your ticket,” ~.* - . (style & as * - = - - —. owe iow *- =* os, bn 7 Se 44. *- oe we ' —- oe - axa te & Se praia 5 a = et i a . Tt -~ Poe 455) WoT ~~ eo aa * * Ty “ _ . = - wr r i" ; SEN Sed. + “© * ~ — if er ’ ed ou Pot * os f=." = - os nail epee “oe ’ ln am emma lite eg tla encllcemings” iy Ei. remy a, Bil EL ee -—— a es me GS ‘‘ Just the place I was going to stop at,” an- swered Frank easily. ‘‘ Much obliged for the ride.—Good-day, old man!” he said to his late acquaintance. ‘* Adieu, conductor! Aw re- voir,” Frank walked quietly from the car, ‘© What does au.revoir mean?” asked the con- ductor of a passenger. ‘* It’s the French for, ‘ till we meet again.’ ” ‘* Meet again! I hope to gracious I won’t soon meet that young impudence factory eagain! Glad I'm done with him this trip.” And the conductor ended with a groan that set all around him laughing. In twoor three minutes more the train was again swiftly in motion, Frank's late acquaint- ance locked from thecar window to catch a last glimpse of the boy, on the platform, ‘*Not there,” he said, ‘*He’s made tracks quick, Off to look up a Springfield lawyer, mayba, and make this old road howl, as he threatened. He’s just the coolest specimen of young America | ever put eyes on—and I'll go have a smoke on the strength of it.” Rising, the middle-aged and benevolent West- erner made his way through the train to the smoking-car. Here he made a worm-fence back- ward over the swaying floor to an empty seat, and was about to drop into it, when Le halted and stared in surprise. Before him he saw the smiling face of his late acquaintance, Frank Melton, ** Hello, old man!” cried Frank, cheerily. “Squat down, MHere’s room for one,” ‘* What the thunder are you doing here? I thought you'd left.” **Camo aboard again,” answered Frank, easi- ly. ‘*I didn’t think I had to lay out a map of m plans for that conductor. If he don’t want me aboard, he can put me off at the next stop. Going to smoke?” ‘That's what brung me.” ‘€ Anchor here then,and we'll finish our chat.” ** That suits ine to a bair,” The Wesrerner lighted a cigar, and offered one t) Frank, ‘*Smoke?” he asked, ‘No. Ain’t learnt that trade yet. How far haye we come from Chicago” ** Don’t know exactly. Near a couple of bhun- dred miles.” ** Row far is it to St. Louis?” ‘* About a hundred more.” ‘*That’s all right, Get there some time before snoozing time.—A mighty fat country this we’re passing through,” This set the Westerner off on a long story “bout the agricultural advantages of Illinois, which lasted until the conductor again came through the train ata point about thirty miles beyond Springfield, ‘Show your tickets,” The passengers complied, and he made kis way slowly through the car, punching tickets as he went, till—he suddenly paused, with a look of astonishment and indignation, He had caught sight of his late troublesome passenger, ‘** You here?” he cried, savagely. ‘““Yes. Told you we'd meet again, con- ductor.” ‘*Didn’t I put you off at Springfield?” “Not if the court knows itself. It’s my no- tion I got off.” rae You said Springfield was your §destina- ion. ‘* So it was— for that ride. But I took a notion I'd like to go further with you. Struck a sort of fancy to you.” ; “Phe deuce you did!” growled the conductor ‘Your ticket, then.” ** Ticket?” ** Yes, ticket.” ‘*T haven't any. Train didn’t stop long enough to get one.” ‘* Money, then.” | Ee Haven't any. Left ail my funds in Chi- o **Then you’ve fot to git off this train,” ‘‘That’s what [ expect to do—when it stops, Ain’t going to risk a jump, nohow,” “It’s going to stop now, and here, I’m tired of this nonsense,” The conductor reached for the bell-rope, and pulled it fiercely. In a minute aftorward tho speed of the train had considerably slackened, Frank sat with an unmoved face, This action did not seem to disturb him in the least. ‘“*Have you really no ticket?’ asked his new friend. ** Nary pasteboard.” **Nor money?” ‘* Not enough to strike fire with. I left all my money at the hotel in Chicago, and started off too quick to get it,” 7 Flipper Frank’s Flush. | —eae—_—_ sees eee ee eee ee eee rn ae es ae ese —_+ Oa an re eC oe ee ————CSSSSS ee —C'='e ee - ——_—_—_— re ee ee ee C—O Cet eee ‘‘ Then, by the Rocky Mountains, I’ve had fun enough out of you to pay your way. What's the next stop, conductor?” ** Alton.” ‘‘ Hare from Springfield?” The conductor told him, “All right. Tl pay this young man’s way.” ‘‘ Why the blazes didn’t you say so sooner, then?’ The train bad nearly stopped. ‘I’ve half a mind to put him off as it is,” ‘ ‘‘- You can’t do it, conductor, and you know it, You've got to take the money,” answered Frank, with provoking nonchalance, : The conductor in reply sprung up and jerked the bell-rope savagely, emitting a low growl. Immediately the train began to gather speed again, and was soon driving on at full head- way. The passenger paid Frank’s fare, and the con- ductor continued his roune, ‘“‘T'm going to pay this back,” said Frank. *‘Give me your name and address, I’ve got plenty of money in Chicago, but started off so fresh that I left it behind me.” ‘‘Never mindit. I’ve had my pay in fun,” “*'Yos, I will mind it. I’m not working my way. nary time.” Alton was reached in due time, and the train again came toa balt, Frank r se to leave the car. je “*T thought you were for St. Louis?” said his new friend, ‘“Solam, Ill get there, you bet.” ‘* Stay aboard, then. Ill pay the rest of the way. It’s only twenty-five miles,” ‘No. I won’t sponge on good nature, You'll see me there,” ‘* Better stay.” **Can’t see it. Good-by. I'll send you that little remembrance,” ‘“‘ Never mind it, Good-by,” Frank got off. Ina few minutes the teain was away egain, | ** Gone this time, sure,” sai @ conductor, as be made his last round th the train, ‘* ie’s left bebind at last.” ‘*]’m not so certain of that,” answered Frank’s friend. ‘‘ He’é death at turning up. Have you looked on top the cars?” | Where he should have looked was on the en- gine, on which Frank had jumped as the train started, and where hs remained in spite of the es growl that no one had any business there, ** Lawsee, you needn’t mind me,” answered Frank merrily. ‘] ain’t no more than a grass- hopper, and I can’t chirp loud enough to stop the train.” And he rattled on in such a liv way that the engineer, tho ® knew this was breaking the law o ad, let him re- main. “Tf you put me off, Vil finish my ride on the cow-catcher,” averre| Frank. ‘‘I’m for Pilso’s Peak, or bu’st. Lain’t got no money, old hoss, but Vi owe you a thromo for this ride,” ‘** How did you get this far without money?” “ Brass brought me througb,” answered Frank, and he told the engineer the story of his adven- ture with the conductor, much to that worthy’s delight, There was no longer any thought of putting him off. Frank paid his fare for the rest of the way by making things lively for the engineer and fireman, . At length the station at St. Louis was reached. The boy sprung from the engine before its wheels had ceased turning. It was rather dark at that point, and none of the station-hands ob- served him, He burried: down the platform, and in a min- ute found himself face to face with the conduc- tor, who stared at him like one in a trance of surprise. ‘*Told you I'd gethero,” becried. ‘‘ ’mroyal pancakes at keeping my word. Good-by, old chap. Sorry I can’t go back with you.” Frank was away before the conductor could muster words to reply. The boy’s next encounter was with his train friend, who gazed at him with almost as much surprise as the conductor had shown. “Hello!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You here?” ‘Always keep my word,” replied Frank. “I won't forget that little obligation.” ‘‘Never mind that; but, how did you get here?” ‘““Ask the engineer, Hada splendid ride be- hind the headlights, and— Good-by!” | Frank dar away hastily. He had at that moment caught sight of Mr. Converse, who had just left the cars and was hurrying through the > gtation, amusing a/i* ’ rh re i, i,t ‘yh hj : a < 7 * ._~ a eT A éa ‘u ? } : is eal yey ; ’ ae *o - > iba 4, . * ne ~ Paes nk wt - « +h - / r : ie * i ee a - a7 5 : 7 " ° oh ’ ~ ay oh “4 % ; te ‘Poa et =: Pueay, f= a . wat »} a), bhesk ded {