“Your ticket, sir.”
The conductor had been standing by the seat for a full minute.
“I—I must have lost it,” replied the lad. “Just my beastly luck! You know that I had one, for you clipped it twice.”
The conductor stared coldly.
“Find it, or pay your fare,” he answered.
The lad put his hand into the breast pocket of his cape coat. He whipped out a handkerchief, and a bulky pocketbook. The latter flew across the aisle and under the next seat, where it burst open.
The clerical-looking man stooped and picked it up.
“Permit me,” he said, handing it back with a low bow.
“Much obliged,” answered the owner. “Hello! there’s a wad of bills missing. It must have fallen out.”