I concluded that if her son Charles were there, he would pay her fare, like a dutiful son as he was. Presently the whistle on the locomotive sounded, and we heard the scraping of the brakes, as the train prepared to stop. The conductor promptly appeared, and again demanded her fare or a ticket. The old lady seemed to be greatly troubled, and I expected to have the whole seat to myself from this station. "Suthin must be done!" said the old lady. "That's so; give me your ticket or the twelve dollars," replied the official. "I can't do one nor t'other. I hain't got the money, and my ticket's gone." "Very well, madam. Then you must leave the train." "But I don't know a soul here. Won't you trust me till we get to Chicago?" "I don't know you, and we do not give credit for fares." "Mr. Collingsby, over there, knows me. My son's his pardner in business." "Very well, madam; if that is the case, there will be no trouble about it," added the polite official, as he turned to the dignified gentleman, and stated the case. Mr. Collingsby glanced at the old lady, and shook his head, with a deprecatory smile. "I have not the pleasure of the lady's acquaintance," said he, after a hasty glance at her face, as he turned his attention to his newspaper again. "She says her son is your partner in business," suggested the conductor. "That may be; but I don't know the lady. I am not aware that I ever saw her," answered the head of the firm, without raising his eyes from his paper. "What is your name, madam?" demanded the conductor. "Don't he know my name? Don't he know the name of his own pardner?" "I asked your name, madam." "My name's Whippleton--Mrs. Whippleton; and my son's his pardner." "She says her name is Whippleton, and that her son is your partner," said the conductor, again appealing to the dignified head of the firm. "I don't dispute it, sir," replied Mr. Collingsby, coldly. "My partner's name is Whippleton, but I don't know that lady. As I said, I am not aware that I ever saw her before." "Shall I trust her for her fare?" "Do as you please. As I don't know her, I cannot vouch for her," replied Mr. Collingsby, in a tone which implied that, if the conductor knew what he was about, he would not disturb him any further on the disagreeable subject. "Mr. Collingsby does not know you, madam." "That's what I call mean!" ejaculated Mrs. Whippleton, bitterly. "I don't believe he'd know his own father if the old man didn't wear a fashionable hat." "He doesn't dispute what you say; but he doesn't know you. I must have your fare, madam." "I keep telling you, I hain't got no money." "Then you must get out here." "You don't mean so!" "Yes, I do. Shall I help you out with your baggage?" "But I'll pay you when I get to Chicago." "That won't do. In a word, madam, I don't believe you lost your ticket." "Goodness! Do you think I'd lie about it?" "I'm sorry to say I do think so. If I mistake not, you have tried this game on before."