say you _brought_ two checks when I asked you for them at the train just
now? But you really said you _bought_ them."

"Yes," the Altrurian replied, "I gave half a dollar apiece for them at the
station in Boston. I saw other people doing it," he explained, noting my
surprise. "Isn't it the custom?"

"I'm happy to say it isn't yet, on most of our roads. They were tipping
the baggage-man, to make sure that he checked their baggage in time and
put it on the train. I had to do that myself when I came up; otherwise it
might have got along here some time next day. But the system is perfect."

"The poor man looked quite worn out," said the Altrurian, "and I am glad I
gave him something. He seemed to have several hundred pieces of baggage to
look after, and he wasn't embarrassed like your porter by my helping him
put my trunks into the car. May I confess that the meanness of the
station, its insufficient facilities, its shabby waiting-rooms, and its
whole crowded and confused appearance gave me rather a bad impression?"

"I know," I had to own, "it's shameful; but you wouldn't have found
another station in the city so bad."

"Ah, then," said the Altrurian, "I suppose this particular road is too
poor to employ more baggage-men or build new stations; they seemed rather
shabby all the way up."

"Well, no," I was obliged to confess, "it's one of the richest roads in
the country. The stock stands at about 180. But I'm really afraid we shall
be late to supper if we don't get on," I broke off; though I was not
altogether sorry to arrive after the porter had disposed of the baggage. I