48 



A QUEER CONDUCTOR. 



" Well, somebody did," said the driver. 



" I don't know who it was," said the' conductor. 



The car went on again. Pretty soon the whistle sounded a third 

 time. Little Eddie Howard was sitting near the conductor. " He 

 didn't blow it," he said to his mother, "for I was looking at his 

 mouth all the time." The driver was very cross by that time. 



" Hurry up ! hurry up ! hurry up ! " was the next thing they 

 heard. 



"Look here, young man!" cried the enraged driver, turning 

 round; " if you think I'm going to " — 



" Oh ! " screamed a nervous old lady. " It's somebody under 

 the seat ! Thieves ! Murder ! " 



" Will you hurry up? " said the same voice again, and this time 

 it certainly did come from under the seat. 



The ladies rose in alarm, but just then a gentleman came forward 

 from the back platform. " I fear my Jacko is giving trouble," he 

 said, smiling; and then he pulled from under the seat a basket in 

 which sat a large green parrot. The parrot cocked his head on 

 one side and winked at his master, and then began to whistle. 

 " Whew! " he said. " Whew! whew! tvill you hurry up? " 



Then the driver laughed, and the conductor laughed, and every- 

 body laughed; and with a jingle and a jerk the car went on. 



" Well, we had a queer conductor this trip," said the driver, 

 when the conductor next came forward. " I think you had better 

 resign, and give the parrot your place." 



" I think so, too," replied the conductor, " for you minded him a 

 great deal better than you mind me ! " 



