Anybody's likely to get in trouble once in a while, you know.

You got catched; some other folks 'most always don't; that's about the difference.

Let's see; how long was you--how long have you been away ?" "I was _sent_ for two years an' a half," said the passenger, raising his head again and looking almost manly, "but, Mr.Briggs, I got all the shortenin' of time that's allowed for good conduct,--ev'ry day of it.

If you don't believe it, I'll prove it to you.

My term begun on the 11th of August, eighteen hundred an'-- " "Never mind the figures, old man: I'll take your word for it." "But I wanted you to be sure; I thought mebbe you'd tell other folks about it, seein' you're a good-hearted feller, an' know ev'rybody, an' I never done you no harm." "I'll tell 'em anyway," said the brakeman, cheerily; "I ain't no saint, but I'm always ready to help a fellow up when he's down.