I was to take the 3.15 train in the afternoon to come home, and I
was there in good time; but I didn't see any thing of the superintendent
at first. I saw this car standing there, though, with its shades all
down; but it was some ways down the track, and not coupled to any train.
The last car of my train was the parlor car, and I got in that, for I
had exactly fifty cents left to pay my parlor-car fare with, besides my
return ticket, of course. In a minute or two the train began to back,
and I saw the conductor outside making signals to the engineer, so I
went to the rear door and looked out.

"What do you think? They were backing right down to this car, and in a
minute they had it coupled to my train; and just as the coupling was
made the superintendent opened the door and came out on the platform,
and as soon as he saw me he told me to come over there.

"I was sure then that he was going to ride somewhere in this car, and
maybe he might let me ride with him a little ways. Wasn't it the
luckiest thing in the world, I thought, that I happened to be there just
at the right minute? We both went inside, in the little office at the
end where Mr. Plant is now; and the first thing the superintendent said,
said he, 'I am going to take this car up the road, and if you like you
can ride up to Winter Park with me.'

"Well, sir, it was so sudden I didn't know for a minute whether I stood
on my feet or my head. But the train began to move off, so I saw it was
really true.

"'Isn't Mr. Plant going to use it?' I asked him--for I was so excited I
hardly knew what I said.

"'Mr. Plant sailed for Jamaica this morning,' he answered, 'and will not
be back for two weeks. The car is going up to New York now to bring Mrs.
Plant and some of her friends down. It has just been thoroughly cleaned
for her use, so I do not care to open it up much and let the dust in;
but you can make yourself comfortable here in the office while I look
over some papers. I am only going as far as Lakeland myself, about
thirty miles up the road; but you can go on to Winter Park in the car if
you'll be sure to slam the door when you get out. It locks with a spring
lock.'

"Make myself comfortable! Well I should rather say I could. I was as
proud as a peacock. It was foolish, of course, but, you see, I'd never
had a ride in a private car before. I was sorry none of my friends had
seen me start off in it, and that none of them would be likely to see me
get out,