Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/108

 MARK TWAIN

&quot;Gentlemen, you have heard the order, and my duty is ended. As to obeying it or not, you will do as you think fit.&quot; And he turned to leave.

&quot;But wait. The matter is not yet finished. I think you are mistaken about your duty being ended; but if it really is, I myself have a duty to perform yet.&quot;

&quot;How do you mean?&quot;

&quot;Are you going to report my disobedience at headquarters in Pittsburg?&quot;

No. What good would that do ?&quot;

&quot;You must report me, or I will report you.&quot;

&quot;Report me for what?&quot;

&quot;For disobeying the company s orders in not stopping this game. As a citizen it is my duty to help the railway companies keep their servants to their work.&quot;

&quot;Are you in earnest?&quot;

&quot;Yes, I am in earnest. I have nothing against you as a man, but I have this against you as an officer that you have not carried out that order, and if you do not report me I must report you. And I will.&quot;

The conductor looked puzzled, and was thoughtful a moment; then he burst out with:

&quot;I seem to be getting myself into a scrape! It s all a muddle; I can t make head or tail of it; it s never happened before; they always knocked under and never said a word, and so I never saw how ridiculous that stupid order with no penalty is. I don t want to report anybody, and I don t want to be reported why, it might do me no end of harm!

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