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A Mrs. Blank (not her real
name) was the "madam " of a very popular establishment in Rico. This madam needed
a piano player, a MUST for any high-class place of this type in those days.
Learning of an applicant for the job, who was then working in Lake City, Colorado,
she telegraphed a one-way ticket to Rico for him, plus an extra $5.00 (all the
railroad would permit) for traveling funds. He accepted, and when he reached
Ridgway en route to Rico, he decided to take a side trip for a day to Ouray.
Unfortunately, he had misunderstood the ticket conditions regarding side trips.
Two days later, when he tendered his Ridgway - Rico portion of the ticket to
the train's conductor, he refused it, as it had expired. So the piano player
had to pay his fare from Ridgway to Rico. Madam Blank filed a claim for a refund,
tendering the ticket that had been refused. The Denver office, however, was
in no hurry to do the right thing, but inquired from the agent about the woman's
standing in Rico. That is, was she honest and not trying some form of ticket
scalping, etc.? The agent wrote back, rather sharply that indeed Madam Blank
was "…one of Rico's most respected business people.." and if she claimed the
ticket circumstances were as she said, then her statements were correct. Needless
to say Denver refunded! |
