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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 1, 1929.)

[section]

Travelling—by rail, of course—to Napier, recently, I had as a fellow-traveller a railway worker on holiday. He was reading a novel, but as I took my seat beside him, he courteously said “Good morning,” and went on reading. As the train sped on, I could hear him now and again “nichering” to himself. Clearly, he was enjoying his book. I was engaged writing for some time, but, my task finished, I, too, took out a book. As I reached for my bag, I saw the title of the story my neighbour was reading. Coincidence—my book and his were by the same author! I said nothing, but proceeded to bury myself in the story. From that first greeting not another word passed between my neighbour and myself until the train pulled up at Woodville. Still neighbours we sat down to lunch. Our physical hunger satisfied, we mutually relaxed and walked the platform yarning until “All seats, please!” was called. As we lifted our books from our seats before sitting down, I said, “Strange, we are reading books by the same author!” “Are we?” he replied, “that's funny.” Then, after a pause, “Y'know, I like a good yarn … a good yarn, an' this one's just pie on!” The name of the book was “Well-to-do Arthur.” “Yes,” I said, “a good yarn, but Pett Ridge has done better.” “This'll 'bout do me, anyway;” he replied. Another pause, then: “How's that you've tackled?” “Oh,” I said, “it's a bit of all right.” Then I went on: “D'you know when you told me you were a railway worker, I was glad to see you reading one of Pett Ridge's books. You know, of course, that he was a railway employee before he turned author?” No, he hadn't known, but, now that he did know, he'd get some more of his “stuff” next time he wanted something to read! I assured him he couldn't do better, adding, “I've just a chapter to read of mine, so you can have it when I finish.” “Right-oh,” he replied, “we'll swap.” And we did.