Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-09-26
DEAD-HEAD1Na ON A LARaE BILL.

Severai years ago when ssdead- -heading'' OF
the railroads was little more in the as
cendant than at the present time, was travel
Hug on the Michigan Central Road, in com
pany with lady friend. We took our seat!
in the cars one hne morning in the month o.
May, when the birds were singing sweetly. ano
every thing denoted prosperity and happiness
Our train consisted of two baggage and oul
weli-elled passenger-coac We had not
long been occupants of the car, before we'll.
know parsonage, who had lately been in the
employ OF Joe Pentland's circus company
made his appearance. / soon fell in converse.
tioa With him, and learned that the circus bust.
ness had been unusually poor that season. He
said he was homeward bound, intending to
establish himself in a more profitable occupa.
tacH. also learned that he was out of funds
aud unable to pay his way home. / offered to
see him home, as had plenty of "spondu.
lies; " but he would not avail himself of my Of
fer, until he would find out how he would sue
ceed in his own undertaking. l resolved to
wait patiently until the conductor should ma Ike
his appearance.
Slowly the train began to move and soon we
found everything flying by US with a valocity
had never Witnessed in all my ralroading
l had been fixing my eyes on things without,
but was now gradually turning them on the
individual who sat before me for the conduc-
tor was then in our car, and fast approach
ing us.
saw that the circus man began to grow un.
easy, and the conductor soon reached him, and
asked tor his ticket. All eyes were now turn
ed upon these two persons, and everything
save the rumblng of the car was silent. The
clrcus-man began to move uneasily, and ask ed
the conductor how much his fare would be-
The genius of the railroad company told him
seventy-flye cents. The clown of the circus
said:
''l have no change-nothng but a nery large
bill, which am afraid you could not break
and, as you wish such a small amout, / guess
you may as we'll give up all idea of changing
it, and let me ride free.''
Now, / who had witnessed all that had tram
spired, concluded that the clown of the circus
was trying to dead head his way by talking.
But the officer of the railroad company tho't
differently. He swore that he could change
any bill that might be produced and, to con
firm what he said, brought out hundred of
fives, tens and twenties. But the clown of
the circus also swore that he could not change
his bill.
Everybody in our car was now up and gath
cred around the pair. The conductor seeing
how things were working, and thinking that
the man had neither bill nor money, propos-
ed the following: That if he (the conductor)
could not change the bill, the circus man
should ride free, and have five dollars in cash
thrown in.
This pleased the fellow; for he had evident
ly been waiting for such proposition; and
suddenly out from his own pocket came q roll
of paper; and, giving it sudden jerk he pro-
duced an enormous shoU-biH (what some peo-
pie would call ssof family size'') about six feet
long, and half as many wide.
The conductor was astounded. And such a
roar of laughter as shook the car, was never
heard before. The conductor, caught in his
own trap, gave the clown the five dollars and
vanquished. 1t is needless to say that the
circus-man rode free, and received the con-
gratulations of his fellow passengers.
About a month after the above occurrence,
received letter from our dead header, sta
ting that he had established himself in the
we'll paying business of dentist, and over the
door OF his shop sign reads thus: s'Teeth
extracted free"