Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-07-26
HOaxing a Drummer.

/ remember a joke which was played
on my friend by four dry goods drum
mers. He will always remember it, and
he confidently expects some time or
other TO see its perpetrators looking
sadly through prison bars. He was
young and green. 1t was his first trip.
In st. Louis he fell in with a Chicago
drummer. My friend had been com
planning of the high rate of railroad
fare.
"Why p asked one of the gentlemen
mentioned; /" don't you belong to the
Agents Cooperative Beneficial Self
sustaining Commercial Association ?"
"No," said my friend "what is it?"
"By Jove it's splendid thing"
said the other. "Every agent belongs
to it. No member of the A. G. B. S.
Q. A ever pays any fare. They have
secret signs which all the conductors
recognize. Better join. We are Off
GERS, and will initiate you. 1t costs
only twenty dollars" #
"All right" said my friend :" I'll
join. Here is draft for twenty dollars
on my firm" IT,. ....
In the evening my friend was invited
to champagne supper, and the secret
sign was divulged. He had only to run
his middle finger over his cheek and
nose, and utter the sounds, Che-bung
wung-wang-wung," and the conductor
would pass on, unless he stopped to
offer him cigar and pull at his flask.
The next morning the trio boarded the
train. The Chicago and the st. Louis
agent sat behind my friend. When the
conductor called for my friends fare, he
made the appropriate signs and said,
"Che-bung-wung- g-wang-wung." The
conductor smiled at my friend and at
the two drummers, and passed on. My
friend informed his employers of his
good luck, and said he thought he had
expended the money proftably. .'
The two drummers soon left the train.
My friend finished his business, and
returned by the same road. He got on
the train at midnight. 1t was forty
miles to the next station. He had only
ten cents in his pocket He intended
to draw on his firm at the next village.
He settled himself in a seat, and soon
the conductor called for fares. My
friend went through with the necessary
signs, and said, "Che-bung-wung-
wang-wung."
"You man, I want your fare" said
the conductor peremptorily.
My friend repeated louder than be-
fore, I" Chebung-wung-wang-wung"
You can't play the insane dodge on
me-" growled the conductor "pay, or
I'll put you off. :" ..
Expostulation. was Intellectual. My
friend and his valise were deposited at
a cross-road, twenty miles from civiliza-
tion, on clustering January mid
night. !. ..5rg.0 ..H
Shortly afterwards he met the Chi,
cago agent on his native heath. He gave
him sample of Eastern English, and
demanded the 800 out of which he had
been swindled.
"Oh p said the Chicago man, "there
must be some mistake. Which hand did
you make the sign with ?" .... ...#
Ny friend said he had used his left.
ooh !" said the Chicagoan, with the
GOODNESS of cucumber, "that's where
the trouble is. You ought to have used
your right hand" .a-'" ..
My friend made a sinister motion
with one of his feet, and the Chicago
man disappeared around the corner.
Nevertheless, the Drummer is a nee
essary evil. He coins brass into money
for himself and his employers. What
more would you have? N %