The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-07
IMPuDEEcE SAT DOWN upoN.
How q street-car Driver Who Tried to
'Bouneep Director Got erred
Bob Bardette in Burlington Hawkeye.

| bounee3 Director Got Tired. =
Bob Bardette in Burlington Hawkeye.
The following incident appers to us
to be the best and most original thing OF
the kind we have seen in many day:
Criswell. the fellow who once welded
such fluent Faber on the Oil City Der
| 7.sfk. and who is now back in the oil region
fighting that monopoly of all monopolies,
the Standard oil company, when on the
Cincinnati Enquirer, returning home from
the office late one night boarded street
car which was crowded to the platform.
The tired humorist stood outside with the
other people just as though he wasn't rich
enough to own horse car of his own.
The driver was also tired, but not being
humorist, he was likewise cross, and as
soon as he saw Criswell leaning eomforta-
bly, up against the brake handle, which al
ternate1y punched his back and iabbed his
ri5s, he roughly ordered him to 90 inside
and hang himself up by one of the unsat-
isfactory straps. As every strap was oceu-
pied by two men, so that water couldn't
have passed through the crowd at the door
Criswen said he didn't care to go inside,
that he wanted to stand on the platform
and look at the scenery.
The driver didn't attempt to smother his
wrath but ordered the journalist to go in
side or get off Still the man who laughed
and made other people laugh, refused to
go; and the driver, a big burly ruffian.
made ready to put him off, and matters be
gan to look serious. The other passen gers
frightened up with that expression of
cheerful and expectant interest they.
always assume when there is any
prospect of q fellow man getting
laundering good pounding, and
the Photographer began to think there was
every chance in the world for him to be
made horrible example of, and he hated
the prospect most awfully.
Something had to be sdone, and there
wasn't much time in which to do it. The
reporters training stood him in good stead.
One quick glance through the car showed
him there was no one present who knew
him.
Come, young man" shouted the driver,
inside, or I'll bounce you clear across the
street.
Criswell turned on him like flash.
My man" he said with dignified sever
ity; You don't know who you're talking
to, but I've had my eyes on you for sew
eral days, there are too many conductors
like you on this road, and we are losing
friends every day because our patrons are
are insulted by conductors who are
booIS anu IuIIlanS. NOW YOU can
check up and let me. off But you
need not take out the car tomorrow; there
will be man to take your place. When
you take the car in tonight, turn over your
bell-punch, and ask for your time. That
will settle it"
The humorist swung himself off the car
and walked away; the conductor staring at
him in blank, speeches. dismay, while the
passengers seemed to think that they had
just seen the president of the Cincinnati
Consolidated railroad company and they
cheerfully assured the conductor that he
had made the mistake of his life
Criswe1l had noted the face of the driver
and the number of the car and the next
day he waited for the same car, and when
he got on, sure enough there was new
conductor
Where's the conductor who was on
yesterday?' asked Crswell as he paid his
fare.
'-Oh," the new man said, springing his
bell-punch, 1.-THE blamed fool tried to
bounce director last night and he got
fired