National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-12
A LIE For A NICKEL.
The Street Car Conductor Makes Some Re-
marks About Certain Passengers.

man in a seersucker suit, and carrying
white cotton umbrella, was whispering to the
conductor when the reporter boarded the car
| at Twelfth street yesterday.
Len my change home, you know. I'll pay
you tomorrow" was what the man was whis-
pering.
Cant help Il, sir, you're into me for two
fares now" said the conductor.
The man looked surprised, and then began
an investigation of his pockets The result
was not satisfactory, however, and he whis
pered to the conductor again. Thr conductor
said mo In an emphatic tone.
ooh, well, It's all right, you know Wish
dropped OIL the car.
DO you have many like that2' asked the
reporter.
''Do have nancy? We'll, I should say so.
Ihat fellers u beat Of the worst kind. He'll
taEe the next car and pay his fire, and maybe
nc IL get on my car tomorrow and try to work
inc same dodge" Then the conductor pulled
the bell strap after an old lady had got on.
where was II Oh, yes; about them beats"
he continued. 'Why one day man got on
my cur, aud told an acquaintance while | was
standing by how nicely he had beat n conduc-
tor. The next day he got on my car and be-
gan pleading the len act. / told him of the
conversation had overheard, and he paid his
fare"
DAY before yesterday" said the conductor
as he assisted three little girls on and told the
transfer agent at Seventh street all right
three women got on my car They took seats
inside and began to talk and when went IN
70 collect fares they began searching their
pockets and satehels for their tickets or nickels
Ihoy found none, and one Of them said, oh,
All right conductor Pli pny. you tomorrow
But, say, that didn't go, II didn't, and / told
them they'd either have to pay or get off.
Well, they hunted and hunted, and finally
one of them found roll of bills In her hand.
kerchief and paid the fare. She said she had
forgot that She had brought any money with
her. tell you some people are naturally beats
Now these women Just wanted TO beat me and
lcan't stand 1t, cause only get 81 a day."
"Weii, you see I have to punch my slip for
every passenger, and I am responsible for
every punch. II there's any short ] have to
make up for It, and If punched for every per-
manned of my salary Why one day counted
up thirty-seven persons who asked me to
punch for them and promised to pay to.mor-
row, but tomorrow never comes with them,
II don't There are some people have loaned
ticket, but after l had found them out you
any more"
"A funny thing occurred on my car Sun.
day. and the conductor smiled as three peO-
| pie got off at the capitol. "When l got to
seventeenth street, on my up-trip, there were
seven widders in my car, and all were sitting
on one side. That one, the sunny side. / went
| in and canvassed the crowd, and but four of
them had their fares. The other three didn't
have cent, but one of the four paid their
fares Not one of them knew the other, and l
| doubt If the one who paid the fares got her
money back, but / don't care, cause
j got my fares. Well, say Tiers about
a thousand people ride on this road day,
and 900 ofthem are busy while waiting for n car
thinking up some schemeto beat the conductors.
| They hope that they won't be noticed getting
| on the car but they're off there, cause n con-
ductor watches, and its seldom that n fare
escapes him." Then the conductor said he
was on time, and bit off u section his tobacco
plug. ~ .'.-.