Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-08
A GER TRICK.
How arramp travelled from omaha
10 New York on one Dollar.
W.

LNeN Apih AAiAltnI
During the winter of 1877 a large
number Of telegraph operators who had
gone out to Omaha from New York were
discharged owing TO lack OF woik.
Among them wes one, James DoOdy by
name. who had saved nothing and Was
totally unprepared for the catastrophe.
He awoke ono. morning with just one
dollar in his pocket HIS relatives lived
in New York, and how to get there was
question that severely agIiated James's
mind. Finally he evolved q scheme,
desperate but clever. he was well
dressed and looked rs neat snd gentle
manly as could be. Going into the
tieket-oliice he asked for ticket to New
York. The clerk took one out, stamped
10 and handed 1t over James looked at
1t n moment then suddenly remembered
an engagement to be kept before leaving
town and rushed out OF the Office
In this way he found out what a New
York ticket looked like. Next, ne Sc
cured an old calendar, printed on paper
somewhat resembling lOng-distance
sectional railway ticket, and from this he
cut snip OF proper width. This strip
be folded in such way as to represent
the various coupons, and with this all
surd counterfeit OF ticket he proposed
TO reach New York. Ii cost him nifty
cents to cross the United States transfer
bridge between Omaha and Council
Bluffs. 90 his capital vas Just that much
less. Jim reached Council Bfufis Just
before dark, with his satchel III hand,
and waited for the night express east
ward II was late. and before the start
Vas made the night became very dark.
While the train was waiting mt the sta
ton Jim boarded the last Of the passen-
GER coaches and prepared for his grand
bluff" Putting his silk hat IN q rack,
he took q soft travelling hat from his
satchcl. Ia the next seat were IN old
gentleman and ms wife. With tbls
couple Jim entered into conyersatIon,
and soon made himself very agreeable
ne casually mentioned that he wasgOlng
20 New York. aud made a great display
Of putting his "ticket' in the baud OF
his hat. remarking 80 the samo time that
long distance tickets were terribly bulky
affairs. Then be talked with other peo-
ple I'm the car, taking particular care that
everybody should observe the ticket IN
his hat band. When tue train started,
Jim opened the carwindow aud prepared
his trap. He assumed sleeVness, rested
his arm on the windOw-sill IN such
way that BE- could either hold has hat
ON or let it fall OF, and awaited develop
ments.
The train was running M HIGH rate
Of speed when the conductor came
through. liy that time Jim was fast
asleep. Tickets" called the conductor.
but jim did not hear, aud the official
could not sce she bogus ticket. for Jim
had turned his bat around SO that 10 was
on tine other side Of il. Then the con-
ductOr gave the sleeper shake, but it
failed 20 arouse him. Another shake
followed. and stiil another. when, MT last,
the conductor lost patience, aud Vhile
he exclaimed, "llefe, wake up, there,
geve Jim a rougher shake than
those preceding. Now was the crlu-
cal moment. jim jumped up, raising
his left arm as he did 70, which
caused his hat TO fall out Of the window.
Half-a.epily he began fumbling m has
pocket Tor "a ticket, when tho old lady IN
the next seat volunteered the Informa-
ton that jim had pat his ticket IN his
travelling hat. Jim looked around
for his hat, and now the kind old gem
tleman came TO the rescue by saying that
he had seen tie bat tall ont OF the win
dow. Jim then took q turn at the con
ductor. "COniound it !" he exclaimed
"my ticket for New York was in my hat.
Ifvou hadn't tried to shake the life ont 81
me my hat wouldn't have fallen of. III
report you for this when we get TO Chi
caCo.
The loud talking had attracted the at
tonti0n Of other passengers, several of
whom gathered around and volunteered
the information TINT they had seen JIm's
ticket. The conductor went on through
the train and reflected that perhaps ne
had been a lit,le rough. 4 little later he
came back aud sat down III the seat with
jim. jim told a straight story, and the
conductor finally acknowledged his error,
arologzed for it. begged Jim TO SOY no
thing abont IL, and when they got to Chi
caoo took jim out for dinner, gave him
q pint flash of whskev, a nov travelling
nat, n pass 10 New York, aud an intro
ducton 10 the Pullman-car conductor,
with all of which and some sandwiches
jim continued his Journey 10 New York
in style. lie arrived IN the city with
seventeen cents,