The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-24
A DEADHEAD ACTOR
AN INGENIOUS SCHEME THAT TOOK
HIM TO NEW YORK.

q Very Blight EeAlOR-Ihs Conductor
Was FrS& Scared azd Thea Won Over
Il rods frs1 class from Omaha 70 New
York Ei5hoKs E pas5zRa without payinga
dollar fox railway fare This statement
was made ne osSas afternoon By n well
known ACTOR. who With a numbsr OF other
players sat in q cool resort just OF the
'sRiafte." They were falling each other
wonderful stories of their early profes-
sioraI lives, when all were members Of
nino1 companies, played leading parts and
considered themselves great livery one
of them had been stranded GG some time or
other, and each had known what 1t meant
to be busted and long way from home.
Several stories had been told OF how the
narrators accomplished their return 10
New York after thei- companies had been
disbanded in some far western city, leav-
ing them pennilsss and IiendIess. NatUr-
ally they were curious to know how their
friend who made the statement that he
had travelled free from Omaha to New
York succeeded in doing 50, and he told
them how.
1T was sixteen years ago, he said, that
I was with company that was stranded in
Omaha None Of Us had any money, and
we were all anxious 70 get back TO New
York. where only was there hope Of get
ting another engagement. Those who had
friends in the east sent for and secured
remittances by telegraph, while others
who had none borrowed IL the could, or
pawned their valuables for enough 70 take
them through. l made up my mind that l
would get along without borrowing or
asking for help from home II took me
couple Of days TO perfect q scheme for
travelling 10 New York, and on the day l
determined TO put it in operation had
only s. to my name
STARTS WITH But TWO DOLLARS.
II decided to board the night express for
the east and try the scheme / had studied
out. 1t cost me fifty cents to cross the
United States transfer bridge over the Mis-
souri, river TO Council Bluffs. It was dusk
when boarded a Rock Island train for
the east. had with me only valise, hay-
ing left my, trunks 10 be forwarded by ex-
press Going into the last of the coaches l
proceeded 10 make myself comfortable
Putting on a soft travelling hat | placed in
the band what appeared to be d long dis
lance ticket made Of an old calendar, and
so folded as TO resemble the sectional tickets
used then as now.
There were several other passengers in
the car. and scraped an acquaintance
with three-or four Of them long before the
train started, being careful that they
should notice the tickeosin my hat. With
an old gentleman who occupied the seat
in front of med becafneextremely friendly,
and Us be was near sighted | showed him
the folded ticket in my hntand commented
on the cum bersoneness of long distance
tickets in general Justy before the train
started Iopened the window, lad my head
upon my arms, which were folded on the
window sill, and waited for the conductor,
meanwhile feigning sleep. Ny left arm
held the hat upon my head in such a way
that a forward motion Of the arm would
cause it to fall off.
THE train was running fast, and the
night was dark when the cry of tickets
announced the coming of the conductor.
l trembled as the critical moment ap-
preached. for the failure Of the scheme
meant serious consequences to me. How
ever, l steadied myself, and when the con
ductor reached my seat was apparently
sound asleep. did not hear his emphatic
call of 'ticketsr nor feel him gently touch
nv shoulder. Then ne shook me a little,
and still did not move. Becoming i'm
patient he gave me quite an energetic
shake, whereupOn | started up, threw my
left arm forward, and just as had calcu-
lated, out Of the window few my hat.
rubbed my eyes sleepily, as If l did not
know what had happened, and then began
fumbling in my pockets for my ticket
Suddenly I appeared to realize that my
hat was gone.
TIE TRICK WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.
Where's my hats ! cried; my ticket
to New York Is in my hat
Your hat.fen out Of the window said
the conductor, but l didn't see any ticket
in the band. Hurry up and search your
pockets
4 know it was in my hat, l declared,
and then began to scold because he had
shaken me 50 hard as 70 throw my hat out
of the window At this point the passen-
gers noticed what was going on, and the
old gentleman IN front kindly came TO my
assistance. He had seen the ticket in my
hat. and knew it was long distance ticket
from the Why it was folded. Three other
/ passengers had noticed my ticket and were
/ kind enough to tell the conductor So
/ continued to scoId and 70 beranan the loss
/ Of nv hat and ticket The conductor
/ didn't feel quite cure yet that was honest
( and tried to bluff me by threatening 70 put
( me of The train IL / failed TO produce q
ticket or pay my fare
/ You da-pto try it, said I, and you'll
! deeply regret It. l can prove by the agent
/ at Omaha that I bought the ticket, anc
/ when | get 70 Chicago | intend 10 report
this affair and demand ticket 20 New
+ York Perhaps your FUdeUess IN shaking
/ me 50 hard may get you into trouble, Of
F they may tske the price Of the ticket (
/ New York ont Of your wages
/ 'Pu see You again when ] finish TIT
train. said the conductor, mildly, as n
/ left me 70 continue his work In fe"
! minutes ne came in again and sat down II
( the seat with me TO ask few questions
{ l concealed my identity aTid told sTE57l'
story that / Tas on ny way home u New
York after brief vizdt 70 sGzns OInah'
friends. Finally be became convinced thai
7 was al rlzn4. and then told lie that b
. would not Ike - DO reported because ~
had had sozae trouble with The s1perIn
teudent. and anything uaEht be USED -
. pretext for las Gl.eh aEEs- To Xxx Tor
pass 20 New York vsoUld involve AZ ezPla
| nation zsbfea LuaEflt-syet EfTn INTO tTouhss
Would I bessa 6s[ed * be got TIE cou
ductar on he Pennsylvania ro.sd, thai is
the PirtsbuEg. Fort Wayne AID Cn1oasn
70 take me Ei1h Inn eza2 lass T7i'tflro1lsn
I reluctantly cueSeutsd, and vSi1za we s.
20 Chico 20 fGs-rao4e the peessSzTy sr-z2ls -
/ ments. and ozEs through Il Ese Style
sleeping issa Pullman the szoozs Trtgst. 3
oou-s1sr - sha frSend - The Rock Isls1i
/ couducspr ~ CsioaFo ny roCgh fT7sD
wanted g bHy NE a De~ hsf. bat IsT'''lta1
. allow tsaS Il are % TIE rziSsSay F-1seSA