Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-08-08
A DEADHEAD ACTOR.
AN INGENIOUS SCHEME THAT TOOK
HIM TO NEW YORK.

Very Bright Fellow-The Conductor
Was First Scared and Then Won Over.
III rode first class from Omaha to New
York without pass and without cqyinga
dollar for railway fare" This statement
was made the other afternoon by well
known actor, who with number of other
players sat in a cool resort just off the
"Rialto." They were telling each other
wonderful stories of their early profess
sional lives, when all were members of
minor companies played leading parts and
considered themselves great. Every one
of them had been stranded at some time or
other, and each had known what it meant
to be "busted and long way from home"
Several stories had been told of how the
narrators accomplished their return to
New York after their companies had been
disbanded in some far western city, leav-
ing them penniless and friendless. 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 so, and he told
them how.
ut was sixteen years ago, " he said, that
/ was with company that was stranded in
Omaha None of us had any money, and
we were all anxious to 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 to take
them through. | made up my mind that
would get along without borrowing or
asking for help from home 1t took me a
couple of days to perfect a scheme for
travelling to New York, and on the day
determined to put it in operation had
only 81 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. 1t was dusk
when boarded Rock Island train for
the east. had with me only "a valise, hav-
ing left my trunks to be forwarded by ex-
press Going into the last of the coaches
proceeded to make myself comfortable
Putting on a soft travelling hat placed in
the band what appeared to be long dis
tance ticket made of an old calendar, and
so folded as to resemble the sectional tickets
used then as now.
There We're 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 ticket in my hat With
an old gentleman who occupied the seat
in front of me became extremely friendly,
and as he was near sighted ! showed him
the folded ticket in my hat and commented
on the cumbersomeness of long distance
tickets in general. Just before the train
started opened the window, laid my head
upon my arms, which were folded on the
window sill, and waited for the conductor,
meanwhile feigning sleep. My left arm
held the hat upon my head in such way
that forward motion of the arm would
cause it to fall off.
1.-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 APP
e preached, for the failure of the scheme
meant serious consequences to me. How
ever, 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
my shoulder. Then he shook me little
and still did not move. Becoming i'm
/ patient he gave me quite an energetic
} shake, whereupon | started up, threw IN!
left arm forward, and just as had cacu
lated, out of the window flew my hat.
rubbed my eyes sleepily, as if | did no
know what had happened, and then begaI
fumbling in my pockets for my ticket
Suddenly appeared to realize that m!
hat was gone.
THE TRICK WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.
"'Where's my hat?' cried; my tickle
@ to New York is in my hat
II "'Your hat fell out of the window sale
e the conductor, but l didn't see any tickle
In ha han
pockets
Il know it was in my hat, declared
and then began to scold because he ha,
shaken me so hard as to throw my hat on
;, of the window. At this point the passen
gers noticed what was going on, and tn
old gentleman in front kindly came to m
assistance. He had seen the ticket in m
hat, and knew it was a long distance tickle
from the way it was folded. Three othe
passengers had noticed my ticket and wer
}, kind enough to tell the conductor so.
continued to scold and to bemoan the los
of my hat and ticket. The conducto
didn't feel quite sure yet that was honest
and tried to bluff me by threatening to pu
me off the train if | failed to produce
II ticket or pay my fare.
"'You dare to try it, said |, and you
deeply regret it, | can prove by the ager
at onldHd lndt L DouHHl lHt llChtt an
when get to Chicago | intend to repol
this affair and demand ticket to Ne
York. Perhaps your rudeness in shakin
r me SO hard may get you into trouble, c
= they may take the price of the ticket I
New York out of your wages.
"'I'll see you again when | finish I'll
train, said the conductor, mildly, as
left me to continue his work. In a fe
minutes he came in again and sat down
the seat with me to ask few question
. / concealed my identity and told simp
story that was on my way home to Ne
York after brief visit to some Omat
friends. Finally he became convinced thu
was all right, and then told me that
would not like to be reported because
had had some trouble with the superb
tendent, and anything might be used as
pretext for his discharge. To ask for
pass to New York would involve an eXpl
nation which might get him into trouble
"Would be satisfied if he got the co