The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-16
A CHEEKY BOOK-AGENT.
A Conductor Tells How He Put Him Off In
the Mud.

A Conductor Tells How He Put Him Off in
the Mud.
"No one knows, except conductor,
the ways attempted by some people to
deadhead their way on train," said a
ticket-puncher, as he handed back the
reporter the remainder of a pass.
The reporter asked what made the con-
ductor drop such an insinuation just
then.
so, some people are cheeky, and will
do their best to beat you. A conductor
is expected to have about twice as many
eyes and ears as ordinary people. He is
expected to know personally or in an in
direct way every dead-head between New
York City and the Golden Gate. II a
particular friend of the superintendent,
general passenger agent, and director,
or even down to head train dispatcher,
comes along the conductor is asked to
pass Mr.. So-andSo on account of another
Mr.. So-and-So. This dead-beat business
becomes a well-worn chestnut in the
course of time. One-half of these I'M
knoWns, but all-important, would-be free
riders never have any pass. They will
come in, and, with as much assurance
as cheek will warrant, ask to be passed.
Then, again, there are others who are
intimately acquainted with the conduc-
tor, and, of course, ask to be dead
headed. We never do this kind of bust
ness don't work in any case, but then it
is veritable nuisance which ought to
be abolished. Why, you would be aston
ished at the methods resorted to by some
fellows who are professional dead
heads
81 remember not long ago striking a
cheeky book agent. He boarded the
train, and was dressed in the height of
style, silk tile and all. 1t was a dark
rainy night and the mud was fearful
When came to Mr.. Book Agent he went
into his spacious pocket-book-his ticket
seemed to have slipped out. He fun bled
through-a lot of wellworn papers, blank
receipts, but no ticket could be found.
Finally looking up, he said: Just wait
moment: l have placed it in my va
lise.' Slowly be opened the big valise
filled with circulars, dirty linen and the
other necessary outfit of book vender.
WOut tuIOuSu GlS Grdlu anu came DaCk
to the bewildered agent, who was still
overhauling some back number papers
in search of something he did not have.
Ticket, please said. L have lost it,
said he, and can not find it. Pay your
fare, then,' said /. The truth was he
was busted and hadn't cent. His sta.
ton was several miles ahead of us, and
as there was no regular stopping place
between where he got on and where he
expected to get off he would make his
lost ticket racket work like charm.
The conductor, he thought, would not
stop the train to put a gentleman off in
the rain and mud. He was fooled. Pretty
soon we came to water station out in a
big field where the mud was shoe-top
deep. 1t was raining torrents, and our
unfortunate passenger had no umbrella.
When the train came to a standstill I
requested him to move out. A scene
followed and trouble was threatened.
1t was disgrace he thought to put a
gentleman off in the rain. But he went
out into the dark rain and mud. He
was elegantly dressed, and his clothes
must have been ruined before he found
shelter. "-Cincinnati Times-Star.