Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-08-15

A MODERN PIRATE.
0sv An DGssesasnaao Lsuaoa CaAhy Was
yssisA OF q Ms Farsa
The beauty about the following no
cital u that e i strictly true, although,
doubtless, yod Won't believe il.
I do not intend to mention any Of the
localities in London where the action
Of the piece took place, because I am
not q al sure whether my conduct in
the affair may not have placed me
within the reach Of the law. and IS I
am atpresent about the only newspaper
man in London who has not been in
Jail, I want to remain unique.
may say in explanation to those who
do not know London that there are two
great bus companies in the metropolis
the London Road Car Company, which
Is the newest, and the London General
Omnibus Company. which is the oldest.
Besides these regular vehicles there are
number of private buses. Now, -
there appears to be no law regulating
bus fares, the private bus seems 10 be
able to charge what it likes and it
does.
Fares in London are . we'll known
quantity and the man who takes . bus
doesn't look very closely at the outside
of it except to see where it is going.
These private buses, which are gener.
ally known Is pirates, fix themselves up
in such way as to deceive the eye even
of Q man who is looking for them. For
instance: Where the London General
Omnibus Company has the sign ~Lon-
don General Omnibus Company" the
pirate bus, which runs to the postofice,
will have in exactly the same space the
words London General" then in
small letters Postofice," which the
same Is calculated to deceive the very
elect.
by mistake I got on one Of these
pirate buses the other day, and until
came near to the street at which I in
tended to get off I did not recognize
the fact. The buss was crowded full,
both inside and out, and took the last
seat that was vacant on top. Just be-
fore coming to my street the conductor
mounted the top of the bus for fares. I
rendered him penny, which was the
correct fare.
"Twopence, please" said the con-
ductor.
Il got on at Whatyoucallit Circus"
I said.
II know you did," was the answer;
*the fare is twopence."
Nonsense" answered, @the fare is
penny from Whatyoucallit Circus
down to Blank street.
Eyes, perhaps that is so, replied the
conductor blandly, @but this is pri-
vate bus and the fare is twopence.
@Then won't pay it," I said At
words ~private bus" every man on the
top of the omnibus looked up and saw
that he was in for it.
You will have to pay it" answered
the conductor, cor I'll summon you"
At this point the man who sat beside
me showed q penny into my hand and
whispered, For Heavens sake, pay
him, but go up this side street and
make him follow you. He'll follow you
and call policeman, then after little |
parley you can pay him."
I didn't take the penny, but I twigged
what was up and so said, AL right, |
I'll try and lead him off the course"
With that I. pushed my way past the |
walked down the steps and |
jumped Off He promptly stopped the |
bus, followed down the steps and came
after me. l walked up side street,
while he cast his eye up and down for q I
policeman.
@Look here" he said, "you have to
pay that penny or give me your name
and address"
Il will do neither one nor the other"
I answered.
With that he ran across the street to |
where policeman was standing, and
then both of them came towards me. I
stopped. We were now out of sight of
the bus, for the street took turn after
it left the main throughfare.
whats the trouble" said the police
man.
@The trouble is this" I answered, Il
got on at Whatyoucallit Circus, and the
fare is penny down to Blank street.
have only come half the distance and
be wants to charge double fare"
1T is private bus" said the con-
ductor.
Cor pirate"
pirate or not" cried the conductor,
my fares tuppence, and I want his
name and address"
"Well, " said the policeman, blandly.
4 think you had better pay it. You
zee, there was . case only the other
week before the magistrate about that.
md the man had to pay his fare and the
costs, too"
"Of course he had" said the con-
luctor. @It1l cost him FL"
@Oh, very WELL" answered, eff that
8 the policeman's decision, then it Is all
light I have paid you one penny al
.eady, now here Is another, and I ask
he policeman to see that it Is paid. To
how that it isn't 10 save penny have