The Yellowstone journal., 1894-11-30
HOW HE RODE FREE.
HE BEAT AN EASTERN RAILWAY OUT
OF $50.


I:orc IAN q Year--A Simple scheme
Which ;eauired Only Nerve and Self
Control Tricks of Conductors.
There j. a we'll settled belief ON the
part Of most people that the conductors
On the steam railroads have an intuitive
knowledge of the persons who have not
paid their fares, and that, while they
may occasionally pass a man without
taking up his ticket so phenomenal is
the memory of the average conductor
and so well does he remember faces
that it is almost impossible to deceive
him. While this may sometimes be
true, as a rule it is the passenger him
self who gives the cue for the conduct
or's action. The man who deliberately
attempts to ovade the payment of fare
in nine cases out of ten will by his looks
and action say to the conductor, Il have
not paid my fare, and | don't intend
to-" Some conductors with short mem
ories and distrust of their abilities for
detecting the frauds will continuously
call out the word tickets" as they pass
through the cars, where many changes
are taking place between stations, at
the same time extending their hand to-
ward each seat. The man who has not
paid feels that this is direct appeal
made to iniself and responds according
IL. But If this ruse does not succeed in
making the would be beat" deliver up
his ticket il SD far changes his face and
demeanor that he often shows conscious
So t,al-ar - fhan tatn u
demanded.
1t sometimes happens, however, that
even all the tricks and artitices of the
conductor will fail, and a man will sue
ceed daily i'll evading payment Of his
fare, not merely for weeks, but for
months. A remarkable case of this kind
was recently observed on the Fitchburg
railroad. For Iore than a year man
employed in one IF the large wholesale
houses in this city has been taking a
train from one of TIE suburban stations,
and acquaintance who rode on the
same car were surprised TO see that he
never paid fare.
At first il was thought that he might
have a pass. which the conductor, tnow-
ing him well, did not require him TO
show. But il was learned that he al
ways paid his fare when coming from
Boston, when the conductor Is sure 10
demand fare from every person ON the
train Then came the suggestion that
he had an understanding with the con-
ductor of the train on which he rode
when going TO Boston. But it was
found that when the conductor was
changed TO another train and a stranger
took his place he also failed to collect
fare from the man.
So for weeks the man was watched
with much curiosity by the passengers
who knew Of his success and were curl
ous to see how long it would continue.
They saw that he invariably got ON the
train on the left hand side, 50 that he
could not be- observed by the conductor,
who stood On the station platform. As
soon as he entered the car he took one OF
the many upoccupicd seats next to the
window and lost no time in becoming
deeply absorbed in the contents of a
morning paper. When the conductor
came through the train to collect fares
from the passengers who got in at this
station, this man, instead of ignoring
his presence, as most men similarly sit
uated would have done, gave a rapid
glance from his paper, looking the Off
cial squaIely in the eye, and resumed
his reading with just the suggestion of
impatience at the interruption. The re-
proof conveyed in that glance, carrying
with il positive assurance that there
was no disposition to evade anything,
was so emphatic and pronounced that II
left no doubt in the mind of the con-
ductor, if he had any before, that the
passenger had got on the train at an
other station and bad paid his fare to
Boston. There was something about
the mans appearance as well as his ac-
tions that assisted in the keeping up of
this deception. He bore all the evidence
of q substantial, honest business man OF
middle age, and far above evading pay
ment of a 3 cent fare. But ii was singu-
lar that day after day a sharp and dis
eliminating conductor should be SO cas-
lily deceived, and apparently against his
own convictions, for on several occa-
sions he reached for a fare, but was
checked in his advances by that re-
proachful look with which he was con-
fronted.
But the end came at last, ON that
train at least. Either the conductor
suspicious were SO completely aroused
that he determined to satisfy himself
whether he WIS being imposed upon. On
else some one had called his attention tc
the deceit practiced, for one morning he
reached out his hand for the fare, but
received only the swift and impatient
glance. This did not satisfy him, fol
when the man returned to the perusal OF
his paper he was tapped ON the shoulder
and his fare demanded in no uncertain
terms. A communication ticket was re
luctantly produced, punched without
comment and returned TO tho pocket
whence it was taken. The next morning
the passengers watched curiously fol
the next move in the game, but the mar
had evidently given up the contest on
that train. for he has not been seen on