Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-11-08
BETTER PAY AS YOU GO.
That Is a Motto Some Car Conducto
Would Like to See I'm Hats.

That Is a Motto Some Car Conductors
Would Like To See I'm Hats.
The impression has prevailed that
a street car conductors wages and
little perquisites all belong in the
profit column of the ledger. That Is
a delusion l had labored under for
years. 1t has been dispelled. Car
conductors have their losses just as
they have their ~squabbles with irate
passengers. They dread the former
most. / stood ON the rear platform
of a Madison venue surface a that
went bowling uptownward through
the Park avenue tunnel
The conductor got communicative
after we had passed the Grand Cen
trail depot, where we stopped to pick
up an aristocratic young couple who
crowded into the ar. The young
woman obtained a seat. Her escort
stood in front of her, now and again
leaning forward with some remark,
in all probability about their last the
alter party or the call they intended
making that afternoon.
do you see that Teller that just
got on with that girlg' said the con
ductor to- me in an undertone.
Yes"
"Well he owes me 10 cents. For
seven street," the conductor yelled.
And then the car came to a stop, and
we babe good day to an elderly WON
an. Then the bell strap was yanked,
and the al resumed its jolting.
He owes you 10 centsl How's
that9"
We'll, he got on one day about
five weeks ago-Ithink it was TWEEN
ty-third street. He had a mighty
pretty girl with him that day too.
He hands me a SO bill and sez,
'Ah, I'm sowy, conductah, but, ah,
Idon't happen TO have anything small
lah.' Well 1 sez, L can't change
that and he SEE, 'Cawn't yehg' and /
seq, Nav
well, of course l couldn't put 'em
off, so he seq, III take your numbah,
conductah, and send you the money
with a little interest, you know
Well, i haven't got the principal, let
alone the interest. And that's five
weeks ago"
'Well. he has probably forgotten
it." / remarked soothingly.
''Oh, he hasi Well, some day,
when / ketch him without a girl, I'll
just give that fellow a brace for the
10 cents. i know what he'll do. He'll
say I've got the wrong man But /
won't have just the same, and Ill get
the 10 cents.
do we have many cases of that
kindY You betcher life we do. Gosh!
They promise tn send us the money
to the stables, or to our homes, or
anywhere else. You'd think they
We're goin tosend district messengers
with it. That's when they think
they've got to get off and walk. They
always take out a little ivory memo
randum book and gold OF silver pen
ell, ask our number, then look two or
three times at u badges, scribble it
down and-well, that's the last. I'll
bet | average 40 cents a day of losses
that way. have to make good the
money, but it's mighty seldom any
body makes good to me-"
Then why don'tyou insist ON col
lectingt'
''Insistl Why, l can't put 'em off,
can |, especially when a man has his
wife or girl with himl If l take a
bill and keep it while the "a goes
five blocks, and I'm trying to get
enough change together, the man
will eye me snspiciously and then
say: You haven't forgotten, have
your I'm the man that gave you the
81 bill oh, this is IA great business
shall | stop for your
"No,"I replied and hoped Off
New York Herald.