The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-31
HIS SIGNS DIDN'T WORK.
An Innocent Youth Meets the Wrong
Conductor.

An Innocent Youth Meets the Wrong
Conductor.
"How is It you don't have to pay any
fare?" asked an unsophisticated youth
of prominent employee in the Michi-
gan Central offices in Detroit as the
two came in from Dearborn on one OF
the company's trains the other morn
ing. The boy from the farm had sew
eral times noticed the railroad man on
| the train and always observed that the
conductor nodded pleasantly, but never
asked him for a ticket. His pastoral
curiosity was aroused and he decided
to learn why such apparent favors
were shown.
"Why, am a Mason" answered the
man who held pass, in a confidential
manner.
Gosh! It's a good thing to be a
Mason, isn't it? Saves lot of fare, Ell?
Wish l was one."
"Well, you seem to be a pretty de-
cent sort Of fellow and don't mind
putting you on SO that you will be able
: to ride free, too," said the railroad
man. "Of course" he added in an I'M
dertone, "it's against the rules of Ma
i sonry to divulge the secrets, but l
guess you won't give me away"
The youth pledged his honor that he
would keep 1t secret till death.
"All right, then, the next time you
come in"
I'm coming to Detroit tomorrow
morning." broke in the guillible in
dividual, his face radiant with joy.
THAT so? Well, when the conduc-
tor asks you for your ticket just raise
your right arm to the shoulder, point
your thumb straight behind you and
wink the right eye slyly. He will just
pass on" The tip" was illustrated by
the joker and the victim practiced 1t
all the way into the city and innumer-
able times after he arrived.
The following morning the newly
made Mason was one Of the first to
board the incoming train at Dearborn.
| The man with the pass saw him. The
| conductor was called to one side and
put next"
Here's the fare for that chap" said
the perpetrator of the joke; 80 you
will not get into trouble over It"
When the train started the young
man occupied a seat in the forward
coach and the railroad man sat in the
rear of the same car. Presently the
door opened and the conductor shouted
"Tickets!"
The youth Strengthened up and pre-
pared himself. The man in charge Of
the train was soon at the side OF the
Mason" He held out his hand for the
fellows ticket and up went the latter's
right arm like lever and he winked.
The conductor turned abruptly to a
passenger across the aisle to hide the
smile that wreathed his features. The
"Mason's" bosom swelled, with salts
! faction. The man with the pass drew
his morning paper before his face and
yainly endeavored to repress a burst
Of laughter.
In the evening the two took the
train at the Michigan Central depot.
This time the youth took seat near
the door and his instructor" was at
the other end of the car. There was a
different conductor on and the railroad
man knew there would be fun.
The ticket puncher asked the young
man for his transportation as soon as
he entered the coach Again the arm
shot over the shoulder and he winked
as before.
| 81 want your ticket" rather petu-
lantly said the conductor.
The same tactics on the part Of the
mason" were gone through again, he
believing that the man of the punch
did not detect the sign"
Whats the matter with you; are
you crazy?" angrily asked the train
man.
Pm Mason" answered the youth,
and the passengers nearby smiled au-
dibly.
Il don't give a d--n what you are;
you'll pay your fare or get off this
train"
The office man was in a paroxyism
of laughter at the other end, but the
conductors face was flushed with an.
ger.
The youth had not a cent, and he sc
Informed the man with the colored Ian.
tern. There was a violent Jerking Of
| nd ha troi IN nor mo n q
sudden stop four miles from Dearborn
The Mason" was assisted, none toe
gently, to the ties below, and walked
the remainder of the distance to his
home, taking a short cut through the
fields.
The next evening he and the railroad
man met on the street at Dearborn.
THAT was a nice job you put up or
me-" sheepshly said the youth.
why, what was the matter?" asked
the man who had witnessed the vert
amusing incident of the night before
1.-THE conductor put me off the trair
. and had to walk four miles," he an
swered
"Thats funny; what did you do?"
81 did as you told me and it went al
right going in, but it wouldn't worl
coming back; there was new maj
on"
Are you sure you made no mis-
take?"
II did just the same both times; my
right arm and wink"
"Ah, now see. You should hav'
used your left arm and left eye coming
back. Then, again, he might not hay'
been a Mason"