Evening star., 1899-07-01
NOT GOOD AT SvvlNDLIN
This man hadn't paid his car fare.

This man hadn't paid his car fare.
He looked guilty. g
He had the nickel covered over In his
right hand bunthe conductor had overlook
ed him, and he was figuring on what he
was going to do about It.
Consequently, he locked guilty.
I've good mihh to hang on to this
Nickel" said he to himself trying to stare
straight ahead of him. He feared to meet
single eye. He felt positive that there
were a few of the passengers, anyhow, who
had noticed that he hadn't given up his
fare. b X
I've often had to hang onto these cars
by my eyebrows, and nary a sit-down the
entire route" he thought, putting the mat
ter to himself pro and con. ITS pretty
close to pay day, at that, and I've only got
tWenty-three cents to see me through.
Wonder If that fellow cycling me across the
way noticed that didn't cough up my
nickel? Blamed If he doesn't size me up
suspiciously. Maybe he's q director or
something on the line. That pretty girl
over there. too, seems to be giving me the
indlSnant stare, too, as much as to say,
hstta1. Mel thaa had to pay my fare and yon're no
The man opened up his evening news
paper. upside down, and pretended to read.
But his mind wasn't on his reading. He
noticed the conductor standing up forward
and looking him over
w onder If that conductor is next?' he
thought. Il can see him out of the tail Of
my my eye rubbernecking at me, and I'll bet
ing to figure who's the shy man. Guess I'd
better give him the nickel when he passes
this way. No, I won't seither-derned If I
viii! I'm not holding any job under the
street car line, and if they can't employ
conductors who know enough to get my
rare out Of me- whether l want to give it
up or not, why, It's up to them, that's ALL"
Fares, please!" said the conductor, pass
ing along to take up the nickels and tickets
of some new passengers.
Well, he didn't hold out his hand in my
direction" thought the man to himself land
l guess mes forgotten me, all right. But I'd
hate to have those folks across the way
think that I'm small about a nickel, and
every time glance that way catch them
looking me over as much as to say, Well,
of all the mean snoozersr''
a He moved over to make room for a stout
lady who embarked just then, and when
the conductor came along for her fare he
still had his nickel in his doubled-up hand
AS a matter Of fact. he thought, 'ft is
kind of a cheap trick to do any kind of an
outfft-even bloated street railway cor
pCration-out of a few coppers; but then
I'm done to a finish so often myself, and for
much bigger amounts, that when a chance
Ike this comes along for me to sort O. get
even on the game, why, don't think I
ought to pass 1t UP. Another thing is that
when a. conductor forgets to take up YOUR
fare he don't like to have you offer it to
him, because it shows him up as careless
and there might be spetter on the car
Nope, I guess I'll just slip this little old
nick into my pocket, and if those people
across the way don't like it they can lump
it, that's all!'
Whereupon he essayed to double up his
newspaper. and to- slip the nickel into the
change pocket with one and the same move
ment. He made fizzle of it. The nickel
slipped out of his grasp and rolled on to
the floor Of the car. The conductor stand
ing on the platform. saw. this, and in two
steps he was at the mans seat.
Did L get your fare, sir?' asked the con-
ductor. Kind o. thought / didn't"
NO. don't .belieEe you did, said the
man, looking red lin the face from stopping
over after the nickel and from other causes
Guess had this nickel out for you and
forgot to hand tito YOU
I'm clumsy swindler,' thought the
man, as he gotroff the car.