The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-14
THE REsoRMER AND CONDUCTOR

1t was cold morning and the Halsted
street car wasn't any too warm
The car was fairy wei filled with pas
sengers, and several were smoking on
| the front platform.
The conductor. having collected the
fares from the inside passengers, opened
the front doors and stood in the door
way, collecting from those on the out
side.
long. lean man. wearing a stern ex-
preston of countenance and high silk
hat, who was seated near the forward end
OF the car, reached over and pulled his
coat tail.
Conductor" he said. will you please
see what bOor is holding these doors wide
open and freezing everybody in the carp
What's that you say?" demanded the
conductor. turning and glowering at him.
Il say, will you be good enough to find
out who is keeping those doors open and
turning this car into an ice box. and viii
you kindly say to him for ne that | think
he's either a donkey or savage?"
The conductor finished collecting his
fares, closed the doors, and then turned
on him:
You're one of these thin-skinned dudes
I reckon he said. that can't stand A
breath of fresh air. You ought TO do
your travelling in a nice little carriage.
with hot brick for your feet.
hog car. where you'd feel more al home
Do you think it's any worse TO rob a man
and lock him in a refrigerator than 10
make him pay for riding in one?"
Think l ought 10 SO out and shut the
doors every time l want TO collect fare
on the platform, do you, and let the car
run itself?"
Want to argue the case little, do
you? Suppose you let the motorInan run
the car. That's his business. Couldn't
you watch the passengers inside through
windows in the doors as well as you can
when you hold the doors open and stand
with your back to the passengers
DO you think it's worth making all
this fuss about, you dandified, stuck
up"
L do, you wild Piute of the stock
yards. That's why I'm making a fuss
about it. A man ought TO have little
sense, even if he is a street car con-
ductor. l watched you do that thing four
times before l kicked. If you do it again
while I'm on this car I'll report you to
the president of the road. 1 happen TO
know him, and I've got your number"
Report and be
Better not say it. If you do I'll report
that besides being a boor and a surly
brute, you insult the patrons of this line
by swearing at them
I'D like TO meet you alone somewhere
I'd punch your head for you
Not more than once Your next for
ward movement would be in the direc-
ton of hospital
Just tell me who you are, and where 1
can find you, and I'll risk it, any way.
My name is Civilians. and you'll find
my address on this card. Office hours
from a. m. till 4 p. m, when I'm not
conducting a case in court. Find me at
my home in Lake Forest at any other
time. If you get into any kind Of trouble
and need a lawyer. by the way. 1 am
1T won't take much more from you 10
get into little trouble right here," eX-
claimed the conductor.
Then the long, lean passenger slowly
arose and pointed a long, lean finger at
him.
Hitherto, my friend" he said, Il have
been conducting this discussion with gen.
tleness and moderation, but if you hold
those doors open again to collect fares
from passengers on the front platform
while l am in this car I'll jerk YOU back
so quick you'll make a streak of smoke
in the atmosphere"
The conductor looked around the car,
but he saw no sympathy in any of the
faces.
And when two men got on the front
end of the car at the next crossing he
went outside TO collect their fares.-Chi-
cago Tribune.