Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-03-05
A Would Be
 Deo1lbead.

lOrlglndl.J
 A railroad conductcr's life is hard enough anyway, but when 1t comes to making a policeman of himself. in put ting off unruly passengers or those who won't pay, it's the meanest job in i the world. But when conductor finds that in putting a man off the train he's been making fool of himself it's meaner than the meanest job in the world. Besides, there are robberies in which any one of the train force is lla- ble to get bullet through him.
 I'd narrowly escaped death when my train was robbed back in the nine ties and on my next trip was nightly disgruntled when on asking seedy looking man for his ticket he offered me dirty old pasteboard that hadn't been good for year. told him 1t wouldn't do and asked him to pay his fare. At first he said he hadn't any money, but presently felt in his pock- cts and drew out some loose change. just enough to take him to way sta ton about half the distance he wanted to go. Of course I was obliged to car ry him as far as he could pay, but expected to have trouble with him sooner or later, and l did. As We nearcd the station to which he had paid his way said to him:
 
 Il want to know If you're going to pay for the rest of your ride. If you're not, want you to get off here. won't put you off in n wilderness. prefer to do so at station"
 "'rhe ticket l showed you is good" he said, "and you've no right to re- fuse it. I'm going to stay aboard this train"
 We were slowing up for the station, and as soon as we stopped 1 tackled him. He didn't resist till 1 got him on to the car platform. where half a dozen countrymen at the station could see us, but then he put up a strong fight. He held on to the rail with one hand and pummeled me with the other. It oc- cured to me that he was aiming to excite the sympathy of the men look ing on and if didn't want their in- terference I'd better do my work pretty quick. l made two or three terrific jerks and got him down on to the lower step of the car, and then he got a new grip. and l had hard tussle to get him any farther. When l finally flung him on 10 the station platform my uniform coat was torn to shreds, my cap was knocked down over my eyes and my nose was bleeding.
 By this time the onlookers began to take notice of 'what was going on. They were most of them bad look ing lot Indeed, it was suspected that the town had harbored the men who had robbed my train. It was plain that they sympathiZed with the man who wouldn't pay his fare and were about 10 make a combined rush for me when I pulled the rope and the train started on. looked back to see my passenger angrily pointing to me as If exciting them to avenge him.
 On my return trip, preferring not to have any more scrambles, as we pass ed the station where l had had the trouble l kept dark. for l fully expect ed that my deadbeat would be there with supports to give me thrashing. I was disappointed. however, for there was no one at the station except the agent and passenger or two to board the train. l questioned them about my man. and they said the townspeople had befriended him, that he was still there and showed no signs of leaving.
 In few days was surprised to get a note from the superintendent ex- pressing regret at the trouble l had had and inclosing q check as compen- sation. had made no report of the matter and was at a loss to know who had told him of 1t.
 When several of the men who had robbed my train were arrested some five or six weeks later my episode with the deadhead had pretty much passed out of my mind, though by no means out of my remembrance It turned DuJ dS SuSIlINlCh, bhC tobptAS he'i been harbored in the town where had put him off and that several of them lived there These were the ones ar- rested. They woke up one fine morn- ing. having slept the night, in fancied security, to be taken in custody by a police force sent out by special train that arrived at dawn. Their arrest led to the arrest of others, and great deal | of the plunder they had taken was re- covered.
 One day l was in the general offices of the company attending to some busi- ness connected with my duties when 1 the door of the general managers pri- ! vate office opened and man came out whose face was familiar to me. He was well dressed and presented alto gether an appearance of prosperity. Seeing me, he walked up to me with outstretched hand and peculiar smile 1 on his face.
 q can't place you," said, looking at him inquiringly.
 Cant you? You ought to remember me You put me off your train one day | e.. ,,n+ ,or;,or ,,,v fapo