The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-17
a Would Be
Deadbead.


-original.I
A railroad conductors life is hard
enough anyway, but when 1t comes to
making a policeman Of himself, in put
ting. of unruly passengers or those
who won't pay, It's the meanest job in
theworld But when a conductor finds
that in putting a man of the train he's
been making fool Of himself It's
mcaner than the meanest job In the
world Besides, there are robberies in
which any one Of the train force is LA
Bile 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 a dirty old pasteboard that hadn't
been good for a year told him Il
wouldn't do aud asked him to pay his
fare. At frst be said be hadn't any
money, but presently felt ii bis peck
cts and drew out some loose change,
Just enough to take him 10 i way sta
tlon about half the distance he wanted
to go, OF course was obliged to car
RI him as Car as az could pay, but !
expected 70 have trouble with him
sooner Or later, and ! did. AS we
neared the station to which be had
paid his way said 70 him.
II want TO know If you're going toI
pay for the rest Of yoar ride. If you're
not, / want You 20 get off here. won't
put you of In u wilderness. ! prefer
70 dc SO at a station
"The ticket | showed you Is good,
he said. 'aad you've no right to re-
fuse it I'm going 10 stay aboard this
TRIM
We were slowing up for the station, !
and as soon is we stopped ] tackled
him. he didn't resist TIL / got him on
to the car platform, where half a dozen
eountfymen at the station could see US,
but then be put UP a strong fight He
held on to tie raiswith enc hand and
pummeled me with the other. 1t oc
Cured to me that he was aiming to
excite the sympathy Of the men look
ing on and II / didn't want their in
reference I'd bctter do my work pretty
quick. I made two or three terrific
jerks and got him down on to the
lower step DC the car and then be got
d new grip, AHA | had q hard tussle to
get him any farther. When ! finally
dung him on to the station PLATFORM
my uniform cont 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 we're most Of them bad look
ing lot Indeed, II was suspected that
the town had harbored the men who
had robbed my train. 1t was plain
that they sympathized with the man
who wouldn't pay his fare and were
aboutto make n combined rush for ms
when pulled the rope and the train
started on looked back to see my
passenger angrily pointing TO me as
II exciting them to ayenge him.
On my return trip, preferring not 4
have any moro scrainbles, as we pass
ed the station where had had the
trouble l kept dark, for | fully expect
ed that my deadbeat would be there
with supports to give me thraahlng
| was disappointed, however for there
was no one at the station except the
agent and a passenger or two to board
The train / questioned them about my
man, aud they said the toYnspeople
had befriended him, that he was still
here and showed no signs OF leaving.
In few days ! was surprised to get
/ note from the superintendent eya
pressing regret at the trouble I had
had and inclosing a check as eompen-
iation had made no report Of the
natter and was Mt loss to know who I
lad told him Of It.
When several of the men who had
obbed my frain were arrested some
I've or six weeks later my episode with /
he deadhead had pretty much passed
iut Of my mind. though by no means
MT Of my remembrance. It turned
,Ct thar. as suspected. the robbers had
leen harbored in the town where I had
nut him of and that several Of them
Ivcd there. These We're the ones ar.
ested. They woke up one fine morn
ng, having slept the night in fancied i
ecurits to be taken n custody by 4 e
olice force sent out by special train {
hat arrived q dawn. Their arrest led
0 the arrest pf others. and a great deal b