Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-03-27
"A Would Be
Deodbedd.
[Original.1


making policeman of himself, in put
ting off unruly passengers Or those
who won't pay. it's the meanest job in
the world. But when a conductor finds
that in putting a man off the train he's
been making fool of himself It's
me9ner 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 ana OH 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 year. | told him it
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 Il way sta
ton ahout half the distance he wanted
to go. Or course | was Obliged to car
ry him as far rs he could pay. but
expected to have trouble with him
sooner or later, and Idid. IS we
ncared 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. Ii you re
not, want you to get off here. won't
put you off in Il wilderness prefer
10 do so at a station"
THE ticket | showed you is good"
he said. and you've no right to re-
fuse it. Pm going to stay aboard this
train"
We were slowing up for the station.
and as soon as we stopped | tackled
him. He didn't resist till got him on
to the car platform. where half Il dozen
countrymen at the station could see US,
but then he put up strong fight. He
held on to the rail with one 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 if | didn't want their in
reference Id better do my work pretty
quick. made two or three terrific
jerks and got him down on to the
lower step of the car, and then he got
new grip, and had hard tussle to
| get him any farther. When finally
flung him on to the station platform
my uniform coat was torn to shreIs,
my cap was knocked down over my
eyes aud my nose was bleeding.
By this time the onlookers began to
take notice of what was going on.
They were most of them a bad look
Ing lot. Indeed, it was suspected that
the town had harbored the men who
had robbed my train. 1t was plain
that they sympathlZed with the man
who wouldn't pay his fare and were
about to make a combined rush for me
when pulled the rope and the train
started on. | looked back to see my
passenger anglily pointing to me as
If exciting them TO avenge him.
On my return tip, preferring not tc
have any more scrambles, as we pass
eI the station where | had had the
trouble Kept dark. for fully expect
ed that my deadbeat would be there
with supports to give me thrashing
was disappointed, however, for there
was no one at the station except the
agent and passenger or two to boart
the train. questioned them about my
man. and they said the townspeoplt
had ~befriended him. that he was still
there an1 showed no signs of leaving.
In few days was surprised to ge
a note from the superintendent ex
pressing regret at the trouble | hat
had and inclosing check as compen
satlon. had made no report of the
matter and was at loss to know whC
had told him of it.
| When several of the men who haC
robbed my train were arrested som;
five or six weeks later my episode Will
the dcadhaad had pretty much passed
out Of my mind, though by no means
out of my remembrance. 1t turned
out that. as suspected, the robbers haf
been harbored in the town where hat
put him Off and that several Of then
lived there. These were the ones ar
rested. They woke up one fine morn
ing, having slept the night in fanciet
security, to be taken in custody by {
police force sent out by special trail
that arrived at dawn. Their arrest lei
to the arrest of others, and great dea
Of the plunder they had taken was re
covered.
One day was in the general Offices
of the company attending to some busi
ness connected with my duties wheI
the door Of the general managers pri
vate office opened and q man came ou
whose face was familiar to me. H,
was well dressed and presented alto
gether an appearance Of prosperity
Seeing me, he walked up to me will