The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-29

q great deal of abuse, to which we are
expected to give courteous reply. /
make 1t rule when a passenger takes
me to task for something that occurs
In the line Of my duty not to etop for
a talk, but to push on to another part
Of the train. In this way avoid an
unpleasant discussion, probably hav-
ing to listen to catalogue Of the rail
road arrangements sins against the
public and being tortured into break.
ing the rules by using severe words.
The most disagreeable duty of con-
ductor is putting persons Off the train
who either cannot or will not pay their
fare. We must be careful to keep with.
In the law. and we can't always be
certain about it. The company don't
wish to be sued for damages In such
cases. and where they are it prefers
that the law be on their side.
was going through my train one
day when seedy looking man handed
me ticket on another road. re-
fused to take 1t. Of course Whereupon
he said that it had been sold to him
for a ticket on my road and | had got
20 take II. | insisted that IL he didn't
pay his fare would put him Off,
whereupon he paid to a station called
Arlington, saying that was all ! would
get for the whole distance, | replied
that he could ride to Arlington, and II
he didn't pay further he would be put
Off at Harkeryiile two miles beyond
Arlington.
The man was evidently playing some
game. disiked interfering with him
for fear he was intending to get put
Off that he might serve some purpose
by doing so. The fellow looked too
respectable for his clothes. However,
the rules were imperative. and when
he refused to pay Mt Arlington | de-
termlned to put him Off at Harker
Vile. When the train stopped | put
my arms under his and lifting him
out of his seat hustled him TO the
door Of the car got him through,
but when / endeavored 10 dislodge him
from the platform he put up an eff
feetive resistance. Getting his grip
on the guard rail-, be hung on till a
crowd. attracted by the noise, collect
ed, and my man, though struggling.
found breath to curse the railroad, its
management and all its. employees.
Finally pushed him off and signaled
the engineer to pull ahead. left the
man shaking his fst at me and VOW
ing vengeance Looking back from a
distance. saw him harangulng those
who had witnessed bis ejectment.
The matter troubled me- Iexpected
that be had some right to ride that
knew not of-that he would sue the
company and | would be discharged
for not having passed him. ordin-
arily, this would not have troubled
me, but in this case the man, though
shabbily dressed, did not look like a
tramp or man accustomed to force
himself as a deadhead
There had been an attempt to wreck
one Of the trains on the road which
had nearly succeeded. The train re-
ferred TO carried large sum Of money
for an express company, and IT was
supposed that II was to rob this car
that the attempt had been made.
Running a local train myself. | did not
take much interest in the matter. for
my train was not liable TO be wrecked
for purposes Of robbery.
One morning / was told that the
gang who had attempted to wreck
the train had been tracked by detec-
tives employed by the company. and
an arrest had been made. But where
they had been captured did not hear.
| was just starting out on my daily
trip and had no time to indulge my
curiosity by making inquiries about
the matter.
When | reached Arlington | was
handed a telegram from the superin-
tendent to stop my train just across q
bridge about a mile before | reached
Harkerville and take on party that
would be waiting there for me. made
the stop as ordered and found several
plain clothes police officers, armed
with rifles as well as reviewers, guard
ing a number of handcuffed prisoners.
The officers put their captives aboard
the train, and after starting | went |
into the car where they were to collect |
their fares. One of the officers, clap
ping hand on my shoulder, said
See here. conductor, q few weeks |
ago you put me off this train for not
paying my fare. was obliged to sub
init, but now propose to carry this
whole gang through without tickets or
money We're quite prepared for any
thing that may happen.
The man spoke banteringly. looked /
at his face and it seemed familiar. |
Then 1t dawned upon me that he was
the seedy passenger with whom had
had the scuflle
Don't you remember mel" he asked,
smiling.
Il think / do"
You should. You helped me get in
with these gentlemen with bracelets
on their wrists. They are the men
who tried to wreck the express some
time ago, They were tracked TO Har-
kerville. and the company sent me
there TO gain their confidence. | saw
no better way for an introduction than
to get put off the train. | stayed awhile
In Harkeryillp cursing Won and the |