New-York tribune., 1911-12-04
B. c. HUGHES RIDES FREE
GratifIes Old Grudge Against the
Street Railway System.
SIMPLICITY HIS METHOD
Two Conductors Mystified at
Conduct of Elderly Man on
Their Cars.

Yes. he has gone and done n again
Brian G. Hughes, Americas perpetual
Joker. Yesterday achieved one Of his great
est efforts in the iokesmith's lire. Inc
man who has paraded streetcar horses be
fore astute judges of horse flesh at Madl-
son Square Garden, on the ground that
they we're imported hackneys. THEREBY
winning the blue ribbon. the same indi-
vidual who palmed off an ordinary monsrei
cat at the cat show as an animal with
yard-long lneage-and got away with It
he II was who yesterday reached the zenith
Of his joking career He beat the street
car corporation ont Of a nickel.
Mr. Hughes has disclosed his secret Z"
the world that rides on elevated. surface
and subway lines. and he saws anybody IS
welcome 10 its use lie has tried II. ana
he knows it can be done.
A we'll dressed, elderly man, whose vel!
presence bespoke wealth, Yesterday noaru
ed a south-bound Third avenue surface cdr
up town. He paid his fare to the conauc-
tor and took his scat among other paSseh-
gers. taking the precaution irst to get
transfer. As the car approached 6lst street
he asked the conductor II his transfer WIS
good on the seth street .crosstoWn line
The conductor told him no transfers were
good on the crosstown line. and continued
collecting fares from other passengers. lie
did not see the unholy smile that fitted
across the elderly mans face. Others d.
and wondered.
At Eeth street the we'll dressed passenger
got off and waited for a westbound SSth
street car When II came he got IN ana
took a seat among twoscore other passen-
gers. The transfer he had received from
the Third avenue line conductor he held IN
his right hand. near the top Of the paper
he was reading.
The conductor. red headed and enerseuc'
advanced through the car, Demanding tares,
His flow Of nickels was suddenly stoppeu
when he reached the seat occupied 10y 'he
prosperous looking man.
Fares youse" he yelled in tho elderly
mans ear. while his horny hand was
showed under that PERSONS nose
Tha nassenger thus addressed calmly
continued reading his paper. Others on the
car. began N litter. and the conductor grew
rod in the face. Again he shrieked aloud
at the quietly reading passenger thls un'e
touching him on the shoulder.
Suddenly light of Intelligence shone on
tbc we'll dressed mans face, he sniIeo
hIsndlv and offered his transfer Inc con
ductor fairly snorted as he refused tne
hit Of paper and demanded cash' Inc
elderly man had again subsided pehlno
hts neUsnaper. apparently obvious TO his
surroundings.
An apopletic flush now suffused the con-
drctor's face. He found il difhcult 70
breathe. hut he managed 20 make II known
that no transfers were acceptable Oh MS
line.
Tba obstinate passenger finally laid down
his naper and took from his pockets
small pad and pencil. on which ne soilD,
hIad. Aren't transfers good on this line!
The conductor thought he UNDERSTOOD
then. and wrote on the pad the sinsis
word mol"
With a weary look the man with the
Pad wrote: why"
The conductor restrained himselt WIN
exceeding difficulty this time. and 1otted
down the oracular statement: because
they ain't-thats why
The silent passenger took his pencil In
hand again and wrote: They USED 10 De,
10 which the conductor Indignantly re-
plied. well, they ain I any HlVlo .,t..
How long since" asked the slnllIhs
man in the fur coat, via pencil. -
Other people on the car thought inc
conductor was going 10 strangle because
of his emotion. lie began TO give MS
tory of the changes in streetcar systems
covering the last ten years. ana In tne
middle of his Grafton the car stopped at
Tho easterIv side of Fifth avenue.
In from his seat rose the well dressed
passenger. lie advanced majesucaily 70
the rear door He adjusted his crayat
with careful detail. He grasped his cane
more firmly in his gloved hand, and then
he turned toward the perspiring cohduc-
tor. 81, - -. .ha
other side Of the avenue2' he said IN zones
that doomed and echoed through the length
and breadth of the car
| The conductor took of his cap AND
scratched his flaming head
| well. II that don't beat all Stuns
again % he gurgled, and every passenger
| ioined in the laugh that followed.
on the street the prosperous looking man
| handed a visiting card 10 a fellow pessen
! ger who asked his identity. n read Brian
! q Hughes. America" Mr. Hughes had
! long borne p grudge against the street rail-
Tsv system.