Imperial Valley press., 1912-01-30
A CONDUCTORS
STORY
By BISSELL T. RAND
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


expected to give Il courteous reply.
make it q rule when Il passenger takes
me to task for something that occurs
in the line Of my duty not to stop fol
talk. but to push on to another part
of the train. In this way | avoid ar
unpleasant discussion. probably hav
ing to listen to IA catalogue Of the rail
road management's sins against the
public and being tortured into break
ing the rules by using severe words.
The most disa agreeable duty of a con
ductor is putting persons off the train
who either cannot or will not pay theil
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
eases. and where they are it prefers
that the law be on their side.
| was going through my train one
day when Il seedy looking man handed
me ticket on another road re-
fused to take it. Of course. Whereupor
he said that it had been sold to hin
for Il ticket on my road and | had got
to take it. | insisted that if he didn't
pay his fare would put him off
whereupon he paid to a station calleG
Arlington. saying that was all woult
get for the whole distance. | replied
that he could ride to Arlington. and il
he didn't pay further he would be put
off at Harkprvile two miles beyond
Arlington.
The man was evidently playing some
game. disliked interfering with him
for fear he was intending to get put
off that he might serve some purpose
by doing so The fellow looked toe
respectable for his clothes. However
the rules were imperative. and wher
he refused to pay at Arlington | de
termined to put him off at Hariier
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 l endeavored to dislodge him
from the platform be put up an eff
fective resistance. Getting his grir
on the guard rail. he hung on till q
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
ho to ahoo5 lot
man shaking his fist at me and VOW
ING vengeance Looking back from q
distance. saw him haranguing those
who had witnessed his ejectment
The matter troubled me. | eXpectel
that he 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 ease the man. thOugl
tramp or Il man accustomed to force
himself as IL deldhead.
There had been an attempt to wrecs
one of the trains on the road which
had nearly succeeded The train re
ferred to carried Il large sum of money
for an express company. and it was
supposed that it was to rob this cal
that the attempt had been made
Running local train myself. did moi
take much interest in the matter. fol
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 l 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 Il telegram from the superin-
tendent to stop my train just across a
bridge about a mile before L reached
Harkerville and take on a party that
would be waiting there for me. l made
the stop as ordered and found several
plain clothes police officers. armed
with rifles as we'll as revolvers, guard
ing Il number of handcuffed prisoners
The officers put their captiveS aboard
the train. and after starting l went
into the car where they We're to collect
their fares. One of the officers, clap
ping a hand on my shoulder. said
See here. conductor few weeks
ago you put me off this train for not
paying my fare | was obliged to sub
nit. 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. l looked
at his face and it seemed familiar.
Then it daWned upon me that he was
the seedy passenger with whom l had
had the scutlle.
Don't you remember me?" 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, aud the company sent me
there to gain their confidence. l saw
no better way for an Introduction than
to get put Oft the train stayed awhile
in Harkerville cursing you and the
road. until one of these men was EN-
boldened to propose to me another at