The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-21
- A -
Shrewd Ruse
By EVERETT p. CLARKE

l am a railroad conductor. we con
ductors see so many rackets worked
by passengers to avoid paying fare
that we become pretty sharp.
thought no one could put up job on
me of any kind that | wouldn't see
through.
One day a man wearing a sherffs
badge got aboard my train with a
handcuffed prisoner. Don't conclude
from what have said that was beat
en- out Of fare. The sheriff paid for
both himself and his prisoner They
sat in the same seat, and the prisoner
was handcuffed. though the sheriff did
not keep a hold on the bracelet
After awhile on going through the
train for tickets I noticed that the
sheriff was nodding. The next time |
went through he was sound asleep. 1t
did not seem to me, however, that his
prisoner could get away from him. for
the sheriff was sitting on the outside
seat, and the man couldn't very well
get away from him without awakening
him.
But when | went through the train
third time l noticed that the back of
the next seat in front of these two
men had been turned. SO that if any
one sat in 1t he would ride backward.
No one sat there, for a seat facing a
man in handouts was not desirable
1t struck me that the prisoner was
preparing for an escape. Should
waken the sheriff and caution him?
saw no reason why l should do So
He, not l, was responsible for his pris-
Oner. Besides, l defy any person to
avoid sympathizing with another in an
attempt to recover his liberty.
The men were sitting in q very con-
venient place for the prisoner to get
away. They were in the last car of
the train not far from the rear door.
There were not half dozen persons in
the car. The train was local. stop
ping at every station.
When we reached Falkland | was In
the baggage car. got out on to the
platform, according to the rule for con-
ductors, took account Of what passen.
gers boarded the train. signaled the
conductor to pull out, got aboard at the
front door Of the first passenger car
and went through taking tickets. When
l came to the last car there was the
sheriff, snoring; the seat beside him
was vacant, and the rear door was
wide open. The prisoner had gone.
now thought 1t time to awaken the
sheriff and inform him Of his loss. He
reused himself. looked wildly about
him and seeing what had happened
gave me cursing for not having
awakened him before. We conductors
are used to being blamed and don't
mind it. At any rate, we are expected
to keep our tempers when abused. The
man insisted on my backing the train
to Falkland, which, of course, re-
fused to do though l offered to stop
so that he might get off. He concluded.
however, to go on to the next station.
When he left me he gave me another
cursing, declaring that he would bring
an action against me for favoring the
escape of his prisoner by not having
awakened him while he slept and not
returning him to the station where his
man had lit out. But | knew that this
was bluff; he was not likely to bring
out my testimony as to how his pris
Oner had escaped through his own neg
hgence
At the same time regretted that
had not Weakened him when | saw him
slumbering. The man he had in charge
was doubtless one who preyed on So
ciety, and 1t was my duty as a citizen
II not as railroad official to do any
thing in my power to prevent his fu.
ture depredations. My conscience is
not overtough. and it seemed to me
that by aiding criminal to escape
had allotted his crimes.
On the return trip on reaching Falk.
land learned that the prisoner had
got off on the side of the car opposite
the station. which accounts for my not
having seen him. When the train had
moved on he appealed to several men
lettering on the platform to help him
Off with his bracelets. which they did
The last seen of him he was depart
ing with one of the men who had as.
sisted him.
Some months after this while taking
tickets on my train | stopped before
well dressed man whose face was ia
miliar to me
You don't remember me. conductor
do your" he said.
mo. | don't"
I'm the man from whom a prisoner
escaped on your train some time ago"
| recognized him.
THAT business" he went on. was
q game we put up on you. ! was no
sheriff. and he was no prisoner We
were detectives bent on getting In
with a gang of train robbers who were
hiding near Falkland and concocted
that scheme to gain their confidence.
My colleague succeeded in becoming
one of them long enough TO arrange
for their arrest. ana on uis inform,
ton we bagsed them all" he conclud
ed. 1t was one of the biggest hauls
we ever made. both of men and swag
They had with them $4,000 In cur.
rency that they We're planning to get