The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
A TRAIN HOLDUP.
Victory of a Peremptory Tramp over
"A LOrdly Conductor.

TO THE NEW YORK HERALD: Holding
up railroad train is usually fine
art reserved for highwaymen equ;2pe1
for Business. \ tramp may have one
stopped co be thrown Off, but he never
interferes with schedules to board one.
So my holdup OF a train on the South
ern Railway was exceptional
The hest picked his head in at the
dining room door to give warning that
the bus was about to start for the 10
train. Breakfast had just been served.
To mics a meal is real tragedy to
tramp. But I was obliged 10 reach
Washington that night on limited
ticket or trudge over the Blue Ridge
with only mushroom plucked by the
hand of a potential distiler of contra
band spirits in noonshine mountains
for sustenaEce
IL was not pleasant prospect, so re-
iuctantly leaving my meal 1 took the
bus. The Norfolk and Western train
made connection with the Washington
express. 1t was half an hour late. Two
minutes was allowed to transfer pas
sengers at Riverton. When the con-
ductor came down the aisle asked anx-
iously:
Twill you make the connection for
Washington"
He locked at ME from the altitude
Of giraffe contemplating worm, took
In my soiled and worn apparel. my
bundle of rags on the seat beside me
and pulling out a watch. scanned its
dial
Not likely. We're late"
/ sought the Internationally there
was. I thought, a tramp's social equal
aboard---and told him my troubles He
scra tched his head thoughtfully
I'VE won't make it unless the express
is behind time he admitted frankly.
l turned away discouraged He called
me back.
See here, son; have the conductor
telegraph to hold the express at Front
Royal for Washington passengers. It's
only mile between stations. You can
take the motor bus he said hopefully.
1 eyed him susriciously. Was he kid
ding me? That lordly ticket puncher
was not likely to hold up a Washington
express for a tramp!
l went TO my seat, thought the mat
ter out quickly and looked up the con-
ductor. I'm not a tramp, I argued in
my mind as I went through the coaches ::
I'm director of this road. That fell
lows been misled by appearances. I had
convinced myself OF my changed status
when j met him in the aisle
Won't you telegraph to hold the ex-
press at Front Royal" l asked tmidly.
What for:''
washington passengers"
Washington passengers / got no
Washington passengers" he exclaimed,
looking at n,e aghast
You've got me-" murmured meekly.
Your" His speech was mixture OF
sarcasm and odious condescension.
You sometimes telegraph
When / have Washington passen-
gers" he answered superciliously as he
brushed past me.
Then | changed my tactics
Telegraph! Clothes don't count :. L
excle .me6 peremptorly.
He faced about and scanned me criti-
cally.
/ got into a bus at Front Royal 1t
started Of lumberingly Looking out OF
the window ] saw that it was drawn
by lean livery hcrses OF exceptional slow
ness. The motor bus sped past. There
was before me the prospect of a dusty
highway stretching across the State of
Virginia with myself speck on its sun
acorched dryness trudging toilfu1H to-
ward Washington. When I reached the
station / jumped to the platform. A
railroad ernployce--one Of Uncle Sans
war time young men--.-called out Justify ::
You'll have to hurry. sir we're hold
ing this train for you"
1t was lesson, an illustration of the
working OF mems minds had inn
pressed that conductor. got him to think
ing that | was of more Importance than
himself in this sorry scheme of things.
Maybe he thought me a labor leader
masquerading. AT any rate he had tele-
graphed and had held up the Washing
ton express as effectively as If 1 had
threatened its engineer with an army
pistol from the concealment of q black
mask. FrNprAy SAcnrr,,
SUM NIFTY n. j., October .