Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1877 — Beating a Dead-Beat. [ARTICLE]

Beating a Dead-Beat.

For some days past an unknown female has been in the habit of making an afternoon trip on the Woodward avenue care, generally getting aboard at Jeifereou avenue and riding to Brady street. The first two or three times she paid her fare promptly enough, but the next trip she wrote something on a card, handed it to a gentleman, aim he paid her fare. The next trip she waited till the driver rang the fare-beU, and, when she saw him looking through the door, she advanced and held up a card on which was written; “ l am deaf and dumb.” The driver didn’t want to create a scene, and she rode as a dead-head. Next day she went through the same performance, bnt when she boarded the car the third afternoon he was ready far her. He had every reason to believe her a fraud, as she had been heard tospeak in a car coming down. When site entered die car she took a seat and began reading, seeming to have no earthly interest in the

fare question. There are no conduct ira on the route, and the driver controls both doors. Before Brady street was reached the unknown female was the only passenger. She rose and rang the bell at the street, but the driver paid not the least heed She rang again, and he hurried up the horse. Then she tried to pull the bell off the car, but the man never turned his head. The woman rushed to the door and pushed and tugged till she was red in the face, but not an inch wonld it budge. Rushing to the front door, she pounded the glass in a furious manner, and by and by the driver “ accidentally ” looked around. She gestured wilaly, and, as heshqok his head in a stupid way, she held up her card, which said: "lam deaf and dumb.” The driver fnmbled around for two or three minutes and brought out a small placard on which was printed: “ Bo am II” They were then about half a mile above Brady street, making excellent time, and the woman’s indignation was so gfeat that she shook her fist at the driver and screamed out: • “ I’ll have you shot for this!” He held up his card, shook his head and paid no further attention to her bloodcurdling threats. At the turn-table, a mile and a half above Brady street, the door slid back and the woman jumped into the mud. She blessed that man from crown to sole, and she blessed all his relatives back to the Revolution, but he did not seem to hear her. As he started off she called out: “ You are a monster, villain, sneak and thief 1” He gave the lines a shake, got the card from his pocket, and she was not too far away to read the answer: “Bo am 1!” —Detroit Free Press.