BEATING A DEAD-BEAT

Dunstan Times, Issue 790, 8 June 1877, Page 4

BEATING A DEAD-BEAT

(From the Detroit Free Press) For some time past an unknown female has been in the habit of making an afternoon trip on the Woodward Avenue cars, generally getting aboard at Jefferson Avenue and riding up to Brady-street. The first two or three times she paid her fare promptly enough, but the next trip she wrote some idling on a card, i handed it to a gentleman, and he paid her fare. The next time she waited until the driver rang the fare-bell, and when she saw him looking through the door she advanced and held up a card, on which was written: “ I am deaf and dumb.” The driver didn’t want to create a scene, so she rode as a dead-head. Next day she went through the same performance, but when she boarded the car the third afternoon he was ready for her. He had every reason to believe her a fraud, as she had been heard to speak in a car coming down. When she entered the car she took a seat and began reading, seeming to have no earthly use in the fare question. There are no conductors on the route, and the driver controls both doors. Before Brady-street was reached (he unknown female was the only passenger. She rose and rang the bell at the street, but the drive'- 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 would it budge. Bushing to the front door, she pounded the glass in a furious manner, and by-and-by the driver “accidentally” looked around She gestured wildly, and as he shook hishead in a stupid way, she held up her card, which said : “ I am deaf and dumb.” The driver fumbled around for two or three minutes, and brought out a small placard, on which was printed : “ So am I!” They were then about half a mile above Brady-street, and making excellent time, and the woman’s indignation was so great that she shook her fist at the driver and screamed out : “ I’ll have you shot’for’this‘l” He held up his card, shook his head, and paid no farther attention to her blood-curdling 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 P.evolution, but he did not seem to hear her. As he started oft’ she called out: “ Vou’area monster, villain, sneak, and thief!” He gave the lines a shake, got the card from Ins pocket, and she was not too far away to read the answer : “ So am 1!”