The Boss Who Got Kicked Out of His Own Tunnel

When a man becomes great, someone immediately tells a story on him. Here is one on Nelson Bennett, the contractor, who has so many lawsuits and dollars. While he was building the famous Stampede Tunnel, he issued an order forbidding the driver of the dump-cars to allow anyone to ride in or out of the tunnel on a car. One day, Bennett was in the 'heading,' clad in overalls, gum boots, and an overcoat whose better days were o'er, and started to walk out to the mouth of the tunnel just as a dump-car was leaving. Bennett jumped aboard the small platform which the driver stood on and was promptly told to 'get off o' here.' This somewhat surprised the contractor, and he remarked, 'Guess you haven't been driving here very long.' 'Naw, I haven't,' said the driver, 'but you get off o' this car P.D.Q., d'ye hear?' 'But I have a right to ride on these cars,' said Bennett. 'Not while I'm drivin' 'em you don't,' said the driver, 'skip.' And Bennett meekly 'skipped' and walked slowly out. When he reached the mouth of the tunnel, he met Nat Turner, superintendent of the business, and told him of his adventure. When the driver came up again, Turner stopped him and introduced him to Bennett. The driver, expecting that he would be discharged immediately, announced his intention of quitting right there, but Bennett would not hear of it. He complimented the fellow very highly for his rigid enforcement of the rules, and seemed to enjoy the joke fully as much as the rest of the force who heard of it.