Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-02-22
WAITING FOR THE MIDNIGHT
TRAIN


1t was a cold winter night that l came
in sleigh to d station in the interior of
Illinois for the purpose of awaiting the
midnight train. =
The place was merely point where
they stopped to obtain supply of wood
and water, and being of no Importance
as point to take up or set down passen-
gers, there was neither ticket office nor
depot provided.
About a dozen miserable houses COM
posed the town, village or settlement,
by whatever term they dignifed it, and
the only spot where l could find shelter
was in country store, one side of which
was devoted to dry goods and the other
to groceries while at the farther end
sundry bottles, demijohns, and huge
heavy stone pitcher proclaimed the bar
room. ~4~ Va f...
The sliow was falling silently and fast,
and the storm seemed likely to continue
all that night. 1t was ten o'clock, and
around the stove, which was comfortably
warm, We're gathered a motley set, tell
ing stories and smoking bad cigars !;
while ever and anon some thirsty loun-
ger would walk to the bar and, swallow
ing his villainous compound, resume his
seat by the fire.
l had secured good seat and began
to study the different characters grouped
about me. They were a rough looking
set, but there was n natural shrewdness
about them that compensated to a
great degree for their unattractive ap-
pearance.. 'l"@.s sS "'r# -' 't1a ..s-
" How late do you keep open ?" l in
quired of the storekeeper, a long, wiry
fellow, who was perched on the top of
an empty barrel a. ~
Never close till the train comes in,
stranger. Guess it wouldn't do. BY
thunder, they'd batter the old door down
if they found it closed. I recollect," he
continued, addressing his customers,
lone night just before Christmas, it
was showing awful, just like it now is
The boys had all gone up to Widow
brakes to the turkey rattle, and I felt
mighty sleepy, so I thought I'd close up
and tuck in alongside the old woman and
get comfortable rest.
By-and-by the train got in, but I
was fast asleep. Ike Blood was running
that night, and you know how thirsty
he always is. Well, as I said, I was
fast asleep, and the old woman was, too,
reckon, when all at once 1 was waken-
ed by crash that felt as if the train
had run into the shanty. 1 jumped out
of bed, and pulling my cowhides on,
struck a Light and hurried down in the
store.
"I couldn't tell for the life of me
what had happened, but from the way
the cold air rushed up the stairs knew
the door or windows were open. It was
as much as ] could do to keep the can
die from going out. Well, it wasnt
many minutes, you may believe, before
/ was in the store, when the first thing
that struck my eyes was the door kicked
clear off its hinges and an empty tumb
Ter on the counter with dime beside it
| walked to the door and the cars were
just moving away when I saw the orncr,
Jim Long coming over the track swing
ing his lantern. -E ''. ara ~
"Hallor' cried, who in thunder
busted my door IMP . sar.. .
Dunno" he answered, "but spos,
it was Ike Blood. I saw him going
toward the store"
Is Ike running tonight ?" asked.
"Of course he is, you fool /; yor
oughter know that" snarled the ornery
cuss. re- fius .=iis viH93 IaG lee o1 .5fN
81 said no more, but put the dime il
the till, and getting some nails soon haG
the door in place. I've never gone t.
bed since before the train got in; par
sso4 70 Fgrie bGId%. 80 lAoo1J 4
v---tG 10