The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-01-09
RAILWAY ADVENTURE.
BY RUFUS SARGENT.

Ona winters evening. at half-past four
O'Clock. the outward cNpress-train on one
of the most popular railroads In the state
Of Iowa stopped "a usual at the midway
station. and at the same time the down eX-
press. going the other way. also came 10 a
stand-still on the other side of the broad
depot. From these trains descended two
lads clad in blue uniform. They were the
Observation-Disclosures boys. who had for
each other great regard. and who invari-
ably got off at this stopping-placc 10 speak
Ia each other and take a lunch OF coffee
and pie together in the dining-room.
"Howdydo. Billvy' one would cry out.
Howdvdo. Muffin = the other would eN-
claim. and without the slightest idea Of
ever having their questions answered. they
would 20 of arm-in-arm through the
crowd. chattering like monkeys. ON this
particular occasion the one named Billy
ate little.
Have another custard!" asked the
young woman waiter. with whom Billy
was a f:lvJrite. Billy shook his head.
"Well. then, a cream-cake or more cof-
Eeg'
mo. thank YOU" replied Billy; - moth
ing more for me. | haven't any appetite"
mo appetit.,- Muffin looked at him
ia astonishment. mo appetite. What's
the trouble. Billy
Billy took his friend aside.
Muffin said he. ii il seems to me that
something's going 10 happen"
"Wcll. hope -. returned Muffin. " II
would be- rather bad If every thing left of
happening"
some accident or some trouble. I've felt
1t all day. I've been blue cnOugh-and
xrt.f - NOR. \ ,-tnft .hula II off =
Muffin tried his best to laugh; he threw
back his head. and "A great deal OF noise
came out Of his mouth, but he grew sober
again In "A moFaent.
. Nonsense. Billy" said he; but still
Billy looked exceedingly grave.
1t seems all straight enough. said Bill
"; - we've got Thunderbolt.' and Jenner
to drive her lmeaning the best engine and
the best engineer on the road and we've
got a small train on. only five ears, and
there haven't been any storms To wash
away the tracks. and il hasn't been cold
enough to get the frost into the rails. Yet
all the same. | feel blue and anxious to-
day. and can't help il.
:" What sort Of passengers have you
aboard the traing'
40. the same AZ usual. A lot of ladies
and few gentlemen in the rear car. lot
Of gentlemen and few ladies in each OF
the other ears They seem to be- all right
and quiet. and upon my word don't
know what I'm afraid Of. But | ana
afraid"
"Afraidi'' echoed Muffin. u do-'t be-
licye H."
mo. not really afraid, but-but-un-
easy
They walked around. lookingat the men
putting the trunks in the ears, and the Das-
sengers flying about with plates Of food
and asking useless questions. Then they
went 20 the engines and spoke 20 the en-
ginecrs and fircmen. and a the twenty
minutes rest drew To a close, they went
of and filled their baskets with all sorts Of
cakes and fruit. and their water-cans
with fresh water and Ice. Clang went the
bcll
billy said Muffin. .. | was going past
the second ear of your train hlst now. and
| saw the face of a man we had in hand-
cuffs once aboard our train. | remember
him well, square jaws, straight eyebrows.
high cheek bones. He's dressed very Diff
ferent now-tall hat and spectacles looks
like a minister. but | kHotC him. You
just find him out and keep an eye on him.
Billy
"All right. Muffin. Good-by.-
"Go0d-hy." The bells changed again.
and the two boys sprang aboard their
trains, where each hung, swinging 10 a
czgr-stcp. by way of adieu TO the other, till
the cirs rolled out Of sight.
Billy at once walked through the train 10
see the minister lie soon marked the
man Muffin had described. He was tall
and powerfully built. and wore a long
black coat. a tall black hat and spcctaclcs.
and had around his neck pure white
handkerchief. lie looked rather pleasant
In the face. but there were the square jaws.
straight eyebrows and high check bones.
Billy made up his mind to watch the man.
The train was now going very fast. II
only made two stops between the last sta
tion and the end ot the route. and ii would
not arrive at it, destination until o'clock
The next morning. The stewarless had