The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-19
Selfrt Stnry.
A CONDUCTORS STORY.
BY PATENT COUPLER.

At the time of this story was pas
senger conductor on the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad. running from
Burlington on the Mississippi to Coun.
ell Bluffs on the Missouri River. had
regular days for taking out the mail, and
regular nights for taking out the express
In other words I would take out the
mail and bring i'll the express, and pice
versa.
1 had brought out the mail from Bur.
lington and was now going back on the
express. l bad big train; FIVE coaches,
besides two baggage and one express
car, dining car and two sIeepers-
eleven cars in all Passengers were hur
rying to check their baggage; through
mail was being transferred; bullion was
being slowed away in the express car
all was apparently in confusion TO any
one but railroader. We we're late some
twenty minutes. The Northwestern and
Rock Island trains had been gone some
time. Our road carried more passengers
and express than both the others, and
we were nearly always little late, but
made it up in the first hundred miles.
l was standing near the engine con-
versing with Dan. the engineer, and i'm.
patiently waiting for the bullion to be
slowed away, when man with a wooden
leg stopped near us and watched the sil
yer bricks as they were transferred from
the trucks to the car. With common
assent we followed his gaze. He was q
short, thick. set man, poorly dressed; he
had cane in his right hand, and shaded
his eyes from the setting sun with his
left.
"Hes wishing those bricks were his. !"
said Dan, laughing.
eyes, you're right?' said the man
turning around.
"One of those little bricks would
make man pretty we'll off" l remark
ed.
.How much is one of those worth p
asked the man.
"Give a guess" said Dan. He was
always propounding conundrums,
80, maybe hundred dollars" he an.
swered
"Ha ha!' laughed Dan. "Why, man
one of those bricks is worth $5,000r"
"Are they, sir p asked he, turning to-
wards me.
"Not that much, but the largest one ir
that pile pointing to an exceedingly
large one on the truck that had just beer
wheeled up, "would make poor mar
rich"
here walked down by the baggage.
car, and pointing to the man who was
still eyeing the bullion with greedy
look, addressed one Of the brakemer
with:
"Duncan, who is that man? Do you
know him p
"Yes; that's John, the bumper" h
said.
"John, the bumper! Who's her"
s'How long have you run on thi
road ?" asked Duncan.
"Four years. But what's that to d,
with the mat.er2"
you've run here four years and dom
know John, the bumper! Well, tha
beats me! Why, he is the fellow that wa
suspected of breaking into the Red Ga
Bank. You remember about year ag
what excitement was occasioned abor
that old man being murdered at Gler
wood2 Well, he was suspected of hay
ing a hand in that, too.''
"Why don't they take care of him
/ asked.
"You know how tardy justice is in th
part of the country as well as l do" b
answered.
Baggage all in, sir9" reported th
checkman.
Gall aboard Forty minutes late, Dal
Let her have it!' l shoated; and "
were off with jerk.
There was such heavy train tn;
when we reached Pacific Junction, tt
first station, I had not been through or
half of it; and as the next place was b,
three miles further on, / hardly had tin
to 90 back from where / had left off t
king tickets when we again stopped.
got all through, and had only to loo
after passengers who might get on alor
the road. AS have before stated, m
train was the night express and did n
stop at every place as did the mail trai
After leaving Red Oak we did n
stop until we reached Corning; at Il
latter place the dining lear was, in o.
; language, sent off. " Accordingly
went back to get my supper. At one
= the tables of the car, and eating vor
ciously, sat the man with the wood,
leg ] was surprised, for at Counl