The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-16

These were the tidings that reached
Dell instead of the glad word for which
she had waited.
"What they say is true, after FASH
ion," said Jim. simply and sadly. II
was to blame for it-and yet l wasn't.
for 1 was not fit to make the run, and l
told them SOL
There was no one to chronicle his
years of faithful service. or the ''crin,-
NAL carelessness, II not cruelty, which
had placed him in such position; but
these things were well understood
among the many workers in that rail-
road town, and they acknowledged to
each other, with ready but helpless
sympathy. that it was trough on poor
jim"
Rough it surely grew as the long days
came and went and the hope of rein
statement grew DINNER. "All those
missing men, who couldn't be found
when I needed single nights rest,
seem to have turned up once more, and
they can spare me indefinitely" he ex-
planned to Dell, with q pretense of
POPULARITY that scarcely covered
the bitterness. The brave little woman
tried to comfort and encourage him,
though the dancing light had gone out
Of her brown eyes, and new grave lines
were deepening about the young lips.
The little house they had planned
seemed so like the shadowy ghost of q
dead hope that neither cared to talk Of
10
nuity found full occupation now in
combating the various wild schemes
which Jim in his desperation was con-
stantly forming. He had been away to
look for employment, but business was
dull everywhere at this season; and,
moreover, grown up in that railroad
town, where all interest and industry
centered in the shops and tracks, he
had belonged to the line from boyhood;
he could do but the one thing, and there
was little chance for a situation else
where while the shadow of the great
corporations disapproval seemed to fol-
low him in all his efforts like blighting
frost.
So the bright autumn leaves dropped
from the trees, leaving only brown and
barren branches; the soft haze ia led
from the hills; and the narrow iron
track. stretching away over the frozen
earth toward the cold gray sky, looked
to DELI sorrowful eyes fitting emblem
of the dreary life-road that lay before
her.
'Im going away tomorrow" Jim
was saying, as they passed slowly over
the bridge and down toward the town.
1--WE shown idiocy enough in waiting
here for any chance or justice. Imean
to 60 as for west as / can make my
way. and I'll come back when I've some
good word to bring-if that time ever
comes"
1t was useless to combat his purpose;
there was nothing better to offer. The
girls wistful gaze strayed with dreary
persistency to the track again. What q
hard, narrow road it was, stretching on
to its cherries goa!-the PARKWAY win
try horizon!
Down on the walk by the round-house
knot of loungers had gathered. Icha-
bod Turner's wanderings had brought
him thither again-the place seemed to
hold some peculiar fascination for him
and he was discoursing on his favorite
theme. Suddenly movement and
murmur of excitement ran through the
crowd, and its numbers were speedily
augmented from various quarters of the
building. Swiftly and Unexpectedly the
speaker had turned, ard with a single
round placed himself in the cab of a
locomotive that had for a moment been
loft untenanted.
'.It's steamed up" "Off! off" "Come
out of that.' shouted several voices.
But Ichabod laughed hoarsely and
waved his long arms triumphantly
above his head.
I'm the only man on this continent
that can run an engine! I'm ordered to
take this one and 60 and turn the world
right side up! Hurrah!'
Two or three persons rushed forward.
but he caught up an iron bar and
welded it so vigorously thu. they were
compelled to fall back. Then, like a
flash, his hand seized the throttle-lever,
and the dangerous steed he had chosen
began to show signs of life.
"Pull him Off" "Block the wheels!"
rang out in conflicting orders. But the
mailman laughed again, his wild eyes
cleaning like tre. and shook his bar in
and defiance.
Touch me if you dare! I'm sent to
set the crooked straight. Here comes
the millennium! Clear the track for the
And he was off.
Swiftly as an arrow some one darted
the crowd. ran along the track
and leaped on to the engine, clinging,
no one knew quite how, as it moved
away. Dell found herself suddenly de-
serted, and could only mdte forward
with the others, who were follow
ing with eyes of mingled admit
ration and horror the athletic
young figure clinging and swinging as
the speed increased, until finally it
forced its way into the cab.
What a terror to be let loose on the
road! Who can tell what he will
run into before he can be stoppedp' ex-
claimed one with white face.
"Jim Barclay II manage himr'
"Jim III be killed!' answered dissent
ing voices.
Jim's unexpected appearance in the
cab, meanwhile, had momentarily con-
fused its occupant who, until then, had
not been aware of his presence.
"Where did you come from?" he de-
in surprise.
"Flew down." painted Jim; 'sent to
help you. But what on earth do you
mean by trying to start the millennium
in broad day light?"
Daylight" repeated Ichabod, be-
by an earnestness and assur-
ance as fierce as his own.
"Don't you know we must wait until
the stars begin to fall? Besides, we
must 60 back and telegraph to all the