Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-11-28

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| There lies face that never paed,
| There molds . heart that never Quailed,
! Let garands on his brow be pressed
| hero passes to his rest
|
ICHAB0D TURNER'S MISSION.
BY KATE ". HAMILTON.
"Crooked! Crooked! Crooked" rang
out the sharp, peculiar, dissonant voiro,
and the tall, thin figure in seedy gar
ments aud tapping hat swaved to and
fro on the stump that had been selected
fer rostrunl. "All things bave gone
crooked in tins world, and I've come to
set em straight-to undo the snarls,
give the power where it belongs and put
men in their places. O-h-b, my
friends! The world is topsyturvy; the
tops ut the bottom anu the bottoms at
the top, and I've come to turn things
right end up"
The O'Clock whistle had sounded the
close Of another Days work at the shops,
and the men, pouring out from the Va
rious smoke staineo archways, paused to
lister. It was motley group-some
bedauhed with many colors, some with
griny hands and facts from foundry or
machine shops, while further back on
the long platform that extended along
! the track Weie gathered the inevitable
aajunct of any crowd, the boys, and
sprirkling Of women-some of the lattsr
wiGh children in their arms. The speak
er's excitement seemed to deepen as his
audience increased. The keen eyes un-
DER the old hat darted lightning. like
glauces here and there; he gestlculated
wildly and his voice rose to still higher
pitch.
"Oh-h-h yes! Look at me! I'm
Ichabod Turner, and the mission I'm
sent on is to mend all crookedness and to
turn things right eend up!'
The men seemed to fiud a grim pleas
ure in the harangue. They laughed as
they exchanged comments.
"Chosen good point to begin at, eh,
Jack ?" questioned one.
~ should say so! He'll have tough
contract, even If he doesn't extend his
territory"
"Goin' to set all things straight? It'll
take a mightier than you to do that
job. I WISH to massey he'd begin it
sonn!" murmured an Old woman on the
platform, as she picked up her bundle
and trudged on again.
The two men looked after her, and the
elder shook his grizzled head.
"Poor soul! No doubt things seem
crooked enough to her--her boy was
crushed between the cars last year.
Does seems as If somebody might invent
a way to get along with killing fewer
brakemen."
jim Barclay, sauntering down the long
walk, stopped beside bright young
girl who had paused for a moment on
the outer edge Of the crowd.
elf that fellow would begin his work
by altering the days and nights little,
or my means OF enjoying them, I'd be
obliged to him." he laughed.
The girl turned with little start of
surprise ami pleasure.
"Why, Jim" Then a glance at his
lunch basket brought the swift question,
"You're not going out to night? It'snot
your run.
81 must make it, though, they say.
It's All extra train, and they are short of
men, somehow-of or disabled. feel
considerably disabled my SELF"
You were out last night?"
"And all the night before, and nearly
all yesterday. l didn't get IN to-day un-
til nearly afternoon, and was scarcely
settled into comfortable sleep before
was called. I'm not fit to go, that's a
fact. Don't worry, DELI
He broke off bis sentence abruptly as
he saw the shadow of anxiety on his
companions fair face. alt doesn't hap,
pen SO often. They're short, you see."
cit oughtn't to happen ut ALL" in
sisted Dell, Indignantly. II wouldn't
CO."
"Then my head would come off at
short notice., laughed Jim. eve can't
afford that"
Pretty Dell flushed rosily. She knew
so we'll what that meant. There was a
little house talked over and arranged to
every detail Of its simple furnishing,
for which they two were planning when
Jim should OBTAIN his hoped-for promo.
ton.
''No, won't insure any necks to-
night, but I'll take the risk of crushing q
few other peoples heads rather than the
certainty Of losing my own" laughed
Jim. 1T is lity that fellow, who is
SO sure of his mission, couldn't turn my
brains right side up; they feel crooked
enough. But don's worry, DELL" he
repeated nurriedly."
The crowd began to thin. Hungry
men, swinging their empty dinner pals,
presently found the prospect of supper
more ailuring than the strangers prom
Used millenlum. Jim looked at his
watch and found he had not even five
minutes to spare for part of the bome-
ward walk with Dell. He parted from
her with reluctant good-by, and she
walked away alone. She had gone but
few steps, however, when she turned
and looked back.
"You'u be careful Jim? Don't let
anything happen"
why, Dell!'' He laughed, half
touched, half wondering. II oughtn't
to have talked such nonsense. Don't be
uneasy"
She smiled in answer, and tie cloud
slowly faded from her face as she walked
on. A call for extra service was no
cause for serious trouble-all these ext
gencies were so familiar to her. Bell
and whistle. messenger and dispatch,
with their always imperative and often
nnwelcome orders, were a part of the
daily life. Jim would be tired and worn
our OF course. That had happened often,
and doubtless must happen again, but
her thoughts turned to pleasanter pic
lures Of the future, to arranging once
more that tiny house with its dainty
rooms, which should be very haven
of rest to one who came home weary.
She paused on the long iron bridge aud
looked down on the network of tracks
below, crossing and interlacing in a
seemingly extricable targle.
The gray TWILIGHT Of the short arfnmn