The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-09
A CRUEL REVENGE,
How an Old squatter Entrapped Railway
Conductor.
Arkansas Traveller

Some time ago an old squatter boarded
a railway train for the first time, and was
naturally very solicitous concerning the
distance he had to travel and what time
he would reach his station. The conduc-
tor was very curt in his reply to the old
fellows questions.
wall, about what hour by sun does
your contraption git thar"
Il don't know
You know whar the place is don't
you?"
Il suppose so"
Wall can't you give HE some sorter
idee about the-go on, them he con-
tinued, as the conductor left him.
Several weeks after the conductor, to-
gether with several railway contemporaries,
went out TO the mountains. on u fishing
excursion Losing their way they stopped
to inquire the road to Blue creek. The
farmer met them at the gate, and after
a satisfied shake of the head, as though a
long looked-for opportunity had come,
he invited the sportsmen to get out of the
wagon.
I'VE havnt got time, said the con-
ddctor
1--WE merely wanted to learn the nearest
way to Blue creek. Can you give US the
dirction7'
ooh, yes. I've been Twin here for
thirty year, an catched many fish outen
the creek.
We'll, which way must we go?"
'Gemme see Thar's several ways.
The finest fish ever tuck outen that water
was snatched out by my son Ike. Want it
Ike?" turning to boy.
"Yas, pap"
Want he lively?'
"Yas, pap"
Didn't he make you prance AROUND gI-s
like colt?"
"Yas, pap"
Here old lIl man we've got no time to
1901 ie.i!9511g with you. Which direction
Shall we take?"
Wall, the neardest way is to take down
that holler yohder, an keep it till there $
high bluff op zach side. The walls OF
the bluff will keep gittin' closer an closer,
but arter a while they'll widen
out. Then you'll be right at the creek. v
"At good placer
ITO place whar Ike snatched the
Whopper. Amt it lke?'
Vas, pap.
"DiCn't he make you prance like
Drive on" demanded the conductor
I'VE can't fool around here any longer
They turned down into the "hOllow,
and the wagon ran over the rough stones
with series of conclusions that seemed
to keep the railroad men in the air hall
the time. The old man and Ike watched
the wagon for few minutes. and then
| laughed boisterously.
Come on" said the old man, "WeI
whip aroun' an git thar fust.' And they
started over the hill at a rate of speed
surprising for so old man to attain
The wagon proceeded until precipitous
walls between the mountains rose on eacf
side. The pass grew narrow rs tht
wagon advanced Darkness came on anC
the great walls frowned upon the no"
anxious party. Finally the wagons hub
grazed the rocks, and then with SHOCK
the vehicle stopped.
THAT beats the devil himself, said one
of the conductors. Here we are stuck
and we can't get out except by the hint
gate or climbing over the mules. Can
turn around. Blamed If | know wha
we'll do"
"Say, down there, called voice from
above"
Halo, we're stuck" exclaimed thu
squatters conductor How can we ge
out?"
'Dinged if l know. It's pity, too
for about ten miles from here is whar Tx,
caught the whopper. Amt it, lke?'
"Yas, pap
| Didn't he make you prance?"
''Yas, pap" ...
Say, you old scoundrel," called the
squatter's conductor" what made yo'
get us into such a trap?'
Don't reckon you recollect when | Ri
on your train; ] knowed I'd get you. Ii
this neighborhood I'm knowed as oil
Pizen Bill. j came to Arkansas fore tn
sun r;z, and I'm going to stay here til
AFTER she sets. Don't sass me. I'll roll
rock down on you. What time will yol
come to your gittin' off place, do yol
reckon? You say it don't smell salts
factory down thar. Reckon not fur yOl
are in the biggest buzzard roost you eve
seed. Well, call by an sec me when yo1
git out.-Good Night.