The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-14
IcnABo0 TURNER'S Mission.

lcAABOo TURNER'S Mission.
"Crookedl crooked! crooked" rang
out the sharp, peculiar, dissonant voice,
and the tall thin figure in seedy gar
ments and tapping hat swayed to and
fro on the stump that had been selected
for rostrum. "All things have gone
crooked in this 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. Oh-h--ll,
my friends! The world is topsy-turvy
the tops ut the bottom and the bot.
toms at the top, and I've come to turn
things right end up
The 4 o'clock whistle had sounded
the close of another days work at the
shops. and the men, pouring out from
the various smoke-stained archways,
paused to listen. 1t was . motley group
some bedaubed with many colors
from the paint-rooms, some with grimy
hands and faces from foundry or ma.
chine shop, while further back on the
long platform that extended along the
track were gathered that inevitable adj
junct Of any crowd, the boys, and a
sprinkling of women en-some of the lat.
ter with children in their arms. The
speakers excitement seemed to deepen
as his audience increased. The keen
eyes under the old hat dartcd lightning.
like glances here and there; he gestit II.
lated wildly and his voice rose TO n still
higher pitch.
"Oh-h-h, yes! Look ut me- Tn
Ichabod Turner. and the mission I'm
sent on is to mend all crookcdness and
turn things right end up!'
The men seemed to find grim pleas
ure in the harangue. They laughed as
they exchanged comments.
"Chosen good point to begin at, ell.
Jack?" questioned one.
Il should say SO! He'll have Il tough
contract, even if he doesn't extend his
territory
"Goin' to set all things straight. It'll
take a mighticr man than you to ,lc
that job. / wish to massy he'd begin
it soon!" murmured an old woman on
the platform, rs she picked up her
bundle and trudgel on again.
The two men looked after her. and
the elder shook mis- grizzled head.
"Poor soul! No doubt things seem
crooked enough to her-hcr hoy was
crushed between the cars last year.
Does seem as If somebody might in.
vent way to get along with killing
fewer brakemen."
rsc~ na~olcx. 1n,~., a
long walk, stopped beside n bright
young girl who had p.usel for mo-
ment on the outer edge cf the crowd
"If that fellow would begin his work
by altering the days and nights little
or by means OF enjoying them. I'll bt
obliged to him, he laughed.
The girl turned with little start o.
surprise and pleasure
"Why, Jim," then a glance ut hi,
lunch-basket brought the swift ques
tion, you're not going out tonight
SITS not your run"
Il must make it, though. they say
It's an extra train, and they are shor
of men, somehow-otf or disabled.
feel considerable disabled myself"
"You were out last night?'
And the night before, and nearly al
yesterday. l didn't get in to-day unit!
afternoon, and l was scarcely settle,
into comfortable sleep befor, wa.
called. I'm not fit to go, that's a fact
Don't worry, Dell"
He broke off his sentences abruptly
as he saw the shadow OF anxiety on hi.
companions fair face. 1T doesn't hap
pen SO often. They're short, you see.
1T oughtnt to happen at all. insist
ed Dell, Indignantly. Il wouldn't 60.
"Then my head would come of a
short notice" laughed Jim. We can
afford that"
Pretty Dell flushed rosilv. Sh,
knew SO well what that meant. Tier,
was little house talked over and ar
ranged to every detail of its simple fur
nishing, for which the Two were plan
ming when Jim should obtain his hoped
for promotion.
mo, / won't insure any necks to
night, but I'll take the risk of crush
ing 0 few other peoples heads rathc
than the certainty of losing my own,
laughed Jim. "lt's pity that fellow
WAO 40 sO suLG ~ iis thiSNibii. Asdiiii
turn my brains right side up; they fee
crooked enough. But don't worry
Dell" he repeated, hnrr,edly.
The crowd began TO thin, lIungr,
men, swinging their empty dinner pals
presently found the prospect OF suppc
more alluring than the stranger
promised millennium. Jim locke,
at his watch and fourd he had not ever
five minutes to spare for part of tn
homeward walk with Dell. lie rarte,
from her with n reluctant gool-bs, AM
she walked away alone. She hal son
but few steps, however, when sh
turned and looked lack.
"You'll be careful Jim? Don't le
anything happen"
"Why, DELI" He laughed, hal
touched, half wondering. Il oughtn'
to have talked such nonscnse. Don't h
uneasy
She smiled in answer, aud the clou
slowly faded from her face as .sh
walked on. A call for extra scryic
was no cause for serious trouble a.
these exigencies We're 50 familiar to he,
Bell and whistle. messenger and d.
patch, with their always imperative an
often unwelcome orders, were part {
her daily life. Jim would lie tired an
worn out, OF course. That had haI
pened often, and would douhtlesS llal