Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-02-14
IchabOd Turner's Mission.

Crooked, crooked! crooked" rang out
the sharp. peculiar, dissonant voice, and
the tall, thin figure in Seedy garments
and tapping hat swayed to and fro on
the stump that had been selected for q
rostrum. "AlI things have gone crooked
in this world, and I've come to set 'em
right-to undo the snarls, give the power
where it belongs, and put men in theiI
places. Oh-h-h my friends The world
is topsy-turvy; the tops at the bottom
and 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 yari
Gus smoke-stained archways, paused tC
listen. 1t was motley grOup-sOme be,
daubed with many colors from the
paint rooms, some with grimy hands and
faces from the foundry or machine
shop, while farther back on the long plat
form that extended along the track we're
gathered that inevitable adjunct of any
crowd, the boys and sprinkling of some
Women-some of the latter with children
in their arms. The speakers excitement
seemed to deepen as his audience in
creased. The keen eyes under the old hat
dnrted lightning-like glances here and
there; he gesticulated wildly and his
voice rose to a still higher pitch.
oh h-h yes! Pm lchabod Turner, and
the mission I'm sent on is to mend all
crOokednesS and turn things right end
upr'
The men seemed to find grim pleas
ure in the harangue. They laughed as
they exchanged comments.
"Chosen a good point to begin at, eh,
Jack?" questioned one.
Il should say so. He'll have a tough
contract, even if he doesn't extend his
territory"
"Goin' to set things straight? It'll take
a mightier man than you to do that job.
| wish to massy he'd begin it soonv' mur-
INJURED an old woman on the platform, as
she pickei 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
seem as if somebody might invent a way
to get along with killing fewer brake
men,"
Jim Barclay, sauntering down the long
walk, stopped beside a bright young girl
who had paused for moment on the
outer edge of the crowd.
IF that fellow would begin his work
by altering the days and nights little or
by means of enjoying them, I'd be obliged
to him. he laughed.
The girl turned with a little start of
surprisee and pleasure.
why, Jim,' then a glance at his lunch
basket brought the swift question: you're
not going out tonight. 1t is not your
run"
81 must make it, though, they say. It's
an extra tram. and they are short of men,
somehOw-off or disabled. | feel cOnsid-
erably disabled myself
you were out last night?'
"And all the night before, and nearly
all yesterday. l didn't get in to-day until
after noon, and l was scarcely settled into
Il comfortable sleep before | was 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 his
companions face. 1t doesn't happen so
often. They're short, you see"
1t oughn't to happen at all" insisted
Dell, Indignantly Il wouldn't GO"
"Then my head would come Off at short
notice" laughed jim. "We can't afford
that
Pretty Dell flushed rosily. She knew
so well what that meant. There was a
little house talked over and arranged to
every detail of its simple furnishing, for
which the two were planning when jim
should obtain his hoped for promotion.
mo, | won't insure any necks tonight.
but I'll take the risk of crushing a few
other peoples heads rather than the GER
tanly of losing my own" laughed Jim.
Its pity that fellow, who is so sure of
his mission, couldn't turn my brains right
side up; they feel crooked enough. But
don't worry, Del" he repeated, hurriedly.
The crowd began to thin. Hungry
men, swinging their empty dinner pals,
presently found the prospect of supper
more alluring than the strangers millen-
MUM. jim looked at his watch, and
found he had not even five minutes to
spare for part of the homeward walk
with Dell. He parted from her with a
reluctant goodby, and she walked away
alone. She had gone but few steps,
however, when she turned and looked
| hnpL