The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-14
!CAABOD TURNER'S MISSION.

Crooked! crooked crooked!" rang
ont the sharp, peculiar, dissonant voice,
and the tall thin figure in seedy gar
ments and Tapping hat swayed to and
fro pn 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-h,
my friends! The world is topsy-turvy
the tops at the bottom and the bot
toms ut 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 various smoke-stained archways,
paus, 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-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 darted lightning
like chances here and there; he gesticu-
lated wildly and his voice rose to still
higher pitch.
"Oh-h--h, yes! Look at me! I'm
Icbaf,od Turner, and the mission I'm
sent on is to mend all crookedness and
turn things right end up!"
The men seemed to find grim pleas
ure III the harangue. They laughed as
they exchanged comments.
"Chosen O good point to begin at, eli,
Jack?" questioned one.
81 should say so! He'll have a tough
contract, even if he doesn't extend his
territory"
"Goin' to set all things straight? It'll
take mightier man than you to do
that job. l wish to massy he'd begin
il soon!" murmured an old woman on
tho platform, as she picked up her
bundle and trudged on again.
The two men looked after her, and
the elder shook MS 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 in
vent why to get along with killing
fewer brakemen.
Jim Barclay, sauntering down the
long walk, stopped beside bright
young girl who had paused for a mo-
ment on the outer edge of the crowd.
"If that fellow would begin his work
by altering the days and nights O little,
or by means of enjoying them, I'd be
obliged TO him, !" he laughed
The girl turned with little start of
surprise and pleasure
"Yhy, JIM" then q glance at his
lunchbasket brought the swift ques-
ton. @you're not going out tonight {?
3ISs not your run.
81 must make it, though, they say
It's an extra train, and they are short
of men, somehow-off or disabled.
feel considerable disabled myself"
"You were out last night?"
"And the night before, and nearly all
yesterday. I didn't get in to-day until
afternoon, and 1 was scarcely settled
into comfortable sleep before l was
called I'm not fit to go, that's fact.
Don worry, Dell.
He broke off his sentences abruptly,
as he saw the shadow Of anxiety on his
companions fair face. at doesn't hap
pen so often. They're short, you see.
at oughtn't TO happen at all, +" insist
cd Dell, Indignantly Il wouldn't go. "
"Then my head would come off at
short notice, laughed jim. ave can't
afford that"
Pretty Dell flushed rosily. She
knew SO we'll what that meant. There
was little house talked over and ar
ranged TO every detail OF it's simple fur
nishipg, 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 tho risk of crush
ing few other peoples heads rather
than the certainty of losing my own,
laughed jim. "It's pity that fellow,
who is so sure of bis mission, couldn't
turn my brains right side up; they feel
crooked enough. But don't worry,
Dell. he repeated, hurriedly.
The crowd began to thin. Hungry
mon, swinging their empty dinner pals,
presently found the prospect OF supper
more allurng than the stranger
promised millennium. Jim looked
a his watch end fou.d he had not even
five minutes TO spare for part OF the
hemeward walk with Dell. He parted
from her with reluctant good-by, and
enc walked away alone. She had gone
But q few steps. however, when she
turned and looked hack.
3you'I be careful, jim? Don't lei
anything happen