The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-06
What Happened to the Opposition.

An immense furniture truck, with
high Slated sides, heavy wheels, and
canvas top, stood at the entrance to
Harlem Bridge Sunday afternoon. A
preoccupied looking mule and an
ancient horse with a perpetual air of
| disbursement about him, were hitched
10 it with nondescript harness.
On the side of the wagon was board
On which was scrawled with charcoal
"Oke Pint
''Step right up, gents and ladies, ~
yelled the proprietor cheerfullY. settling
his battered white plug hat comforta-
big over his right eye, and waving his
arms Hospitality. ''Step right up an
patronize Their opposition line fer Their
Pint. This ant no monopoly line.
We're plain, but luxurious. Young
feller with Their gal. carry yer over fer
! five cents a head. Cost yer ten cents
/ by the regler rattle traps"
| The young Teller with Their gal'' sur
rendered to the brilliant inducements
p.ered and mounted the wagon via q
soap-b box placed on the ground. Three
tough young men followed; rOtund
German, with his stout wife, seven
healthy children and two huge baskets,
were hojsted aboard; more tough young
men followed. and the cheerful pro-
prietor proceeded to hustle them about
and lam them down as if he were de-
posting furniture.
step right up" he yelled. This
here lightning 'spress's bound to be on
time.
go, say"' put in a passenger, 'sare
YOU ever going to start? We're full
already"
Yes, there's thirty-one aboard al
ready grunted fat man.
Mr.. Crowley surveyed the strikers
calmly and contemptuouslv, and re-
marked: what do yer want fer q
nickel? Want reserved seats? This
a mt no swell tailer-ho, this ant May
be yer thought yer were charterin' o
'partment in er Palace car"
Never seen SIGH a lot o. kickers."
muttered the proprietor as ne admins
terrell a. kick. to his slumbering. team.
eyer can bet. this is the last time this
ere train starts with only thirty-cne pas
sengers. If yer want to ride in limited
'spress, with half load, yerl have to
pay for it.
The mule took toe hold, strained,
and pulled the wagon and the old horse
along. 20
Half way to the Point one of the hind
wheels broke short of at the axle, let
ting the corner-o OF the cart down with
q crash that demolished the rear end
and dumped half the passengers in the
dust. The tough young men picked
themselves up and moved to institute a
riot. Mr.. Crowley sat impassively up
on the box and surveyed the wreck.
tude, and the old horse seized upon the
opportunity to 90 to sleep.
\ shade of sadness stole over the pro-
prietor's wooden face and ne uncOn-
sciously sighed: This knocks the op-
position.
"What are Won going TO do about
Ihis?" inquired the fat man dolefulIy,
sitting up in the road and endeavoring
to take the kinks out of his derby.
"Durned if I know how l kin fix
her," answered Mr.. Crowley, referring
10 his wagon.
Hang your wagon!' chorusGd the
Gpb8u NOdf2 l1O" sliC VIC OOIL0
to get to Oak Point??"
Mr. Crowley shifted his hat uneasilv,
looked puzzled and hazarded: .'Walk-
ms good, gents"
ave paid you for ride" said the
''young feller," whose coat was now
slit up the back. Give us our money
back or transfer US
Mr.. Crowley damned his hat onto the
back of his head aud replied with some
energy: "Give back nuthin': yer gettin'
OF cheap. Most any other Teller make
Yer pay for the damage. Yer hadn't
no call ter crowd on so. ANY fool'd
know wagon couldn't stand thirty
one passengers Yer can transfer yer
selves ABOARD the monopoly stages"
at don'd COST Something's more?"
hesitated the German, glancing with
calculating eye over his numerous
flock.
"Well, you has cheek! It'll only
cost yer ten cents. Yer don't expect
the opposition ter pay it, do yer?''
The tough young men concluded to
walk. The at German encompassed
economy by picnicing on the grass IN
der -a-tree. The TELLER, reluctantly
hailed one of the monopoly stages,
handed his ''gal'' in and paid twenty
cents.
The last words the fat passenger
heard as he started in rare to walk
back were: 'tDurned eff this ere don't
knock ther opposition. N y COM
mercidL 1dreriSer.