The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-19
IchabO ODDS Mission.

and the tall, thin figure in seedy garments
and tapping hat swayed to and fro on the
stump that had been selected for ros.
trum. "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 bottoms at the top, and
I've come to turn things right end up"
The six o'clock whistle had sounded the
close of another days work at the shops,
and the men, pouring out from the vari-
GUS smoke-stained archways, paused to
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 platform that
extended along the track we're gathered
that inevitable adjunct of any crowd, the
boys, and a sprinkling of women-some
of the latter with children in their arms.
The speakers excitement seemed to
deepen as his audience increased. The
keen eyes under the old hat darted light
ning.like glances here and there he gestic-
ulated wildly, and his voice rose to still
higher pitch. =,
"Oh-h-h yes Look at me I'm
Ichabod Turner, and the mission Pm
sent on is to mend all crookedness and
turn things right end upl''
The men seemed to find a grim pleas
ure in the hsrangue. They laughed as
they exchanged comments.
"Chosen a good point to begin at, eh,
Jack ?" questioned one.
al should say so He'll have tough
contract, even if he doesn't extend his
territory"
"Goin' to set all things straight ? It'll
take a mightier than he to do that job.
1 wish to massey he'd begin it soon I"
murmured an old woman on the platform,
as she picked 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 way
to get along with killing fewer brake
men,"
Jim Barclay, sauntering down the long
walk, stopped beside 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
my means of enjoying them, I'd be obliged
to him." he laughed.
The girl turned with little start of
surprise and pleasure.
"Why Jim Then a glance at his
lunch basket brought the swift question,
"You're not going out tonight It's 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. l feel consid-
erably disabled myself"
"You were out last night ?"
"And all the night before, and nearly
all yesterday. didn't get in to-day until
afternoon, and was scarcely settled into
comfortable sleep before was called.
I'm not fit to 60, that's a fact. Don't
worry, DELL"
He broke off the sentence abruptly as
he saw the shadow of anxiety on his com
panion's fair face. 1t doesn't happen SO
often. They're short, you see."
at oughtn't to happen at ALL" insisted
Dell, Indignantly. 81 wouldn't CO."
"Then my head would come off at
short notice." laughed Jim. ave can't
afford that"
Pretty Dell flushed rosily. She knew
80 we'll what that meant. There was 8
little house talked over and arranged tc
every detail of its simple furnishing, fol
which they two were planning when jim
should obtain his hoped-for promotion.
"No, won't insure any necks tonight
but lll take the risk of crushing few
other peoples heads rather than the Ger
tainty of losing my own," laughed Jim
"It's pity that fellow, who is 80 sure o.
his mission, couldn't turn my brains righ
side up; they feel crooked enough. Bu
don't worry, DELL" he repeated, hurriedly
The crowd began to thin. Hungry
men, swinging their empty dinner pals
presently found the prospect of suppe
more alluring than the strangers prom
Used millennium. Jim looked at hi
watch, and found that he had not ever
five minutes to spare for part of the
homeward walk with DELL He parteC
from her with reluctant goodbye ant
she walked away alone. She had gon
but few steps, however, when she turne,
and looked back.
"Youll be careful, Jim? Don't lie
anything happen"
"Why, Dali" He laughed, hall
touched, half-wandering. 81 oughtn't t
have talked such nonsense. Don't be ur
easy"
She smiled in answer, and the clou
slowly faded from her face as she wake
on. A call for extra service was no caus
for serious trouble-all these exigencie
were 80 familiar to her. Bell and whistle
messenger and dispatch, with their alway
imperative and often unwelcome order
were part of the daily life. Jim woul
be tired and worn out, of course. Ths
had happened often, and doubtless woul
happen again, but her thoughts turned
pleasanter pictures of the future-to a
ranging once more that tiny house wit
its dainty rooms, which should be vel
haven of rest to one who came hon
weary. She paused ON the long ire
bridge, and looked down on the netwoi
of tracks below, crossing and interlaciI
in a seemingly inextricabie tangle.
The gray twilight of the short autun
afternoon was already deepening iowa
night, and the headlights Of the engin,
passing and repassing, as they chang
from one track to another, shone o
bril- iantly. Men were running here al