Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-09-26
Luny Len.

Cove, is one Of the dreariest this side of
that final abode said to be extremely
sultry, where all presidents, directors,
and other railway officials, mere es-
pecially ticket agents, fetch up and finish
their internal labors. Were it not so
hard on Mugby Junction, l should say
Glen Cove was the Mugby junction of
America. Indigestion is kept there, like
field ammunition in the qusrtermaster' s
department, to serve out at moments
notice to hungry and insane passengers,
and i is safe, for the trains carry away
the sufferers to die in other localities.
One hot, sunny day in midsummer, l
found myself anticipating the punish
ments due for sins and shortcomings in
this world by waiting fo- an eastern
bound train long overdue, as ifthe trains,
like the passengers, disllked approach
ing the depot at which l suffered.
A surly telegrapher, also ticket agent
who shot insults and tickets through q
hole at people, told me, after an hours
cross-examinarion, that was very cross,
that my train had brought up in corn
field. and | could not possibly get away
by rail before midnight.
Now. what to do with myself from the
noon of this information to the noon of
night, was a question that sorely per-
picked me, 1 mad no books, no papers,
no anything to relieve the dull monoto-
ny of that awful time.
Wandered li.tlessly about the dirty
frame and platform. Both were hot
enough to roast potatoes in the shade. l
gazed on-nay, studied all the colored
bills, giving picturesque views of various
towns, and telling, in assorted type, the
advantages each had over the other
the oHly but of amusement l bad, and it
was very mild. found in guessing at
the missing letters of bill which read
Rough line to Chicago" some scamp
had Gu: out the initial 9Th" when the bill
had originally read, Through line to
Chicago"
While upon the platform gazing at an
accommodation train just in, that was
awaiting its conductor le;surrly getting
orders from the telegrapher, l was at
trac;ed by a noisy crowd of men and
boys gathered about a young fellow
whose face Indicated the idiotic condi-
ton that originated their entertainment
He Was tall broad shouldereC, we'll
formed youth, and well dressed for one
of bis condition. But he had bis clothes
half buttoned, in theloose, reckless man.
ner Of one of his class, while bis face,
without its intellectual outlook, was reg
ular in feature, and one could see, had
there been a brain back of it, would have
been eminertly handsome. As anxiety
and care had ceased writing its record
of age upon his face, it was difficult to
tell bis age He had the form of q man
and the face of child.
ats the opinion of this crowd, Len"
said the blacksmith to the idiot, that
YOU can beat that locomotive in q race
from here TO the tunnel, and We have bet
SIC, 1000 on it."
The poor fellows dead face Lit up with
An expression of delight, so pitable that
it would have disarmed any other crowd
than the one engaged in chatting him.
He gazed wistfully at the huge locomo-
tive that stood Kissing in the hot sun as
if wrathful at the delay, and then turned
to the cruel crowd IS If the suggestion
Was slowly working its way through his
poor crippled brain.
go in Len" cried one of the crowd,
we've got our money on you, and you're
bound to win"
"We1l give you fifty yardr the start.
You keep on the TRACK" cried the black
smith, "and the thing can't pass you"
could scarcely believe these scoun.
drels were In earnest, when the surly
engineer gave the last bang to his noisy
bell, exploded . short snort from The To-
conceive in the way of warning; and to
my establishment l cav the idiot throw
ing of his coat, start down the track
ahead of the train. Fortunately the en-
gineer caught sight of the poor fellow,
and checking the speed Of the locomo-
tive, began ringing him of the track.
This was responded to by the idiot
bawling out with great glee: "Come on
with your old tea-kettie," and the brutal
crowd cheered, and roared with laugh
ter.
The crowd, keeping along with the
train, cheered Justify, and the lunatic
~spurted" as they say in boat race
that Is, shot ahead and exhibited con-
siderable power as Q racer by the speed
with which he got over the ground.
The engineer. infuriated at the delay,
out on speed and ratified after. But he
was upon Q down grade, and fearful of
oyertaking the unfortunate, he almost
Immediately put on the brakes and
checked again.