The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-08-12
In TILE TUNNEL.

The railroad station known as Glen
Cove is one Of the dreariest this side of
that final abode said TO be extremely
sultry, where all presidents, directors,
and other railroad officials, more cspe-
cially ticket agents, fetch up and finish
their labors. Were 1t not so hard on
Mugby Junction, | should say Glen
Cove was the Mugby Junction of Amer-
ca. Indigestion is kept there, like field
ammunition in the quartermastcr's de-
partment, to serve out at moments
notice TO hungry and insane passengers,
and it is safe, for the trains carry away
the sufferers to die in other localities.
One hot, sunny day i'll midsummer /
found myself anticipating the punish
ments due for sins and shortcomings in
this world by waiting for an eastern
bound train long overdue, as if the
trains, like passengers, disliked ap-
preaching the depot at which l suf-
fered.
A surly telcgrapher, also ticket agent,
who shot insults and tickets through a
hole at people, told me after an hours
cross examination 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 question that sorely per-
picked me. had no books, no papers,
no anything to relieve the dull monotony
of that awful time.
/ wandered listlessly about the dirty
frame and platform. Both were hot
enough TO roast potatoes in the shade. ]
gazed on-nay, studied all the colored
bills, giving picturesque views of vari-
Gus towns, and telling in assorted type
the advantages each had over the other
the only bit of amusement had, and
it was very mild. l found in guessing
at the missing letters of bill which
read "Rough line to Chicago" some
scamp had cut 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 leisurly getting
orders from the telegrapher, l was at,
tractcd by noisy crowd of men and
boys, gathered about young fellow
whose face indicated the idiotic condi-
tion that originated their entertainment
He was a tall, broad shouldered, well
formed YOUTH and well dressed for one
in his condition. But he had his clothes
half buttoned, in the loose, reckless
manner of one of his class, while his
face, without its intellectual outlook,
was regular in feature, and one could
see, had there been a brain back of it,,
,tI. 4
AS anxiety and care had ceased writing
its record of age upon his face, it was
difficult to tell his age. He had the
form Of man and the face of a child
"It's the opinion of this crowd, Len, -
said the blacksmith to the idiot, ''that
you can beat that locomotive in race
from here to the tunnel, and we have bet
$4,000 on it."
The poor fellows dead face lit up
with an expression of delight, so pitiable
that it would have disarmed any other
crowd than the one engaged in chatting
him. He gazed wistfully at the huge
locomotive that stood kissing in the hot
sun as if wrathful at the delay, and then
he turned to the cruel crowd as 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"
"We'll give you fifty yards 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 a short snort from
the locomotive in the way of warning
and to my astonishment l saw the idiot
throwing off his coat, start down the
track ahead of the train. Fortunately
the engineer caught sight of the poor
fellow, and checking the speed of the
locomotive, began ringing him off the
track This was responded to by the
idiot bawling out with great glee
"Come on with your old tea-kettle, and
the brutal crowd cheercd. and roared
with laughter.
The crowd, keeping along with the
train, eheersd Justify, and the lunatie