The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-16
EUNy LEN.
[Don Piast, in Iamessown Sum-

sultry, where all presidents, directors and other railway officials, more especially ticket agents, fetch up and finish their internal labors. Were it not so hard on Mughy Junction, should say Glen Cove vas the Mugby Junction of America. In- digestion is kept there, like field ammu. nifiou in the quartermaster's department, to serve out at a moments notice to hungry and insane passengers, and 1t is safe, for the trains carry away the sufferers to die in other loc alities.
 One hot, sunny day of midsummer found myself anticipating the punish ment due for sins and shortcomings in this world by waiting for an eastern bound train long overdue, as if the trains, like the passengers, disliked approach ing the depot at which suffered.
 A surly telegrapher, 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 a corn 6eld, and could not possibly get away by rail before midnight.
 Nov, what to do with myself from the noon of this information to the noon of night was aquestion that sorely perplexed me. had no book, no papers, no any thing 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, 1 studied all the colored bRls, giving picturesque views of various towns, and telling in assorted type the advantages each had over the other the only bit of amusement had, and it was very mild. found in guessing at the missing letters of q bill which read Rough line to Chicago" some scamp had cut out the initial "th 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 leisurely getting orders from the telegrapher, l was at- tracted by 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 shouldered, we'll formed youth, and we'll dressed for one in his condition. But he had his clothes half-buttoned, in the loose, reckless man. ner of his class, while his face, without its intellectual outlook, was regular in been brain back of it, would have been eminently handsome. 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 child.
 "It's the opinion of this crowd, Ter" :" said the blacksmith to the idiot, that you can beat that locom otive in a race from here to the tunnel, and we have bet ten thousand dollars on it."
 The poor fellows dead face lit up with an expression of delight, so pitiable that 1t would have disarmed any other crowd than the one engaged in chaffing him He gazed wistfully at the huge locomo- tive that stoed hissing in the hot sun as If wrathful at the delay, and then he turned to. the cruel crowd as if the sug- gestion 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."
 even 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 those scoun- drels were. in earnest, when the surly en- gineer gave the last bang to his noisy bell, exploded short snort from the locomotive in the way of warning, and GO my astonish- ment saw the idiot, throwing of 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 sff 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 cheered and roared with laughter.
 The crowd, keeping along with the train, cheered lustily, and the lunatic "spurted," as they say in a boat race that is, shot ahead and exhibited consid- erable power as racer by the speed with which he got over the ground. The en- gineer, infuriated at the delay, put on speed and rattled after. But he was upon down grade, and fearful of overriding the unfortunate, he almost immediately put on the brakes and checked up again.
 By this time heads were thrust out of windows and the platforms croWded by passengers who,e excitement became noisy and intense as they discovered that it was human being instead of a COW that impeded their progress. As for the idiot, he paused only long enough to in- dulge in . jeering laugh and a gesture that was more irritating than decent.
 The crowd of brutal Ioafers that exhib- tied more industry in accompanying the race on this occasion than they had prob ably manifested in making an honest liv- ing for a year previous, went tearing along each side of the locomotive, laugh ing, shouting, cheering on the idiot, while hurling all sorts of exasperatipg ePithets at the engineer, who, by this time, was blind with rage.
 1t this moment sAs conductor made his appearances, and crawling out upon the tender, began throwing Jumps of coal at the boy, as the engineer, putting on steam, drew near the poor fellow.