Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-03-12
ONE DAY OF DUTY.

~
said the hungry reporter as he tilted
his char back and elevated his heels
on the desk that the city editor called
his when he was there There are
some things in TINS world I'm not
adapted for That's one.
I'he rest Of the Late Watch" gath
cred around with EXPLANATIONS OF
ANA ement and surprise, ana he con
tiuuei
Iou see i once applied to a divis-
ion superintendent for a JOB and was
assured that my application would be
consid red the very first vacancy that
occurred Then | waited. The sus-
peuse was not especially trying 10 me.
but could see it was wearing on the
friends with whom | was boarding
considerably.
One day. however the caller
the man that rounds up the trainmen
when they are wanted to 90 out on
special came around with a note re-
Questing me to call at the superin-
tendent's Office. OF course l complied
with the request and was told that
they wanted me 10 act as assistant
dECAlt lpa " GEhy VI wv al Il DAgtGG Cltt-l
Copaiba or something like that
/ wanted to know if would have
time TO 20 and pack my grip but they
seemed 10 think such q delay would
materially prejudice the prospects Of
the road, so | grabbed the pass and
made for the train, which | managed
to catch after a brief but exciting
chase. Then my 'grieis, as the rail-
road men call it. began.
This train don't stop at Copatba,
young teller, said the conductor as
he pocketed my pass and proceeded
calmly OF his rounds. / would liked
to have asked him what l was ex-
pected to do about it but his counte-
nance was so stern and forbidding /
did not dare
We were rapidly nearing my des.i-
nation. and something had to be done
so informed brakeman OF my pre-
dicament and he very kindly voiun-
teered to ask Fatty Duff the
engineer, to slow down a little at
Copaioa and let me off, / presume
he did so. yet If there was any reduc-
ton in the speed OF the train 1t was
too slight for my Impractical eye to
detect The brakeman encouraged
me, however. and as there appeared
to be no other alternative. when we
were nearly abreast Of the platform
let 90 and dropped.
| did not light right away, but when
] did land the conclusion was some.
thing awful. and as / rolled over and
over it seemed to me must have gath.
tel up about all the splinters there
were in that platform in different por-
tions of my anatomy. was still gy
rating when the last car whizzed by.
hut / heard the hind mans" timely
warning:
Look out young man, you'll teal
your clothes!"
II was rickety old station, the walls
frescoel with mashed tomatoes.
Empty chicken coops, fruit boxes
berry chests and watermelon rind.
scattered about the platform exhaleC
a faded and depressing odor, and the
only visible Indication OF life or death
were the swarms of flies buzzinf
drowsily in the hot sunshine. ] picked
my way to the Office and presented my
credentials to the agent, tall lant
man with long neck careworn fea
tues and stiff hat that looked out 0
place in the midst OF such rural sur
roundings. He was absorbed in /;
newspaper, and it was some time be
fore he noticed me. At length how
ever, he threw down the paper. rsa;
my letter and invited me TO make my
self at home Then he uubosome
himself.
You're familiar with the interstat
tariffs and the trangcontinental CLASH
fca ion / suppose?' he said.
was obliged to confess my ignor
arce.
That's bad he replied 'Yo
better sit right down and familiariz
yourself with them You'll find e1
all in those files. Besides the tariff
there's 724 supplements and 80
amendments in addition TO 2. 1856 eli
culars that you should post up on
Then there's the special commodit
rates and the modified rulings
there's 439 Of 'em-that have appeare
since the last classification was issued
After you get all those down pat
would be well to devote little time I
the local classification and tariffs
learn the terminal points and get I'll
routing Instructions committed I
m smory. Hellol there's this
freight coming at last Tell 'el
there's nothing for 'em. I've got /
10 across the street and collect som
bilis-you can check out any freigf
they've got" And he withdrew.
The conductor walked in and sale
Ask i'm If he's got anything for NJ
%"