Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-01-29

quarters Of mile away. | could still |
hear the dispatcher calling and knew |
by the vicious sound of the instru- |
ments that he was mad. Thoughts |
of collisions and the possibility OF |
being responsible for terrible acct |
dent flashed across my mind. and |
started for that train on a run. The !
distance vas greater than ! had i'm
agined and | was completely blown |
when | came up with il. The con-
ductor was lying on his back under II
car fixing something about the air.
brake. l managed TO gasp out that
the train dispatcher wanted him for
orders.
Tell him to go plumb TO h-l"
shouted the conductor and then calmly
continued his labor. AS there seemed
nothing else to be done started back
to the station TO deliver the message
and had gone but short distance
when the engine passed me backing
up to the Office. 1t was going too fast
for me to board it, so the conductor
and engineer had been waiting ten
minutes or more when / eventually
reached the station
''If it's all the same to your part
ner," said the conductor. with freezing
| politeness wed just as soon get out
of here. We've got families at the
other end Of tho run and 'u1 like TO
get there before they get out of our
remembrance.
/ walked into the Office ana told the
dispatcher l had stopped the train.
why don't you be all day about
it," he answered. There's nothing
for them-its too late to help 'em any
now"
| was afraid for the conductor when
told him this. His jaw fell and for
fully minute he gazed at me in
round-eyed horror, then rushed from
the Office and yelled to the engineer:
Cit a move on yerself! Git out of
here before he has another fiji"
After that it was comparatively
quiet for while. l made feeble
effort to understand something of the
classifications, but soon gave up the
attempt us hopeless. One or two lots
OF freight and express came in. and
couple OF trains passed without acct
dent was beginning to think l was
! getting on to the business when the
agent returned. He looked more care
worn than ever and sank YEARLY into
the one chair the Office afforded.
We'll how are, you maxim it?' he
asked. and | state that so far the
progress seemed satisfactory.
Next he looked at the way bills and
wanted to know if | had unloaded that
COW yet
NO" | answered, mot yet"
Not yet!' he shrieked. Great
Scott man. what do sections 4, $50.
81 and 88 of the revised statutes of
the United States and section 2. of
chapter 8, of the act OF Auril g. 1878,
sayp"
Don't waste any moro precious
time; get that critter unloaded before
anyone sees her. She's been in the
car over thirty-six hours and we're
liable to a $500 fine"
The COW was unloaded Immediately.
When | returaed to the office he called
my attention to bill OF SO cents |
had collected on washing machine.
you corrected that bill before you
collected it, hope"
Corrected itP No. What's wrong?n
'Oh. a mere trihe, that comes un-
der the interstate commerce law, and
by overcharging IS cents you've laid
us liable for fine OF IS. 900 or two
years IN the penitentiary. or both;
that's all Sec what circular ., POI
says: Agents who violate any OF the
provisions of the interstate commerce
law will themselves be personally liza
BILE to the penalties imposed thereby.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse for
its violation That's soothing, amt
it? And here's case of brandy you
have forwarded to Iowa. a prohibition
state. That's another misdemeanor,
but thank God we can probably es.
cape to the hills before the authoritie:
get on to it.
Those quails" he faltered, look
ing at me imploringly. "You ex
amined each bird as the law directs tt
see that it had not been captured by
net pound, weir or trap. You know
rule sc says agents must acquain
themselves with and be governed by
the game laws of their state or terri
tory.
/ could not speak, but he read tn,
answer in my downcast face. He OK
tended his hand to me while look o
sublime exaltation TRANSPORTED hi
homely countenance.
LAS the agent" he said, and hi
voice had the terrible calmness OF de
, spair, II am responsible for you
crimes-I am forever undone, but
/, bear you no malice, it was fate =
whatever happens. remember. | for
give you-but" and he jammed hi
hat down over his ears and his eye
glared wildly, they will never tax
me alive
Then he strobe out of the Office an
, disappeared.
u The sun sank below the wester
. horizon and twilight and mosquito
= invaded the melancholy landscape.
, Presently freight train came alon
and halted for water. 1t so happene
that an empty box-car stopped RICH
into its Hospitality open door, a grea
-, inconsistencies and yearniug stole owe
- me. For a moment hesitated but
!, scream of mortal anguish reached m
~ ears from the direction OF the saloon
and decided me.
= Softly closing the Office door.
= crept into the untenanted car. an
- :, when the engineer had taken up III
- slack and pulled out of Copaiba N