The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-14

ABSOLUTELY PURE
@zsss9

the run. The distance was greater than
imagined, and I was completely blown
when came up 10 it. The conductor was
lying on his back under car fixing some
thing about the airbrake. l managed to
gasp out that the tram dispatcher wanted
him for orders
.s.Tell him to go plumb to hell, shouted
the conductor. and calmly continued his
labor. As there was nothing else to be
done, started back to the station TO de-
liver the message, and had gone but a
short distance when the engine passed me
backing up to the office.
ut was going too fast for me to board it.
so the conductor and engineer had been
waiting ten minutes or more when finally
reached the Office.
IF it's all the same to you. partner
said the conductor, with freezing polite
ness. we'd just as soon get out OF here.
We've got families at the other end of the
run, and 'ud like to get there and see 'em
before they grow OUT of our remembrance.
81 walked into the Office and told the
train dispatcher had stopped the train.
"'Why don't you be all day about it, ,
now. It's too late to help them any,
Il was afraid of the conductor when I
told him this. HIS jaw fell, and for fully
minute he gazed at me in round-eyed
horror. Then he rushed from the Office
and yelled to the engineer, Cit out of here
before he has another fit.
after that it was comparatively quiet
for awhile. l made feeble attempt to
understand something of the classifica-
tions, but soon gave up the attempt as
hopeless. One or two lots of freight and
express came in. and couple of trains
passed without accident. | was beginning
to think that / was getting on in the BUSH
ness, when the agent returned. He looked
more careworn than ever as he sank wear
lily into the one chair the Office afforded.
"'Well, how you maxim it?' he asked !:
and stated that SO far the progress seemed
satisfactory. Then he looked at the way
bills and asked if had unloaded that COW
yet.
mo- answered Not yet
Not yet?' he shrieked. Great scott,
man, what do sections 1889, 3S7 and 4, 3SS
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States. and section 2, chapter 3, of the act
April 8, 1879, say?'
II was about to confess my ignorance,
but he stopped me.
Don't waste any more precious time !;
git that critter unloaded before any one
sees her. She's been in that car over
thirty-six hours. and we're liable to $500
fine
1.-THE COW was unloaded immediately.
When he returned to the Office he called
my attention to bill of SO cents had
collected on washing machine.
lyon corrected that bill before you
collected it. hope.'
Corrected it? No. What's wrongr
"'Oh, mere tritle. That comes under
the interstate commerce law. By over
charging l3 cents you have laid US liable
to a fine of 81. 600 or two years in the PEN
ltentiary, or beth. that's all. See what
circular No. ., 201 says: Agents who vio-
late any of the provisions OF the interstate
commerce law will themselves be per-
sonaily liable for any fines imposed
thereby. Ignorance of the law is no ex-
cuse Tor its violation. That's soothing,
isn't it? And here's . case of brandy
you've forwarded to Iowa, q prohibition
state. That's another misdemeanor. but,
thank God, We can probably escape to the
hills before the authorities get on to u.s.
"He sprang from his chair and began
pacing the floor, muttering to himself:
ON, no. there is no heroism required to
run station. No responsibility attached
to the position. Fines are lard up for you !;
jails and penitentiaries yawn for you, but
that's no.hing-.hat's merely the daily
routine
.Hc caught sight of the express book
and stopped short:
"'Those quaiis,' he faltered, looking at
me impioringly. You examined each
bird as the law directs, to see that 1t had
not been captured by net. pound, weir or
tran2 You know that rule So says agents
must acquaint themselves with and be
governed by the game laws Of their state
or territory?'
81 could not speak, but he read the an
swer in my face. Then he extended his
hand to me, while look of sublime ex-
altation TRANSPORTED his homely counte-
nance.
"'As the agent and his voice had the
terrible calmness of despair, i am respon-
sible for your crimes. I am forever un-
done-but bear you no malice; 1t was
fate. Whatever happens, remember. L
forgive you; but and he jammed his hat
down over his ears and his eyes giared
wildly, they will never take me alive
Then he strobe out of the Office and
disappeared.
1.-The sun sank below the western hori-
zon, and twilight and mosquitoes invaded
the melancholy landscape.
presently freight train came along
and stopped for water. 1t so happened
that an empty box car stopped right oppo-
site the office. l gazed into its hospitality
open door, and great homesickness and
yearning stole over me. For moment 4
hesitated, but a scream of mortal anguish
reached me from the direction OF the sa-
loon and decided me.
"Softiy closing the office door, l crept
into the untenanted car, and when the en-
gineer had jerked out the slack and pulled
out of Beaufort my career as assista Mt
agent was at an end"