Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-01-05
A STRANGE VOICE.
Why Two Railroad Men Broke
Open a Trunk.

Why Two Railroad Men Broke
Open a Trunk.
Between the stories of Conductor
Tom Pope and Sandy McTougal
backed by Sandy McTougal's friends,
one gets pretty good idea of Sandy's
remarkable adventure with voice, or,
as Sandy terms it, with the devil in q
box. - -.. -
Tom Pope is conductor and Nc
Tougal is baggagemaster on the Air
line, which runs from the Atlantic
ocean to the middle of next week."
ss"Most astonishing thing, that hunt
of Sandys for a voice., said the con-
ductor the other night. -
Then@Tom narrates, and very pref
tily, too, how he and Sandy We're trans
ferred to night runs in August last, and
how lonely the baggageman became
because he was cut off from fellows
to listen to his stories and offer him
cigars. So. 5. - NJ.
"You alters smoked 'em, Tom,'' in
terrupted Sandy. 81 don't smoke, ye
know"
II did get good many puffs that
way, I'll admit" said the conductor.
.srley were about the only thing Sandy
ever gave that could get any light out
Of"
''Are you telling this story?" asks
McTougal. IF so, tell it,
SANDY was lonely and miserable, u
continued his friend. Nobody talked
to him or gave him quar5er for not
smashing their baggage, so he took tc
brown studies and maps between sta.
tions. The night of his voice bust.
ness"
Devil, I tell you." cries Sandy
abruptly.
"Was a crowded one," continues
Pope, without noticing the Interrupt.
ton: His car was jam full of luggage.
"And the more trunks Sandy has on
board the crosser he gets. There was
camp meeting on a switch-off track,
and at the junction l picked up lot OF
hobby passengers who were leaving
for other places of amusement, and
there was no end of trunks.
.'.McTougal got things into shape
about eleven o'clock, reckon, and as
there's a part of the run where it's a
good hour between stations, he got
ready for snooze.
''He picked out the softest truck in
the pile on which to, pillow his head,
tilted back his chair with his feet on
the rounds, pulled his hat over his face
and went to sleep. How's that, Mac?''
'sQuite keerect," responds the bag
gagemaster.
every we'll; then you tell it for
awhile. wasn't there,>you know"
cit didn't seem 'sif I'd been asleep
more'n minute begins Sandy, when
there was lively jump of the car an ]
sort of come to life with, jerk. At the
same time I heerd, as If way off, q
noise like some one a-talking.
But thought twas a brakeman
outside, an was jes' a-dozin' off again
when right at my ear, in a thin, sharp
voice, su'thin' said: oh, Lord!'
Il amt no fool, ain't,' Sandy as
serts. throwing back his head, defiant
~. AN when that tin whisper comes
into my ear jest half opened my eyes,
'spectin' to see some of the boys around.
But not a livin' thing was visible.
$50 said to myself: i snored; that's
what's the matter an off l goes a.
nod,tin' an dreamin'
"Then agin hears that voice. It
says. quite distinctly: I want to get
out!'
''Now want bit mistaken this
time. l heard it; but fore could get
my wits together there was yell
soundin' way off.
(" That's my death-call.' says to my
self. instantly calling to mind fellows
who had heard like sounds an were
dead in less'n a week. Then saws to
myself: Sandy, don't be fool!' an
jumps to my feet as wide awake as I
am now.
1T was wonan's squawk, and I
could have. sworn to it. Then it sung
out in tin truapet style:
Help! help!'
II hauled over the tool-chest an the
water barrel, and the cupboard in the
corner, an looked out on the platforms,
an did everythin' man could do un-
der the circumstances to find out what
was a-maktn' of that fuss.
81 went to the side door to cool nv
self. an was a-fanni1 my face when.
blame me, II I didn't hear cornet
start of with the 'Rogue's March, and
gruf voice foller it with:
"'In the midst Of life we are in
DEATH
II yanked my head round, an didn't
see nothin' that wasn't there before.
That threw me off my pins.
.Then rooster crowed, an Teller.
with cold in his nose, counted ten
forward and then backward, an an
other cuss, with a bullfrog voice, or
dered me to Wake up! the devil wants
youn
You needn't laugh, gentlemen, when
Ttell you Irun; an sod you If you'd
been thar. was certain the devil had
come for me-late but sure-an' i
didn't wait for him to ask for nv
ticket"
Tom Pope at this point broke into a
stentorian laugh.
II. gentlemen, you'd seen Sandy
come firing into the car. where was
sitting, you would never stop laughing.
You may not believe it, but his. brown
face was as white as your shirt fronts,
and his eyes were as big as billiard
balls. He dashed down the aisle and
vhispered in my ear:
Tom! Tom! come with me!''
. What's the matter, Maco' said.
What ails you?'
= Tom, the devils in my car. He's
been scouting up for half an hour, an
I'm most crazy. II you're my friend
some with me
He wasn't drunk, because he doesn't
rink j ~ WI p't relig ipus epthusiasln,
sesaase Ssnay has no rsliSiSn. 5
Aott 1sfsvs He meant Whit he