The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-29

cheerfulIy, as he approached the
gloomy group OF mountainee-s-
who, are you, anyhow" asked the
man who was covering the express
messenger.
''WhO am I? I'm the manager OF
this railroad What do you fellows
mean by stopping one of my trains?"
The man lowered his rifle and
looked at the manager.
Whats the matter with you?"
added Tompkins.
1.-THE matters just this, Mr. Mana
ger. You run the gol-darndest rail-
road in all creation. That's what's the
matter, and we amt a-goin' to stand
it no longer. 1 don't mind your train
men throwing coal at my dog; L don't
mind 'em sassing my wife an making
fun o my clothes; bpt when II comes
&c monkeying with my whisky, I'm
dod-gasted if I'm a-goin' to stand it. "
The other mountaineers nodded
their approval Of these sentiments
'Monkeying with your whisky?
What do you mean2" cried the bewil-
dered manager.
81 mean just what say. They can
throw coal at my dog, they can sass
my"
Eyes, yes; but I don't understand
about the whisky. What have my
men to do with your whisky?'
why, don't you know, and you
manager of the road2 Well. moon
shine whisky's all right enough ordi-
nary days; but we allus has good old
kentucky fer Christmas. Day before
yesterday I gave your man ia this
here lxyar a jug and 81 TO bring
me some prime Kentucky from
"a
bang through goes your train, jug
and whisky and all, and never stops
Now we amt a-goin' 20 stand
that from no road that ever footed
whistle to scare the steers 1 said I'd
bet my boots next train nd stop, and
she has. I don't allow no man to
monkey with my lilzker. He kim sass
my wife and chuck coal"
s.See here" said the manager 70 the
expressman. ''Did you take his sep
'''Twan't me-" said the messenger.
Must have been Bill Simmons, on
No. 9, and she must have gone through
without stopping yesterday"
Then all you want is your whislry2'
asked the manager, with sigh of re-
lief
Fairs fair, boss. 'Tisn't Christian
like to drink moonshine at this tirue
of the year. Besides he's got my 80
and the jug"
That's all right" cried the mana
ger. ''Have we got jug on the
tramp
Here's one,'' said the mountaineer,
taking a jug from behind log They
had been refreshing themselves while
waiting for the train
The manager grasped it by the
handle, turned it upside down, and
let the remains of the s'moonshine"
gurgle out, to the horror OF the
mountaineers. Then he started
through the train. shouting, Here,
you men with TASKS, 1 want half your
stock. Pour it in here, and be glad
you get off so cheaply.'
Every man who had bottle pro-
duced it, and before Tompkins had
gone through two cars the jug was
trimming full. He went back to the
leader, who now allowed the engineer
and expressman to hold down their
hands
Taste that" said Tompkins-
The mountaineer smacl0ed his lips
after sampling the contents. That's
a good blend" he said, with solemn
reverence.
''Blend2 You bet it's a blend. I've
blended it myself; there's a sample of
every known brand in the states
there Now tomorrow give you my
word that No. Q stops aud unships
your jug, or there'u be a row Is
that all right?"
Its all right, boss said the lead
er who had given the word. There
upon his lauk company had flung the
old ties and tree-trunks clear Of the
track You're a white man, IL you
are the manager of this road. And
your men can make fun of my clothes
an sass my wife all they've a.-mind to-
an heave the cOmpany's coal at my
dog. as long as they know you amt
a-goin' to monkey with my whisky
McClure's Magazine