Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-11
Tip BLOSSOMS REVENGE.
The Dispatcher Had the Freight Conductor
Bounced, but Regretted It.

TIP BLOSSOMS REVENGE.
The Dispatcher Had the Freight Conductor
Bounced. but Regretted It
"Wouldn't think that fellow over there,
just putting his silk hat into the rack, was
freight conductor less n six months ago,
would your said telegraph operator to a
brother juggler of the key as they were
taking lunch in Clark street restaurant
this noon. The man indicated was dressed
in fashionable black clothes and carried
blackthorn stick.
mot to speak OIL wouldn't! Looks
like bank president or Michigan avenue
swell, +" was the incredulous reply.
Its fact, resumed the first speaker.
| HE run a way freight ON the % for Is
years-always dressed in greasy pair of
blue overalls and his old SLOUGH hat was
sight for gods and fishes-Tip Blossoms
beaver, as the boys called it-and it was
| byword all along the line Only two pas
senger trains day were run over the line,
which was a branch up into the mining
country But Tips train was almost as
good as passenger. He always took hold
and helped the boys handle the freight, and
he'd make the long runs between stations
at the pace of a fast mail. The result was
that he took about as many fares as the
passenger trains. 1 was agent at one of
the smallest stations on the line, but Tip
always stopped longer with me than at
| any other station"
Il see! Girl operator, eh?" interrupted
the listener.
| 'Course-and a mighty slick one too.
Had the prettiest hair ever saw-reached
almost to the floor. One day the chief dis
patcher came out over the line to testify
before the coroner's jury. He saw the girl
and was dead in love from the first minute.
If man ever tried to make himself agree
able, it was that same chief dispatcher.
But he made slow headway and when old
| Tip came in called Mr.. Dispatcher out
side, SO that the lovers could have their
regulation three minutes for q morning
spoon.
1.-The dispatcher, however, opened the
door just in time to catch tho old rascal
taking his goodby kiss in the dark entry
| leading to the baggage room. 1 expected
that the girl would get her walking pa
pers, for it was evident that the young fell
| low was powerfully stirred up. She didn't,
though, but about week later old Tip
was called over the carpet at division head
quarters and got his discharge. The chief
| dispatcher took pains to let Tip know it
| was his pull with the superintendent
which had dropped the ak. In fact, he
| openly gloated over it.
Next day Tip came into headquarters,
| minus overalls, SLOUGH hat and all the rest
| Of his 'regimcntals, as he called them
He was logged out just as you see him
| now. If it hadn't been for a certain look
| in his eye, the fellows would have smashed
t. L. H. I 4
| fun with him. But somehow they con-
| cluded to wait. He marched straight into
the dispatching room and called for Mr.
| Chief Dispatcher. l had been called into
the town on business and happened to be
In the room at the time. I thought old
Tip was out for blood.
I came here to notify you that own
the house in which you and your family
are living, and that, as I'm going to get
married Wednesday, I shall want the
place to live in myself. You will please
to move out by Saturday without fail
'The dispatcher wilted. He went out
that same afternoon and rented of real
estate agent another house, not quite SO
swell as the one he had been living in, but
still one of the best in town. Next day
he moved into it. Just after the last car
Tip appeared at the door and rang the bell
Sorry 10 disturb you, said Tip to the
dispatcher, but 1 just learned from my
agent, who gave me this lease to sign,
that he had let this house to you. own
this house, and you can't live in any
house that 1 own. When you rent again,
you'd better inquire who owns the place.
1t may save you trouble
HE did inquire next time and found
that about half tho desirable houses for
rent in the town were owned by old Tip.
AS he was going past the bank he came to
a sudden standstill. In the place of the
old sign which had read for years, Ira
Coulter, Banker, he saw Blossom &
Coulter, Bankers Five minutes later he
walked into the division superintendent
office and said:
Say, Redmore, I'd like to know il old
Tip Blossom owns this railroad. He's
ousted me out Of two houses inside of four
days, and now his names up rs head of
the bank. In short, he owns everything
in town excepting the churches and the
railroad, and l wouldn't be surprised if
he had mortgage on them. 1 think
it's about time l moved into country
where the way freight business isn't so
economically managed. The next time
go out of my way to get Il man in blue
overalls discharged just to obligc friend
vpr,,n lpcyy 4