Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-25
THE STATION AGENT

Spriggins had been in the employ of
the road ever since the first track had
been laid and the tumble down little
shanty proudly dignifed "the station"
had been built. That was long before
there was gray hair on his head or
bushy whiskers adorned his narrow,
high checked face. His nose-a divid-
ing ridge between two bleary ey es-was
not so angularly prominent at that mo-
mentous period, and his skin was far
less like the leather it now so closely re-
sembled.
Years of rough toll in all sorts ofsuch
weather as is meted out to West Prentiss
station have no tendency to ameliorate
age. Nor was Spriggins an exception.
He had started as gateman, or, more
properly then. hagman He was fast
ending his career, still gateman.
The duties of his office comprised
everything that was not done by the
station agent or the baggage master
There were the gates by the station to
be lowered at every train the mail TO be
carried to the postofice four times
day; the pumping engine to be looked
after; lamps to be cleaned, floors to be
swept, fires tended, and in winter every
snowstorm brought the additional work
of clearing the long platforms.
Spriggins was getting too old to climb
the poles to the signal lamps every day.
and in all weather. He had felt it for
some time. A man as faithful and un-
complaining as himself should have
been given lighter position in his old
age. But companies are not blessed
with the clearness of vision of individ-
uals. and every time death or promotion
had left vacant the position of baggage
master, Spriggins had secretly hoped it
might be his. Each time disappoint-
ment came with the newlyappointed
baggage-master.
The last vacancy had occurred about
a year ago Spriggins was certain that
his age, backed by his record of faith
fuIness, would secure him the coveted
position. When new man. stranger
came to fill the place, the old man was
out to the quick. He had been d:sap-
pointed before, but this was not like the
others. for somehow he felt as if his last
hope was gone.
Even the sIowest brains came to a
turning Lont Spriggins began to think
himself ill-used by his employers Day |
bv dav. as he reviewed the case in his |
mind. the conviction grew on him, un'
ill at last he decided to be avenged. |
lust how vengeance was to be wreaked |
ha had not vet conceived. Whether to |
omen a switch or to leave all the station
lamps untitled he had not yet decided in
his unscheming mind. Whatever it
was, it must be something terrible. That
was quite as far as his ideas had worked
out.
One hot day in August the station
AGENT went down with the fever and the
baggage-master, who knew teleg1a Apply
and had done similar work on
bTanCn ROAD, ICCClNCO iiAotA NNb'O4S ~ 49,
the place temporarily.
There was not breath of air stirring
when the 2:I4 pulled out, and at the
heat was we'll nigh unbearable, SPrig-
gins came loafng into the stuffy little
waiting room to bring reports of ga hun
dred in the shade" glass at the pumping
,+ation across she track
When he reached the gate of the Office
he stopped short in surprise There,
with his head on the desk, lay the bag
and station agent fast
asleep.
Spriggins' breath began to come in
,uick gasps. He seized the gate before