The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-16
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 dignihed the station had been
built. That was long before there was a
gray hair on his head or bushy whiskers
adorned his narrow, high checked face
His nose-a dividing ridge between two
bleary eyes-was not so anguIarly promi-
nent at that momentous period, and his
skin was far less like the leather it now SO
closely resembled.
Years of rough toll in all sorts Of such
weather as is melted out to West Prentisa
station have no tendency to ameliorate
age. Nor was Spriggins an exception.
He had started as gateman, or, more
properly then, dagman. He was fast end
ing his career, still gateman
The duties of his Office comprised ev-
erything that was not done by the sta
ton 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 postoffice four times a day; the pump
ing engine TO be looked after; lamps to he
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 I'M
Complaining as himself should have been
given lighter position in his old age
But companies are not blessed with the
clearness of vision of individuals, and
every time death or promotion had left
vacant the position of baggage master,
Spriggins had secretly hoped it might be
his Each time disappointment came
with the newly appointed baggage master
The last vacancy had occurred about
I
age, backed by his record of falthfulness,
would secure him the coveted position
When a new man, stranger, came to fill
the place, the old man was cut to the
quick. He had been disappointed before,
but this was not like the Others for some
how he felt as if his last hope was gone.
Even the sIowest brains come to a turn
ing point. Spriggins began to think him
self i'll used by his employers. Day by day,
as he reviewed the case in his mind, tbs
conviction grew on him, until at last he
decided to be avenged. Just how venge-
ance was to be wreaked he had not yet
conceived. Whether to open a switch or
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 themselves out
One hot day in August the station agent
went down with the fever and the baggage
master who knew biography and had
done similar work on a branch road re-
ceived instructions to I'LL the place tenn
porarily.
There was not breath of air stirring
when the PA pulled out and at the heat
was well nigh unbearable. Spriggtns came
loafing into the stuffy little waiting room
to bring reports Of "a hundred in the
shade" glass at the pumping station across
the traok.
When he reached the gate of the Office,
he stopped short in surprise. There, with
his head on the desk, lay the baggage mas
ter and station agent fast asleep.
Spriggins' breath began to come in quick
gasps- He seized the gate before him
Great drops of sweat were pouring down
his forehead, for lie recognized his chance.
If the company hired incompetent men
who would fall asleep at their posts, it was
no more his business than why it did not
promote deserving ones, who had well nigh
broken their backs climbing poles and
shoveling snow?
He tiptoed cautiously from the room and
sought the shade OF the pumping house to
think There was an important siding at
West Prentiss station, and the road was q
single track. He knew the mountain
train due at 2.46 was already reported
three quarters Of All hour late. The milk
train from the opposite direction would
pass at 800, and close behind would be
of collision and wreck hoated through his
mind and he chuckled to himself and
gave his thighs resounding Whacks with
his ungainIy paw.
He held the key of the situation, so he
imagined Perhaps some time the COM
pany would learn to reward faithful serv-
ice and not be forever experimenting with
young upstairs. For long time he lay
stretched in the shade thinking
At length he looked at his watch. It
was 1925, and the 9 mixer was whistling
at the curve three-quarters of a mile be-
low the station. What if his negligence
should really cause collisionl Had the
young baggage master ever done anything
to him that he should let him lose his
place? What right had he, old Spriggins,
to endanger scores Of lives merely because
he had not been promoted?
Hatless, he hurried over to the station
and actually ran up the platform, his
heavy boots dumping over the boards in a
lively fashion.
The operator was still sleeping soundly.
Several hearty shakes and he was awak-
ened. And Spriggins was saying care
Iessly, .'D'ye want yer lamps dlled2'' al
though he knew they had been filed that
morning.
1t is very nice to write how the station
agent went away south to recuperate, and
the baggage master was permanently in
stalled in his place-hOw, at last, the
longed for position was filed by Sprig-
gins. 1t is very nice to write it.
However, the station agent was back IN
a month. and last summer noticed the
unmistalxable bushy whiskers and the
sharp nose dividing the bIeary eyes of the
man who raised the gates as the mountain
train pulled out of West Prentiss station.
London Sun.
s--.pr.1 w.