The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-12-25
THE STATION AGENT

Sprlggins had been In the employ Of
the road ever since the first track had
been laid and the tumble down little
shanty proudly dignifcd "ihe station
had been built That was long before
there was a gray hair on his head or
bushy whiskers adorned HE narrow.
high checked face. llis nose-a diyid.
ing ridge between two bleary c,cs-was
not so angularly prominent at that mo.
mentous period, and NJ, skin was far
less like the leaihcf'it now go closely re-.
.cmblcd
Year, OF rough toll in all sorts Of such
weather as g. melted out TO West prcntss
station hove no tendency TO ameliomic
age. Nor wa. sphggin. am exception.
He had started a. gatcman, or, more
properly then, nagman. Ic wa. fast
ending hl. career, siiI gatemau
The duties Of hi, Office comprltcd
everything that was not done by the
station agent or the haVgagc.mastcr
There were the gates by the station to
be lowered at every train the mail 10 bc
carried TO the pos'oiiec four times
day the pumping engine 10 De- looked
after. lamps 10 be cleaned, floor, 20 be
swept. fires tended. and in winter every
snowsiorm brought the additional work
OF clearing the long platforms.
sprlgslns was getting too old 10 climb
the poles tothe signal lamps every day.
and in an weather. Hr had fcli n Tor
some time. a man as faithful and uu.
complaining a. himself should have
been given a lighter position In his old
age. But companies are not blessed
with the clcarnrss Of vision Of indlvid.
uals. and every time death or promotion
had left vacant the position Of baggage.
master. Sphggn- had secretly hoped Il
might be- his Each time disappolnt.
ment came with the ncwly.appolnted
haggagc.mastcr.
The last vacancy had occurred about
a year ago. Sprlrgins was certain that
his age, backed by his record Of faith.
fulncss, would secure him the coveted
position. When q new man q stranger
came TO nm the place. the old man was
on, 10 the quick. lie had been dlsap.
pointed before. 10, this was not Ike the
others, for somehow lac felt as n his last
hope was gone.
Even the slowcst brains came to a
turning oint Sprlgglns began to think
himself ill.used by his employers. Day
by day. a. he reviewed the case In his
mind, the conviction grew on him, I'M
al at last he decided to be avenged.
lust how vengeance was to be wreaked
ma had not yet conceived. Whether to
open a switch or to leave all the station
lamps untitled he had not yet decided In
his unsehemlng mind. Whatever II
was, It must he 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
baggagelnnster, who knew telegaphy
AMI had done similar work on a
branch road, received instructions to oil
the place temporarily.
There was not breath OF air stirring
when the aii4 pulled out, and at the
heat was well nigh unbearable, Sprlg-
gins came loafng into the study little
waiting room to bring reports OF ga hun
bred In the shade" glass at the pumping
station 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
gage.master and station agent fast
asleep.
SphgginS breath began 10 come In
quick gasps. lie seized the gate before
him. Great drops Of sweat were pour
ing down his forehead for he recog'
nlzed his chnuce lfthe company hired
Incompetent men who fell asleep at
their polts, % wa, mo- more hll business
than why q dld not promote deserving
ones. who had well nigh broken their
backs climbing poles ana shovellng
snowi
lie dptoed cautiously from the room
and sought the shade OF the pumping
house to think. There was am import
ant siding at West Prentlss' and tile road