Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 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 dignified "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 divid-
ing ridge between two bleary eyes--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 of such
weather as is melted 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, Aagman. 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 1t 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 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 newly appointed
baggage-master.
The last vacancy had occurred about
year ago. Spriggins was certain that
his age, backed by his record of faith
fulness, would secure him the coveted
position. When a new man a 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 slowest brains came to a
turning POINT. Spriggins began to think
himself ill-used by his employers. Day
by day, as he reviewed the case In his
mind, the conviction grew on him, un.
sss Z y - decided 70 be avenged
- t. ~ wkeaked
es ceueaised Whether TO-
open q switch ~ to lease Ill he station
lamps untitled he had not yet decided in
his unscheming mind. Whatever It
was, 1t 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 telegi aphy
AMI had done similar work on
branch road, received instructions to fII
the place temporarily.
There was not breath of air stirring
when the 2:I4 pulled out, and at the
heat was well nigh unbearable, Sprig-
gins came loafng into the stuffy little
waiting room to bring reports of "a hum
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.
Spriggins' breath began to come In
quick gasps. He seized the gate before
him. Great drops of sweat were pour
ing down his iosehead, for he recog-
nized his caanee 9the company hired
lHeempsssus MhO fell asleep at
q ~ mC more his business
shqal why Il Old not promote deserving
ones Who had well nigh broken their
! backs climbing poles and shoveIing
snow?
He tiPtoed cautiously from the room
and sought the shade of the pumping
house to think. There was an import.
ant siding at West Prentiss, and the road
was a single track. He knew the moun-
tain train due at 2a45 was already report
ed three-quarters of an hour late. The
milk train from the opposite direction
would pass at $40, and close behind
would be the east.bound accommoda-
ton. Visions of collision and wreck
hoated through his mind and he chuckl-
ed to himself and gave his thighs re-
sounding whacks with his ugly paw.
He held the key of the situation, SO he
imagined. Perhaps some time the com
Npany would learn to reward faithful ser
vice and not be forever experimenting
fSslapon Arn,nyg1