Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-02-23

copyright. .so<. by J.
The conductor had eyed Lambert Gu
eiously as he punched his ticket. He
held it for a moment and edged his Ian
tern around so that its feeble light
could reinforce the glimmer from the
cleared and smoky globe above Lam
bert's curly head. The train had started
from the junction with that quick series
of back-wrenching jerks which all vet
eran travellers remember as character
istic of American railways, before the
introduction of coupler buffers" 1t
was shabby. old-fashioned train-one
whose cars had "seen SERVICE" and not
little of it, during the long and event.
full war SO recently closed. It had a
baggage car behind the wheezy old
wood-burner that drew the rickety pro-
cession out into the dim, starlit aisle
through the eastward forest, and. for
the first time in a week, that baggage
car contained a trunk. It had a 'smok-
,er," in which three or four negroes were
soundly sleeping on the worn cushions
at the forward end, and three or four
hank, shabbily-dressed whites were con-
suming' tobacco and killing time under
the single lamp at the other. It had a
*'1adies' car"-so called-in which no
ladies were visible, and which differed
in appointments from the smoker only
in the facts that its seats were uphol-
stered in dingy red plush instead of
blackened canvas, and that both its
lamps could be induced to burn, how
ever feebly, instead of only one. twas
q forlorn, hangdog, shame-faced sort
of train, that seemed oppressed with o
sense of its own disrepute-a train that
Kept in hiding during the broad light
of day and ventured to stink forth only
after nightfall. like some impoverished
debtor, not loving the darkness better
than light because of evil deeds, but
hating it az it hated it's own shabbiness,
and accepting itas only one plane above
total decrepitude, the junk shop and the
poorhouse. Starting at dusk from a
populous station on north and south
"'trunk" line, it turned and twisted
Through red clay cuttings. 'jolted over
mud-covered ties and moss-grown tres
ties. whistling shrill to wake the watch
.ers, at 'cross-country stations on the
way, and finally, after midnight, rested
AN hour at prominent point. estate
center" where, sometimes at one
O'Clock but generally long after, the
night express came glazing up from the
south along the glistening rails of an
other great northern" route, and three
nights in the week, perhaps, gave it a
sleepy passenger or two to trundle away
westward towards the big river town it
managed to reach by sunrise, once
more to stink out of sight until dark,
when again it crept forth and stole
away on the return trip over its clank-
ing road, unresentful of comment on it's
loneliness and poverty, and proud, if
anything, of the fact that this way, at
least, it ran right end foremost" &C.
.cording 10 the American idea, with the
baggage instead of the ladies' car next
the struggling engine.
It was clear, starlit night, sharply
acold, and the planks of the platform at
the junction had snapped and creaked
under their glistening white coat of
frosty rime. The up train came in even
later than usual-so much SO that the
.stationmaster had more than once
asked his friend the conductor of the
waiting "Owl" whether he really
b thought he could make it" over to Quit
man in time for the down express ut
dawn. YOU'D better pull out the min
ute she gifts hyuh," was his final in
junction when at last her whistle was
heard.
A 1.-THE, active young fellow in trim
suit of tweed had sprung from the
sleeper before the incoming train had
fairly stopped, and, hailing the first
man he saw, asked: "Train for Tuga-
\ loo gone yet?'' which so sstonished the
+ party addressed that he simply stared
h for minute without reply. A voice in
the wilderness, apparently, was heard
above the Kissing of steam and the loud
mouthings of the negro porters of the
two rival hotels. "All aboard for Quit
!. man. it said, and, abandoning his >ap-
( parent purpose Of repeating the ques-
ton in sharper tone, the young fellow
turned end ran nimbly across the DIM
.ly-lighted platform in the direction OF
the hail. - ill.,. 49,, -
''Quitman train? -Tuga,oo?" he asked
.=5-of q dark form standing above the tail
light Of the car. ~.,~:@ - =: IL. -. l.
pullman it is, Anybody else thar =
B And the interrogative went of IN
shout. No answer. 5S5..2 5:=.: 3=a5.E II :!
.5s n, Hank! Anybody else r Still
no answer. Two: or three dim figures
I were BY this. time clustered around the
aiaring torch Of . coffee stand at the
edge Of the platform. The conductoi
Il cot 81 and walked imp patiently towards
them. i5 s. ss 5s3f #s #..
.l.s5s..A ny you gentlemen for Quitman 3
& he asked. ..s: 4 .s5i
ouitman He'll, no! What's any
Il man want Is 60 thar Tor nigh like this
Pull out with your old sneezer. Jimmy
Mess you'l stop and = e e g GU
fee.. 81 81
shat \ 80, cap Amt you 60
nybpd forsus bought the jjuddg'