The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-10-02
CHAPTER 1.

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trunk was mine, the passenger myself.
Then the train went on again, the en-
CINE putting and Kissing in a vain at
tempt to acquire suddenly the greatest
speed, seemingly in great impatience
that it had been compelled to stop at
all-which was not to be wondered at;
for, when / gazed around, from what /
could see, Sidington was nothing more
than station house, few miles of
railroad, and wide stretch of billy
country.
There was young fellow of about my
age standing in the doorway of the
waiting-room. He was regarding me
with evident curiosity. stepped up to
him.
Where is the station agent?" asked,
briefly.
why, I'm the agent" the fellow re-
piled, in drawing tones.
Isn't there any town here. or at least
a settlement? Is this" sweeping my
arm around in comprehensive gesture
lis this all there is of Sidington?"
You kin see about all there is from
here" the agent replied, with grin.
Then. to my surprise, he stepped out
on the platform, locked the door, and
put the key in his pocket.
Are you going to leave the sta tion?"
inquired.
"Yes. No use stayin' around. There
amt no more trains till three o'clock,
when couple of Goals pass. This amt
much of station"
But what's to be done about my lug
gage?" I asked, impatiently, pointing
toward large trunk and several bum
dies at the upper end of the platform.
The agent looked in the direction l
indicated. "Oh, that's all yours. is it?
thought maybe it might be. Got
checks. l SUPPOSE"
"Yes, certainly. Here they are"
! He took the checks, gazed at them
doubtfully for moment. then slowly
went to the pile of luggage.
II guess it's all right" he said. after
taking the checks from the various ar
tices of baggage and carefully compar-
ing them with the ones | had given
him. You kin take 'em along" va
Now the trunk was large and heavy,
and turned on the fellow with touch
of anger, for at first l thought he was
making game of me. But when | saw
the expression of stolid indifference
on his face, it struck me he was simply
dull and stupid.
Thank you," l finally said. 1T is
very kind of you to allow me to take
my own property. Perhaps you will
show further kindness by telling me
how am to take it. The bundles
might possibly manage. but the trunk,
as you see, is large, and, I can assure
you, heavy, and l really should prefer
not to carry it, if any other way of re-
moval might be devised"
! For a moment it seemed to me the
blast of sarcasm produced an effect, for
Just a shadow of smile appeared on
the agents face. 1t lasted but an in
slant. however, and the blank stare
with which he had viewed my belong.
ings took it's place.
Where you wanter go?" he finally
asked, in an indifferent manner.
81 would like to go to Jacksonville, ii
there could be found a way to get my
trunk there too" replied.
$50 you're goin' to Jacksonville ?" He
favored me with quick, searching
glance, which was Immediately with
drawn when he caught my eye. Mel
sonville's about three miles from here,
he continued. faint much more of a
place than Sidingtou. You amt goin
to stay there. are you?"
l was about to answer sharply that
that was my business, but, remember
ing the curiosity that the advent of q
stranger generally causes in the minds
of country folks, l told him my plans
were not definite.
faint that | wanter be impert
nent." he went on, with grin; but
thought if you was only goin' to stay
there over night you might leave your
trunk in the station"
well. had intended to spend two Oh
three months, possibly longer, in Mel
sonville. 1t depends altogether on how
| like it. So, you see, ! must have my
trunk"
1.-Two or three months" He gazet
down at the track for a moment, ant
then turned quickly toward me a.
though an important idea had jus
come to him.
There amt no hotel at Jacksonville
P'raps you didn't know that" he said
ut will make no difference to me.
have made arrangements for accommo
dation. You see, am going to occup.
a portion of my own property"
"Oh, you own place there. then?"
"Yes, the old Nelson homestead i
mine. It descended to me from m.
grandfather. Abram Nelson. He ha
been dead is years. / have not seen tn
place since. was quite small DO,
then. And now. as | have plenty O
leisure. the desire is natural to revisi
the scenes of boyhood days"
The agent listened to my words, and
was considerably amused to note tn
interest they inspired7-an interest,
thought then. due wholly to countr.
fellows curiosity. e