The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-10-08
CHAPTER I.

The train stopped at Sidington Just
long enough to have a trunk thrown off
and allow one passenger to alight. The
trunk was mine, the passenger myself.
Then the train went on again, the en-
gine 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 1
could see. Sidington was nothing more
than a station house, a few miles of
railroad. and q wide stretch OF hilly
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 a comprehensive gesture
-''is 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 station? p
i inquired.
Eyes. No use stayin' around. There
amt no more trains till three o'clock,
when n couple of Goals pass. This amt
much of a station"
''But what's to be done about my lug
gage?" ! asked. impatiently. pointing
toward large trunk and several bun
dies at the upper end of the platform.
The agent looked in the direction l
indicated. "Oh, that's all yours, is il?
I thought maybe it might be. Got
checks, / suppose?"
"Yes. certainly. Here they are"
He took the checks, gazed at them
doubtfully for moment, then slowly
went to the pile OF luggage.
"I guess it's all right" he said. nfser
tnlsing the checks from the various ar
ticles of baggage and carefully compar-
ing them with the ones l had given
him. "You kin take 'em along"
Now the trunk was large and heavy.
and turned on the fellow with n touch
Of anger, for at first l thought he was
making game of me. But when I saw
the expression of stolid indifference
on his face, it struck me he was simply
dull and stupid.
THANK you." finally said. ''It is
very kind of you to allow me to take
my own property. Perhaps you will
show further kindness by telling me
how I am to take it. The bundles
might possibly manage. but the trunk.
ms you see. is large. and. can assure
you, heavy, and really should prefer
not to carry 1t, IL 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 shadow of a 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 its place.
'Where you wanter GOT" he finally
asked, in an Indifferent manner.
81 would like to go to Nelsonville, II
there could be found way to get my
trunk there too," replied.
$50 you're goin' to Nelsonville?" He
favored me with a quick, searching
glance, which was Immediately with.
drawn when he caught my eye. Mel
sonvilIe's about three miles from here,
nc continued. "'Tain't much more of q
place than Sidington. You amt goin
to stay there, are you?"
was about to answer sharply that
that was my business, but, remember
ing the curiosity that the advent of O
stranger generally causes in the mind,
Of country folks, I told him my plan,
were not definite.
"'Tain't that / wanter be impert'
nent," he went on, with a grin; but
thought il you was only goin' to stay
there over night you might leave YOU
trunk in the station"
"well, had intended to spend two ol
three months, possibly longer, in Mel
sonville. 1t depends altogether on how
1 like it. So, you see, must have m,
trunk"
Two or three months!" He gazes
down Mt the track for a moment. ant
then turned quickly toward me a
though an important idea had jus
come to him.
"There mint no hotel at Nelsonville
P'raps you didn't know that. he said
ssIt will make no difference To me.
have made arrangements for accommo
dation. You see, I arn going to occup.
. portion of my own property"
"Oh, you own place there, then?"
"Yes, the old Nelson homestead ]
mine. It descended to me from m,
grandfather, Abram Nelson. He ha
been dead 1s years. I have not seen tn
place since. I was quite small bo.
then. And now, as I have plenty o
leisure, the desire II natural to revisi
the scenes of boyhood days."
The agent listened to my words. and
was considerably amused to note tn
interest they inspired-sn interest,
Thought then, due wholly 70 countr!