The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-12-18
CHAPTER I.

and allow one passenger TO alight. The
trunk was mine, the passenger myself.
Then the train went on again, the en-
CINE putting and kissing in vain at
tempt 10 acquire suddenly the greatest
speed, seemingly In great impatience
that IL had been compelled 20 stop at
all-which was not 20 be wondered at;
for, when / gazed around, from what i
could see, Sidington was nothing more
than n station house, 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 wait
ing-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
els 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?'
inquired.
Eyes. No use stayin' around. There
amt no more trains till three o'clock,
when a couple of Goals pass. This amt
much of a station"
"Dut what's TO be done about my lug
gage2" / asked. impatiently, pointing
toward large trunk and several bun
dies at the upper end OF the platform.
The agent looked In the direction /
indicated. "Oh, that's all yours, Is IL?
/ thought maybe IL 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, after
taking 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 touch
of anger. for at first / thought he was
making game of me. But when saw
the expression Of stolid indifference
on his face, IL struck me he was simply
dull and stupid.
THANK you," / finally said. 1T Is
very kind OF you TO allow me TO take
my own property. Perhaps you VII
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, can assure
YOU, heavy, and i really should prefer
not 20 carry IL, II any other way OF re
moval might be devised"
For a moment IL seemed TO me tho
blast of sarcasm produced an effect, tol
lust n shadow of n smile appeared OF
the agents face. IL lasted but an IN
slant, however, and the blank star
with which he had viewed my belong
ings took its place. ),
"Where you wanter goY he hnaiI.
asked, in an indifferent manner.
at would like 70 go 20 Jacksonville, 4
there could be found way 70 get M.
trunk there too" replied.
$50 you're goin' to NelsonvilleT III
favored me with n quick, searching
glance, which was Immediately with
drawn when he caught my eye. Mel
sonyille's about three miles from here,
he continued. "'Tnin't much more OF
place than Sidington. You aint goln
TO stay there, are your?
I wns about 10 answer sharply ina
that was my business, but, remember
ing the curiosity that the advent OF
stranger generally causes in the mino
OF country folks, told him my plan
were not definite.
"vTain't that | wanter be impert
nent," he went on, with grin; "put
thought II You was only goin' 10 sta
there over night you might leavs you
trunk In the station
''Well, had intended 10 spend two 9
three months, possibly longer, In Ne
sonvile. IL depends altogether on no
like il. SO, you see, ! must have m
trunk"
1.-TWO OF three monthsl" lie gaze
down at the track for moment, an
then turned quickly toward me
though an important idea had jul
come 10 him. 49,
There amt no hotel at Nelsonvill
P'raps you didn't know that he sal
cit will make no difference TO me.
hive made arrangements for accomm
datIon. You see, am going to occur
a norton OF my own property.
''oh, you own n place there then
ayes. the old Nelson homestead
min.. 4 descended 70 me from n
grandfather, Abram Nelson. He ~
been dead IS years. have not seen u
place since. / was quite small Ok
then. And now, as l have plenty
leisure. the desire is natural TO reVis
the scenes Of boyhood days
The agent listened TO my words, anS
was considerably amused TO note q
interest they inspired-an interest,"
thought then. due wholly to coun'