The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-14
Stories of an Inland State.


the west alone. He took section in
sleeper. Leaning back in his seat he felt a
profound restfulness He was free again.
The smoke of the city hung low upon the
tracks as his train pulled out, clicking over
innumerable switches. The lights along
the way shown in yellow spangles through
the car window sweating with steam. Lo-
comotives shot past him. going in an OPP
posite direction, the changing of their bells
gurgiing as though they had been dropped
:Jlto water. The passengers in the Wagner
.drifted into the dining car ahead and back
again, picking their teeth and loliing about
In the seats.
This man was after all a child. For
years he mad not Travelled alone. Now he
felt for a moment the responsibility which
came upon him with accrued interest from
having been so long neglected. and this
alone marred the peace he felt within him.
The man in the section IN front looked
up and studied the face of the musician Gu
riously.
Burr noticed II 'T suppose he saw
something familiar" he said to himself
with little smile. But he couldn't place
me-"
But the stranger did place him. He
left ani returned presently with his wife
and twin daughters. The woman sat down
and began heavy bombardment Of quick
glances al Burr. The stare OF her husband
still rained down heavily and steadily upon
him and tho twins taking the seat just in
front CT him stood on their knees and
chewed their handkerchief and surveyed
him gresdily.
TIE conductor came IN the forward door
a. Il.
tern on arm collecting tickets AMI slipping
colored slips into the cracks Of the double
windows.
When he came to the father Of the twins,
that individual pulled him down and whis-
pered something,
Afron,ed, as conductors are BY al ap-
pearances of familiarity, the brass-button-
ed official grunted and said gruffly, de-
handing an audible answer by straighten-
ing his form;
'WhatT'
The man flushed and did not answer,
The conductor with severe countenanoe
passed on to Burr
He looked his passenger over curiousiy,
then with awe, and examined the long
ticket which Burr presented with trembling
hands
Then the icy official began to thaw slow
". He would mark the man before him be-
fore the whole car with the rare stamp Of
his courteous approval
You've got long trip before you, Mr.
Fslrr.''
Yes" said Burr, But expect to en-
icy it
The father Of the twins could stand the
pressure no longer. He darted across the
aisle ard accosted a perfect stranger
did you see him?'' ne asked feverishly.
who" asked the man, rather aged and
oaeruleus.
Burr"
Burr who7" asked the old man with Of
Tense
THE piane-player."
''Where2'
There"
Dear. Dear, So he's aboard. well>~
The old man arose to his feet and giano-
ed curiously down on the passenger IN
front Of the conductor. He remained stand
ing.
Just then the conductor threw his head
back and gave vent to an obstreperous
laugh. Whatever wStticism Burr had In
duigea In it d,d not license this great
laugh. But the conductor was impressing
the passengers. Here was man he could
afford to be friendly with. Here was a man
who was great. Here was a man that
could melt the ice of his ofacial soul
He did not reckon wrongly.
This loud laugh brought the eyes Of the
pa ssengers upon him and his favored pas
senger.
\ whisper went through the car as the
electric spark on telegraph wire
Burr
It aroused the curiosity OF all IN two
ways. Several stool up and glanced at the
vfrtuoso; others gave a quick glance and
then wet about Other business apparently
with charming indifference, taking gooe
care to repeat the glance every few Sec
onGs.
The conductor passed or Presently the
conductor Of tAe Wagner came in and
glancfng contenptueusly at the rest of the
passen gers insisted on placing small pill
low under Burrs head Then he brought
him a glass of water, making it a point to
appear Obvious to the attention of the
passengers but taking infinite satisfaction
that they watched him.
A brakeman came in with a stepladder
and began to tinker at light over Burr's
head He took an interminable time for
1t. There was nothing the matter with the
lamp The conductor had told him of Burr,
That Was all
When he had completed his Job he was
nearly Knocked Off his feet By q question
from ECIr>
''Out OF whack9"
his ha;>
sit down. said Burr, making room
They held an animated conversation, |
Burr doing most of the talking. Then the |
conductor came IN. Such effronsery! What |
5td that brakeman mean? He had mind |
to order him to get of the train and walk |
back, but Burr stopped him
''Sit down, Mr.. Conductor"
The conductor removed his hat and sat
aoNn net emitting a glare at the brake |
man
Tie passengers were now In q stats OF !
high excitement
The Wagner conductor, not to be out |
done. sauntered up 70 the party with a I
pillow exactly Ike the other and insisted |
On substituting IL This done with great |
care Burr said:
''Sit down"
The party had lively chat TO the awful /
misery of everybody else In the car,
- tell YOU" said the conductor crushing |
the other TWO guests with a glance. II \
never heard anything like that piece you |
played there that night In the Garden |
Wei It Just paralyzed me. 1t Vas oesud-
Iyl. You never heard him did you, Max? |
Nan You Just lost half your lIfe."