Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-04-07
CHAPTER /.

Then the train went ON again, the en-
gine putting and kissing i'm vain at
tempt TO acquire suddenly the greatest
speed, seemingly in great Impotence
that it had been compelled 10 stop at
all-which was not to he wondered at I:
for, when I gazed around. from whGt
could see. Sidington was nothing more
than a station house, few miles of
railroad, and n wide stretch of hilly
country.
There was Young fellow of about my
age standing in the doorway of thewait-
ing-room. lie was regarding me with
evident curiosity. l stepped up TO him.
where is the station agent?" asked,
'Why, I'm the agent" the fellow re.
piled, in drawing tones.
Isn't there any town here. or nj least
a settlement? Is this" sweeping my
arm around in a comprehensive gesture
lis this all there is Of Sidingtou?"
"lou kin see about all there is from
here" the agent replied. with a grin.
Then, 70 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.
"Yes. 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"
"But what's to he done about my lug
gage?" | asked. impatiently, pointing
toward a large trunk and several bun
dies al the upper end Of the platform.
The agent looked in the direction
indicated. '0h. that's all yours, is il ?
I thought maybe il might he. Got
checks, i suppose"
YES. certainly. Here they are"
He took the checks, gazed at them
doubtfully for moment, then slowly
went 10 the pile of baggage.
Il 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 | had given
him. lyon kin take 'cm 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
duh and stupid.
Thank you," / finally said. 1T is
very kind of YOU to allow Inc to take
my own property Perhaps YOU will
show further Kindness by telling me
how / am 20 take il. The bundles
might possibly manage, but the trunk,
as you see, is large, and, l can assure
you. heavy. and l really should prefer
not TO carry il. il any other way of re-
moval might be devised"
For a moment il seemed TO me the
blast of sarcasm produced an effect. for
Just a shadow of a smile appeared on
the agents face. IL lasted but an in
slant, however, and the blank stare
with which he had viewed my belong
ings took its place.
where you wanter go?" he finally
asked. in an indifferent manner.
II would like to go 10 Nelsonville, If
there could be found a 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
sonville's about three miles from here, y
he continued. "'Tain't much more of a
place than Sidington. You amt goin'
10 stay there, are you?"
was about to answer sharply that
that was my business, but, remember
ing the curiosity that the advent of a
stranger generally causes in the minds
of country folks, told him my plans
were not definite.
"'Tain't that | wanter he impert'-
gt." he weDfo On, with a grin; "but
M i(<fou was only goin' to stay
night you might leave your
col <he station"
well, / had intended TO spend two or
three months. possibly longer, in Mel
sonville. ID depends altogether on how
like it. So, you see, / must have my
trunk"
1.-TWO or three months!" He gazel
down at the track for n moment, and
then turned quickly toward me as
though an important idea had just
come TO him.
There amt no hotel at jacksonville.
P'rs.ps you didn't know that" he said
1T will make no difference TO me. ]
have made arrangements for accommo-
dalton. You see, i am going to occupy
a portion of my own property"
"Oh, you own place there, them"
"Yes, the old Nelson homestead Is
mine. It descended to me from my
grandfather, Abram Nelson. He has
been dead is yeers. i have not seen the
place since. 1 was quite n small boy
then. And now, as i have plenty of
leisure, the desire is natural to revisi,
the scenes of boyhood days"
The agent listened to my words, and j
was considerably amused to note the
interest they inspired-an interest. ]
thought then, due wholly to a country
fellows curiosity.
IF / have told you all you wish 70
know about myself" went on, twill
you kindly tell me, as a return favor,
where q team can be procured to cart
me and my belongings over to my
placer"
The fellow grinned at me, as though
there had been something i'm my words
RnA amusing nature; but finally he did
give me the desired information:
why, guess maybe Jake HunsickeI
kin take You over. He's just gettin' in
the cats. but il You pay him, p'raps he'll
leave the oats be long enough to drive
to Jacksonville and back. Anyway, hi
kin take you after supper, il you wantei
wait till then"
"And where does Mr.. Hunsicker live p
I asked.
The agent pointed to a clump Of tree.
on the summit of a hill shout a quarter
Of a mile distant. You kin see Just {
part of the ROOT. through the trees. Tn,
road runs uphill right past the house.
"How about these things while an
gone? Will they b. safe?" imputed.
''Oh. yes; no one'll take 'em. It'll b
all right" he replied. indifferently, a
though he did not care whether my lug
gage would be secure or not. Then h
yuve one more glance II rae, grinned II
ais dull way. sprsng from the platform
,na went e8 dowp tn road,