Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-20
Vice President Was Nervous.

1850 "a -
president. starting 10 his feet. lit makes
ne uncomfortable to b. left in this bunch
and down"
Don't enjoy it myself said the presi-
dent.
Twenty minutes had made 4 change in
the dun Kaleidoscope outside. The long
moved out. showing omen yards across TO
the big cylindrical gas tank and TO a
roundhouse. Tn intervening distance was
studded with signal lamps. y passenger
train With double row of lights crept
through the mist across the farther end
like u great jointed glow worm.
There goes the Burlington. we'll have
The remark was interrupted by a rapid
singing of The rails to the rear. Then
with a roar a delayed incoming train burst
on the sight. Streaks of light jerked past
the window. giving Glimpses OF comfortable
people within.
Number six"
Wen get out now in Il few minutes"
came from the far corner.
The president settled down more COM
fortably. For the space Of five minutes
there was silence in the observation car: u
lull. except Tor the whistles outside the
did you notice the electric headlight on
the Memphis Il while ago." asked the
director in an effort 10 break the ennui Of
the situation.
Strikes M they would he a good thing
for US" said the president. o the ua-
fenced plains the engineer could see cattle
on the track a mile ahead. Did you see
Walkers engine to-day when he cam
in?'
They would he confusing in the yards
here remarked the director in the dark
corner.
\ prolonged silence WAS ended by a slight
jolting of the car. Then it began moving
forward. The switch light changed to yell
low and the car bumped past. There WIS
a sharp crash at the side of the car and
Il switchman. with ii shining macintosh
and carrying ii broken lantern. swung up
l, tho rrf rraiH a fpaas1 rLNa
out on the platform and. returning. report
ed that the switchman had col!ided with
the signal.
1t couldn't be regulation distance" said
the president.
HE says it's in ii sharp curve tina
shortened the distance to the car where
he was running"
a red light appeared ahead and the car
came TO a stop.
Blocked again" said the president.
Minutes of expectation slipped by. but
the car did not move. They were now on
the main track and The members of the
party were perceptibly restless. Several
arc lights on the distant streets. which
had come into view. with tall. vertical
shadows tipping drunkenly in the mist. dis
closed a long, perspective of silver rails.
Above them glowed a line OF lights on the
railing of the Twelfth street viaduct.
A yellow headlight appeared. coming
around the curve on the same track, and
grew steadily a II appeared The rails
changed to gold.
A director stepped out. That looks like
trouble" he called back as he closed the
door. The headlight stopped = hundred
yards down the track as if doubtful of
what course to pursue.
Five. ten minutes passed. Not a word
was spoken. The mist drifting across the
illuminated area before the headlight
seemed the breath of a beast brought 10
bay. and the single eye 2lowed mcnac-
insLy. II would not retreat.
That light hangs persistent down the
track" said the president irritlbIy, his
features fun in the yellow rays.
! Silence for another pgriOi,
How many plates TOR supper" spoke
| the darkness behind. -Four? Yes, sir"
It's a bad night for the yard men,
said the official in the corner.
IF they are paid well they can dress
warm. Take take of the workingman and
they will take care of the tracks" was
the reply of the president.
1t isn't a good place to live and it's
tiuaciously replied the first speaker.
That reminds mo of an incident that
occurred on the ear on Broadway last
week" said the other director. The ears
were crowded when a woman came in
and two men arose and offered their seats
She took the seat of the roughly dressed
man and he came out on the platform
where | was standing. He was evidently
| a stranger and not used 10 the stolid.
meaningless faces that gave no response
and said. as if he had been waiting for
days TO unbmrden himself. Say. pardner,
this Is a hell OF a camp. amt it"
piled il was a pretty lively diggings. I
asked him where he was staked.
ARIZONA, Mesa Tempe said he.
do YOU know LORD in the Empire
mines?
DO ! know him. he exclaimed. L
worked beside him four years | asked
about other people he knew. I pointed
out places of interest on Broadway TO
him.
Say. pardner. if you live here. how
the devil do YOU know about Arizona?
l explained that had always been inter
ested in Arizona and visited there sew
eral times. He thought it over awhile
and again swung his pick.
Partner. where would you rather die,
here or in Arizona
IT'S immaterial to me where ] die
said |. -
Well I mean where would you rather
live the rest of your life
In Arizona
Shake %parduer.' he exclaimed. giving
me a good Western grip with his rough
hand. That's me. all over.
a brakeman had taken charge of tho
PLATFORM. He grasped the tube with which