Mower County transcript., 1898-08-03


the s9ntlt1g GasaOer.
fromT' asked Long, prodding Kearney
with his toe to call attention to his as.
tuteness. ..,, +.
''For the simplest of reasons. Had
enlisted there they might have sent me
TO any regiment, whereas T. wanted q
particular one-tbe -th, in faot."
Long had lost another point, but raj.
lied. His tone was gruffS as Mainwar.
ina'a 90 he returned to the attack :" One
would suppose feller-a man like you
could command influence enough to get
assigned to any regiment he wanted.
That amt much Of trick"
T ''No," answered Gray as he seated
himself on the conductors big wooden
chest and carelessly swung his slender
foot; "no, Idon''t believe I've got either
friends or influence or anything in the
wide world but what I've got on aud
what's in an old trunk somewhere along
the road here - -.. r.:
Didn't you say something about
quitting railroading to take up soldier
ing?" queried Long, 80 astonished that
he was forgetting his pain.
II did. Two years ago did some
railroading at the general managers 8
end OF the line, 80 you SEQ how little I
must have known about it. Yes," he
went on with twinkling eyes, II used
to ride my own horse, but I've lost him,
so it's got to be one Of Uncle Sam's.i''
For moment nothing further was
said. A pair Of frank blue eyes were
gazing smilingly down into the engi-
neer's face, and that ex-trooper could
find no excuse for another expression of
doubt. Slowly he held forth the half
emptied flask.
"Here," said he, "take this. I'm
id if you're not too many for me
But" sudden thought striking him,
"why don't you sell this and your
watch and them clothes and go to the
mines and make stake there!" ".
because I'd rather soldier. man, -
was the smiling answer-Gray's good
humor was indomitable-''an down, iu
the bottom Of your heart you know per.
feotly we'll you never see the uniform
and here he laid hand on Kearney e
shoulder-''tha you don't more than
half wish you were in it again and rid
ing the trail or the prairie rather than
the iron track. I don t have to sell any.
thing yet," he added, with almost, q
laugh. "Keep the whisky, Mr.. Long.
You've more need Of it than have. I'll
see you again after awhile. And with
that he rose and, nodding smilingly ,tc
Kearney, sauntered from the car. b..
"Well, if that's train robber, s. ; said
the latter as he reached and took the
flask from Longs unresisting hand,
there 's''-the top came off, and J The
flask was lifted to his lips here's
long life to himl''' .4sr.s-. s.,
/ Late that morning the relief train
came down from Pawnee, the east
bound express at it's heols. Passengers
i and baggage were laboriously transfer.
red from one train to the other around
the SCENE Of the wreck. Mr.. Long, bid,
4 ding mournful adieu to No. 783, asked
Sergeant Kearney to see that the, now
empty flask was returned to the tall
feller that tal ked Of eulisting. :. He may
talk till hell freezes over = said Long,
'bnt not. till I,sae him il uniform will
II believe he isn't lying, and even thal
i I'll misdonbt him Tor 4 reformed tram
robber o. az escaped lunatio =
Bnt Of this and other unfatt terinl
| comments Mr.. Gray was unconscious.
By 8 O'Clock some railway men arrived