The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22
Stories From The Comedy Lie E: ::: {: : a:


form and hustled into the agents office
for train orders.
"Halloa, Tom, where did you get your
tin shoes?" inquired the operator, with
a slight tinge Of sarcasm.
This brought Tom back to the mistake
of the morning, and a full realization of
his predicament.
You see 1 got up in the dark and put
a finishing touch to my shoes with
blamed old stove brush that was lying
about the kitchen. I'll have them fixed
further up the road" and Tom Bison
tried to laugh the matter off, but Urine
unsuccesSfully.
At Elk River there was quite large
crowd at the station, as they were eX-
pecting some of the Thirteenth regl-
ment boys to pass through the town.
The hustle and confusion distracted rom
Bison's attention from his personal APP
pearance and he began to mingle freely
with the throng.
''Halloa Tom, where did you get your
tin shoes?" bawled the station agent,
who was dragging a couple OF egg cases
up to the express car.
Tom Bison Immediately realized his po-
sition, and was heartlessly brought back
to dark and somber thoughts. Tom
CHANGED it that every one who knew MIN
seemed to be ready with the same tan
the monotony and ask him who sprink-
led his shoes with quicksilver? Had he
another pair of shoes on the train he
would be all right, but as 1t was, 1t
would hardly look well for a conductor
to hold his train at q way station Whlle
he had his shoes polished. What differ
ence did it make, anyway? whose pus-
mess was 1t?
Big Lake is not a metropolitan city,
enough
loungers to raise a hearty laugh when
the station agent, with a serious air, like
one who had carefully conned a lesson,
inquired:
''Halloa, Tom, where did you get your
tin shoes?"
Tom Bison stopped dead In his tracks
and regarded the agent with a baleful
glare.
"See here, you up-country yap," he
said, perhaps you don't admire my
shoes. Perhaps you'd like a, taste Of
'em, you Sherburne county shrimp. III
see you later. Ali aboard" and Tom
Bison and his shoes sped away north
Westwardly.
At Clear. Lake there was no one at
home but the station agent, and he
glanced at Tom Bison, saw fierce light
in his eye, and went on quietly writing.
When he gave Tom his train orders there
was a small note among them which the
conductor hastily thrust into his coat
pocket Once on the train he opened it
and read:
'Halloa. Tom, where did you get your
tin shoes?"
A great, white light broke on Tom
Bison
"Those telegraph operators are sending
this kidding down the line ahead Of me-
he said to himself They are stringing
me to a fare-you-well. I've got to make
stand for my rights. And I'll do 1t,
too, by all the spikes and fshplates be-
tween here and Portland"
At st. Cloud affairs reached a climax.
1t was not the station agent this time
who broke in on Tom Bisons medita-
ductor and had evidently received in
structions. He had the gall to shake
hands with Tom, and then, stepping
back few feet, said, with leer;
"Halloa, Tom, where did you get your
tin shoes?''
OF course there was a mix-up on the
spot. Tom had intended to have it that
way He was determined to come to
an understanding and wiring the mystery
from the mouth Of some one Holding
the man down hard on the platform,
Tom demanded to know who told him to
ask that question.
''The station agent" gurgled the man.
'He got a telegram to that effect from
down the line, didn't he?'
Eyes, sir, from Clear Lake"
''Well, get up said Tom, administer
ing a slight kick, you are unimportant,
but you tell the agent not to forward
any more of this stuff after 1 leave. If
I find out that he has done so, tell him
not to overlook the fact that 1 am COM
ing back again. If 1 hear anything
about tin shoes UP the road shall hold
everybody in the, world personally re-
sponsible Do you think you grasp the
idea?"
"Ye-ye-yes, sir" spluttered the man,
you can depend on my speaking to the
agent about it,
well, get move on you and do so.
He may be at the key now. All aboard!"
No further trouble was encountered by
Tom Bison. The road appeared to be
perfectly clear. and so were the wires Of
the offensive inquiry
-Rich9 rd K, Steele