Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13

more IN the way of nightmare. His foot
ball hair was mussed and there were Grim
son spots upon his shirtfront made by his
rich young blood. A commercial tourist had
the audacity to laugh through the window
at the wounded man. A half-dozen excited
citizens asked, as with one voice: Whats
the fare to Devils lake," Another half
dozen called for a ticket to Devils lake AS
many more asked in the same breath when
the excursion would go.
''Sakes aNvei" exclaimed a motherIy ma
tTon looking the agent over. Has they
been a wreCk?"
All the while the commercial traveller
waving the exact change over the heads of
those In front Of him. called for a ticket TO
St. Paul by the limited.
The red-haired man rushed in shook his
fist toward the window and yelled the in
telligence that the train that had Just
passed and which had refused Passengers
was a-gOin' to the Devils lake and pro-
duced a map to prove that the lake was on
the main line
st. Paul by the limited yelled the
drummer Justify. and with monotonous reg
ularity.
perspiring German. leaning on one
Crutch, pounded the floor with the other
and wanted to know ply di devil di Devils
lake train don't come yet already"
How the devil do | know?' said the
agent. That was the first time he had
spoken. and even then not more than q
dozen people heard him.
Limited, St. Paul-limited-to st. Paul"
y gu We got ten minutes yet" said the
agent.
| Finally the wounded station master per-
Suaded those nearest the WiaGUW to find
| their money, put it through the cat hole
and get their tickets. The old agent kindly
| offered to assist the young man, and in d
| few moments had albowed hat sorry look
! ing, though well-meaning, Individual from
| the window, and fed tickets 20 the multi
| tude, as u farmer might feed nubbins
! through a fence crack to a flock Of sheep
| The commercial tourist had insisted upon
being served out of his turn, urging The
| fact that he was the only iirst-class man
| in the crowd.
For that he was invited out by the red
! haired man, and talked at by the lame
Dutchman IN a way that made him regret
what he had said. At last he had his ticket
and started for the door, but at that mo-
nent another section OF the excursion train
| came in sight and the traveller changed his
mind. rushed back. threw his limited ticket
at the agent and asked for an excursion
| ticket instead. He got the ticket but be-
fore the agent could count out the change
the difference in the price of the two
tickets-the traveller had darted from the
station and boarded the train, which, being
loaded TO the roof did not stop.
Still they came. From Clinton and Gale
donia, from GAINESVILLE and Evansville, At
ton and Beloit. From Jefferson and Wau-
kesha, and even as far down as Racine and
kenosha. on the Milwaukee bow.
All these trains flowed in on the main line
at Madison. where whatever space was left
was soon taken.
In time the overflow at the state capital
, was exhausted, and trains began TO stop for
the farmer folk.
Presently there was a sharp rap on the
| outer window, and the old agent looking
over his shoulder, saw the dark eyes of his
! betrothed peering in at him, and her pretty
| head jerking back toward the train.
With hasty goodbye to his friend in
/ distress, he hurried out, joined the smiling
| saucy brunette and stepped aboard the ex-
| CurSion.
When the train had pulled out they learn
| ed from F'reda's mother that Freda had
| gone back to get a forgotten fan, and had
| Jailed to make the train. but she would
surely be along on the next section
But this is the last train of the ex-
| cursion,' exclaimed the ex-agent
Then there was excitement. Charley
| Freda's brother, was up in the smoker try-
| ing to quiet the farmer in the gosling
green. No doubt he could suggest some
| way to help the poor girl who was in
| fair way to miss the fun. But he could
| not be reached. and the train rolled on.
".
The green flags had barely disappeared
! around the long curve west of the station
| when the blonde flushed and excited, en-
tered the depot. The young man was wash
| ing his face. She raped upon the closed
window with her fan, but the agent was
| busy. She raped again and again. The
agent was putting on a clean collar Finally
| he threw the window up and stepped back
He trembled and looked very pale. The
girl was about TO ask about the train when