Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-03-22

whether | had alarmed the car. No,
not at all. And there still sat the col
ored porter, with closed eyes, polishing
away at the same boot, presume, at
the rate of Il stroke a minute, the brush
, hitting the boot about one in five.
An opportunity like that was not to
be lost. had been scared wide awake,
l wanted company, and it seemed too
bad that even the porter should have
the advantage of me. / decided he
| shouldn't.
First took the infant diamond back
and placed him gently in the center of
the aisle, his head pointed toward the
rear of the car He meditated mo-
ment and then paved forward as fris-
ky us a colt. | waited until he had got
well within the lamplight and then
coughed loudly. The porter started,
looked inquiringly at the shoe, then at
the brush, murmured something that
sounded like Vas, sah,' and was
about to relapse again when, as his
head lowered, his eyelids and mouth
suddenly sprang wide open, his arms
dropped to his sides, and he gathered
in his feet and bent forward, staring
hard. The deadly terrapin steadily adj
vanced. The porter arose. His eyes
bulged, and l could hear him breathe.
Suddenly his arm shot out, and his aim
missed the turtle by an inch or two
The porter had disappeared. and the
rear door of the car was slammed to
violently. AS quick as a cat hoped
from the berth and collared my pre-
cious infant. which was gazing at the
lamp in state Of mild wonder. Back
in the berth again lay, listening A
faint sound, as of mirth. came from
the lower berth opposite, but when l
stole a look the curtains We're tightly
drawn. The sleeper above me was
making mush'' or smoking pipe"
and there was considerable snoring
roundabout
Presently the door of the car opened
again. and | heard voices one saying,
well, where is it?''
There was brief silence, and fur
tive glance showed me the half clad
conductor on his knees gazing down
the aisle, with the porter. still open
mouthed, behind him.
sit was right dar." said the latter in
loud whisper
The conductor stood up and shook
himself angrily. well, it amt there
now, you durn idiot! If it was as big
as you say it was"
Homes to Gawd, Mis- Jackson, it
was that longw He measured off about
foot and a half of atmosphere with
his black hands. II was a-blackin
away an :l-whstlin when l look up an
see um. He had eyes in UNI like a
coppah snakes, an | up an threw that
dar genlman's shoe in numDah S at
um. Oars the shoe Hyah" He ran
down the aisle and picked it up. 81
threw it at UNI, an lie came a-leapin at
me like alike "a aligatah."
Sam" said the conductor quietly.
you've been drinking again"
Mis- Jackson. / talk two hummah's
Nv peach-two humans homes to
Gawd.''
ooh, get to work." said the conduct
or. You saw Il coachroach. guess
"Cockroast"' cried sam Indignantly
as the door banged. "Cockroast!" He
could say no more. but with wrath
shining in his eyes and sculptured on
his lips he took up the shoe and brush
again and wagged his head ut the aisle
ominouSly.
While the train ran on | lay there
hoping for sleep and amusing myself
meanwhile by pulling the tails of the
terrapin as they occasionally projected
through the mcShcs of the side net. An
hour went by. perhaps, and my in
somnia had not weakened. had
counted some 10000 sheep iumpin.
over fence when of a sudden there
arose on the atlriwhled air, clear and
resonant above the mn!led thunder of
the speeding" train. Il bass snore-a
deep, prolonged and piteous sound, as
of one in distress. looked out 1t
was the porter.
Come, my love" said I, plucking
the estimable count from the net
1.-The stars are shining!' | adjusted
him in the aisle and directed his foot
steps. He was slower and more sedate
in his progress than the infant and de-
cidedly more impressive. l waited I'M
til he had approached to within prop
er distance of the porter and then
coughed to an extent that put out the
pipe of the parsonage overhead.
1t was beautiful success. This
time Sans eyes opened like the lid Of
n jack-in-the-boX. He gave one look
dropped shoe and brush and vanished
The next instant had captured the
count and was finding some recon-
pense for my loss of sleep. Again |
heard that soft giggle over the way. |
looked. but the curtains were still
drawn. Then came the sound of the
conductors voice once more and this
time angrily.
you black fool" it said. you're on
the verge of the jams. Where's any
turtleT'
He come agen, Mis- Jackson-h
to Gawd, he did-the same TURTLE That
big" He measured off two feet He
open his mouf, an see his teef, am
"Oh, go die" said the conductor, fling
ING himSalf nd lao ~,