Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-25

CHAPTER III.
i AvTAoR oF5TAE COLONIES DAUGA~
& FROM TAE RANKS ETC.

Gu6 SIeh6 tr0iu WAS luuecu SUluB lUT
all she was worth. /" Twenty-Five miles
away lay the foothills. There began
the tortuous up hill climb to the high |
plateau at Pawnee, 40 miles Of twist,
turn, tug and pull, that in the earlier
days of the road were never attempted
without two engines Now the mann
moths like TS3 scorned even pusher.
But tonight she had to haul an extra
sleeper and an extra coach, both crowd
ed, the latter packed with recruits, the
former with q joyous party of excur-
sionists, bound for the Pacific coast. 1t
WAS swift, smooth running along the I
flats of the broad valley, dotted here
and there, as it was, with farms and
ranches and traversed over the old buff
falo ranges by great herds Of horned
cattle. This crisp, moonless, starlit
night all the western world was dark
and still but for the clank and rush of
dimiy lighted train.
The lonely occupant of the smoking
compartment, gazing silently out upon
the northward heavens, had forgotten
to keep alive the tiny fire of his cigar,
and it had died unnoticed between his
long, white, slender fingers. a glance
at the handsome watch he drew from
his waistcoat pocket told him it was al
most 2 o'clock as, after brief stop at
some unknown, almost unseen station,
the train rolled on again. The porter
had come in to ask some question about
how he would have his pillow, front or
back, and was told it made no differ
ence. Would the gentleman like one
here in the smoking room? No, he
would turn in presently. Call him in
plenty of time for Butte. Then the por-
ter tiptoed off to the rear Of the heavily
ourtained aisle and curled himself up in
vacant section, leaving the stranger
to his thoughts.
And that these were sad there could
be no doubt whatever His face as it
sank into rspose looked white and
drawn in the dim light of the over
hanging lamp. Once or twice as he
gazed ont upon the waste Of darkness
his eyes seemed to fill, his lip to culver
with strange, strong emotion. Once he
bent forward, covered his face with
both hands and leaned his elbows on
his knees, then suddenly started, pulled
himself together, "braced up as he
perhaps would have expressed it, thrust
the moist end Of the cigar between his
teeth. found it cold and unresponsive,
tossed it away, arose, gave himself a
shake, took the flask from his ulster
pocket and passed through the doorway
to the lavatory where were the ice wa
ter tanks and started despite himself.
A haggard face fattened against the
glass of the forward doorway was peer.
ing in at him-a face that was instant
~ Withdrawn.
This was before the days of vestibuled
cars Selling the doorknob and laying
his flask on one of the basins, the young
fellow quickly let himself out upon the
platform and glanced about him. There
on the lowest step, clinging to the hand
rail, cringed and covered the figure OF
man who turned his head and gazed
piteously, pleadingly up at the tall
stranger. A tramp beyond doubt, and q
shiyering wretch he was, for the nigh,
air was sharply cold. A powerful hand
was laid upon the shoulder of the
crouching figure and heaved it up, ant
the poor creatures teeth chartered as ht
made some inaudible plea.
81 can't hear you. said the man il
tweeds. "Come in here. You're hal
frozen And he would have led hin
into the sleeper, but found that. thu
snap latch was set-that he had LOCKED
himself out. Still clinging to his pris
oner, he led on into the rear door of tn
day coach ahead. The lights were burn
ing blear and dim. The passengers, curl
ed or sprawled about their seats, wer
sleeping as best they could A brake
mans lantern lay on the floor at tn
head of the aisle, and the brakeman sa
in forward seat, half doing, who'll,
unconscious of the addition to the car
load.
Stealing ride, suppose?" said on
traveller presently. "Where're you try
ing to get TOT" Andwith shrug of hi
shoulders he glanced pityingly at hi
quaking captive.
"To Pawnee-half way over tn
range" was the shivering answer
"I've got sick wife there and wa
beating my way as well as / could
But the poor fellow gave it up. Col
and misery and hunger were too muc
for him. The train was slowing u
again-another prairie station. The
had them every ten or dozen miles. TIL
brakeman shook himself, picked up h
lantern and went out in front The pa
ty in tweeds showed his new acquain
ance into the first vacant seat, SWIM
himself to the ground the moment I'll
train stopped, ran back and tapped III
der rear window Of the sleeper, and I'll
sash was raised and the porter's hea
popped out.
"Let me in at the rear door, porter,
said Tweeds. 81 locked myself out.
The negro recognized the voice of b
we'll dressed passenger, shifted q doub
fee and jumped for the door.
Beg pardon, subj Sorry, sub, b.
Ne has to look thasa doors at.night O