The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-07-18
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reader. That was about as high as l
got in school, but I remember it was
swell poetry all right.
swell, things was comm easy. We
was just coinin money, and we hires a
new tramp that comes along to cook
and do the heavy work. But what d o
ye think? One day in comes long
haired guy and asks for Gilkin. 1
told him Gilkin was up in Missouri
visitin' his relations and wouldn't be
home for month.
"'Well', says he, that's really too
bad. I'm his brother Amos, and
come up from Texas to spend a few
days with him.
"Now, of course it wouldn't do to
have him there-it might interf ere
with our business. But how was we
to get rid of him? Bill come to
| first.
"T expect all you say is true as
gospel, says Bill, but we're runnin'
the place for him and we've got to
look out for his interests: and Of
course we don't know you and we
can't take in everybody that comes
along, unless we know 'em person
ally
"Mr. Gilkin's brother pecked at
the lunch counter a few moments
with his pen-knite and then, without
sayin' word walked out of the door
and over to the depot. We awaited
developments. In few minutes he
come back.
"'I'm glad,' says he, to see you
take SO much interest in Lens affairs,
but I didn't come prepared to pay
board, SO I've telegraphed him to
Joplin reckon he must be at consin
Jeff's up thereto telegraph you fell
lers that I'm all right
THAT was unwelcome news. If
that telegram led old Gilkin to sus-
picion anything, as 1t probably
would, he might start an investiga-
tion right away. We didn't have
much time to study about it--and we
didn't like to overwork good thing
anyway. So we copped all the dough
on hand and damned for north
bound freight that was just pullin'
in on the Cotton Belt. I don't know
how Gilkin's brother got along with
our hired hand, for from that day to
this haven't seen anybody connect
ed with the episode, except, of
course, Bill and might pass Gilkin
on the street forty times day and
not know him from Adams off OK.
"But say, did do one thing on he
gis-away that felt ashamed of after
ward. Bill located an empty that
had fourteen fellers in it-not hobos,
exactly, but guys that had been south
and wanted to get back north before
cold weather set in. 1 had to duck
for minute for fear the brakeman
would git onto me, and before l
could get aboard Bill comes back and
says: -
"'Say,' says he, there's inore'n a
dozen tourists in that car and most of
'em look as though they've got a
piece of coin. told 'em I'd fixed the
brakeman clear to Little Rock for a
dollar and that if he bothered 'em
they could fix him easy fora small
piece. Go in and collect says he.
$50 watched my chance and got
in.
"'There he is now, says Bill, when
I clumb in the car, and every guy
there except two dug up dollar.
"I'm not quite broke, says Bill,
sand don't want to see anybody put
off in this god-forsaken place; just
take this bone for them two fellers
and let er go at that
$50 didn't make anybody git out.
Then we sherried one at time and
located in an old cattle car that had
been on a siding somewhere for a
long time and was goin' to the shops
for repairs. The roof was nearly all
off, but the runnin' board was all
right. and the floor was dry and clean
that is, tolerably clean. We set
down in one end of it and travelled.
When the brakeman ran over the car
to tend the brakes the light from his
lantern flashed right on US, but he
didn't happen to pipe us. After a
while the conductor comes along and
sights us. Hey, there he says.
The same to you.' says l, for I see
We was up against it anyway for bet.
ter or worse. What are you doin'
there? p says he. Coin to Little
Rock says I. You're purity well
dressed to be ridin' in hog car,' he
says. That's so,' says l, but its
OWN to circumstances over which
we've had little or no control.
What's your business p he asks.
'Railroadin' says 1. Fact is I did
brake on the B. & o. three weeks
when 1 was young and foolish. Let's
see your hands, says he. Lucky for
us we'd been ridin' freights good
deal and my fins was neither soft nor
white. 1 showed 'em. Ithink you're
all right says he. GO back to the
caboose and get in a bunk, you and
your pardner, and I'll wake you up
when we git in the yards Oh, he
was peach. Sorry didn't ask him
his name so could reward him If I