Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-01

mlno several uneS pcforc ne uuNeukcu
himself that he was drowned section
boss. When he insny did get out,
splutting and swearing. he found him
SELF looking into the muEzles OF dou-
le-barrelled shotgun. like a pair of
opera glasses. He fed preeipitately
without his water bucket.
Mrs. Bilger threw the bucket scorn-
fully after him. Il won't take less'n
thirty dollars for her now, cash down,
was all she remarked.
After that IL was vain for railroad
man TO attempt TO use the spring. She
watched it most OF her spare time her
self. and when she didn't she had her
boy out. Whenever railroad man
came in sight the ehild's little piping
voice sounded the guard mount and his
mother came on duty With her gun.
She didn't say much. but she Just walk
ed back and forth before the spring
with conscious strength and dignity in
her bearing and deep, hard lines about
her mouth. A great many railroad
men who had though they wanted a
drink before they sawsher, found that
they were mistaken and turned away.
BY and by. however. the section boss
got tired of this sort of thing. There
was a good deal of work that year.
raising the tracks on that grade and
there wasn't another spring for two
miles either way. Finally he decided
| to negotiate with Mrs. Bilger.
That's right" said Mrs. Bilger, you
killed my COW and you've got to pay
for her. She's with jest forty dol
lars"
SO the section boss sought out the
road master and told him about the
AFFAIR. and the road master told the d.
! vision superintendent. Ii had been 80
long since the division superintendent
had heard from the station master
about Mrs. Bilgers COW that he had
forgotten all about It, Besides, II
didn't sound like the same COW, any
way, the valuation being SO different
So the division superintendent fled an
other report with the claim depart
mcnt.
About this time Mrs Bllger, not hear
ing anything from her appeal for JUS
lice. frequented the station at Grafton
a great deal. eominE In about train
4 time and talking Violently to the sta
ton agent. Finally the station ageh'
agreed TO write on again to the divls'
ion superintendent BY this time MRS
Bngers estimated price was hfty-tws
dollars.
II so happened at this time that TN
division superintendent was on on
short vacation, and his substitute, II
an excess Of zeal. filed the third COW
report with the claim department.
Before It reached there. however, th'
division claim agent had visited Mrs
bigger with a check made out Tor ne
first asking price of twenty-three dol
lars.
Have you lost two cows, Mrs. Bill
ger?" said he politely
mo, hain't." that worthy woman
replied, "only one; but / amt going to
take no twenty-three dollars for 1t.
That COW will cost you just sixty-two
| dollars now"
but she wasn't worth any sixty-two
dollars" he protested.
Eyes. she was, too, said Mrs bigger,
"ccuntin' the time I've lost foo.in' oy-
| err the blame thing for the last three
months, an all I've had to pay for but
ter and cheese, sixty-two dollars cheap.
Besides, you can pay it just as well as
| not, You know you've got the money.
II you don't I'll take it to the law"
| Mrs Bilger was obstinate and the claim
| agent took back his check and, acting on
Mrs. Bilgers threat to go to law, sent
| over the first two papers on the case 10
| the general claims attorney, Intending
to see him about It next day. Next day
he was called off suddenly TO another part
| OF the road. While he was gone the sec.
ond report from the station agent came
| along with bill for fifty dollars for Mrs
| BiIger's mulcy COW, and, the department
claim agent being away. was sent straight
| to the claims attorney. The three bills
| confused him.
what the devil are they doing dowr
! there?" said the claims attorney wher
the claim agent came back. having 6
massacre of muley cows?'
1t took the claim agent some time to xe-
plain.
In the meantime Mrs. Biigef began to
take the bit In her teeth. She now re-
solved to. suspend traffic generally on tho
road till they paid some attention to her
For this purpose she secured an old rec
flannel shirt. and hitchlng 1t on to thu
end of an axe helve, began. to flag all th'
trains going up the grade industriously
you killed my muley COW. and YOU'VE
got to pay for her, she said, when thu
| trains came to a standstill. Il won't taxi
4 Iess'n sixty-seven dollars for her" II Il
not necessary TO state what the trair
hands said.
The railroad men finally didn't pay an,
attention to her red flag at all, SO far a.