The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-05
ROMANCE OF A BOX CAR.

from the Chicago Record herald
During the recent trotting races at
Memphis Peter Tiffin. the old-time train
er, owner and driver of PAGERS. sitting
in the lobby OF the Peabody hotel. told
this one:
had five in my string at Denver, and
decided to bring them to St. Louis for Il
chance at the money hung up by the
fafr grounds The Missouri Pacific rail-
road owed me damages for killing nice
2-year-old. and as 7 was short of cash,
and never believed in soaking the rail-
roads, agreed to sign a release if they'd
give me a free box car from Denver 10
St Louis for my five horses, myself
and my outfit. They were glad to do t
and so was l, so had a car sidetrackcd
and spent about four days putting III
box stalls for my stable. / rugged up tie
stalls in each end leaving kind OF wide
hallway from the opposite side doors Of
the car Knocked down my sulkies ard
strung them, wheels and all, against the
roof of the car and set up my cot lii
the free SPACE
Then l put in some provisions, canned
stuff, case of bottled beer, some books
and all the newspapers and sporting
magazines could buy. l hung my Ian
tern to the rafter and let 'em know
was ready for the road. Oh. yes, | hao
my dog. lev got him yet, and, by tn
way. ne can trot as far and faster than
any dog l ever seen. That's him, setting
/ over there by the counter. Well, the
1 HIGHT we lett Denver lNGY JSlASQ my car
around the yards till my head ache1.
We were bumped and 5ostled for near
three hours and by the time the train
was made up, lingo, that's the dog, and
my five horses, to say nothing of me.
were as nervous as a bunch of girl
graduates. Finally they pulled US down
! the yards about mile or So when L
suddenly discovered that I hadn't laid in
enough tobacco. 1 asked one OF the
crew, who came past. if I had time to
run over to the store, and as he said yes,
I jumped out with lingo, bought a car
ton Of smoking tobacco and caught the
train lust as it started away toward
Pueblo.
4 We ran along pretty steady then,
down past Durham, heading for Pal
mer Lake, and got out my newspapers
extra all about shocking murder
4 1t seems a woman named Pardee had
! stabbed her husband, left him dying on
the floor and escaped. 1 had read that
and another part Of the paper. when the
train jolted to standstill. Pretty soon
I heard footsteps crunching along by
the track-I had closed both my doors,
for the mountin air was chilly-and
( then there was a pounding at the car
side, and VOICE yelling: Open upi l
want to see your contract" OF course
1 opened the door, and then 1 saw five
men standing outside in the gray of a
starlit night. Pm the conductor" said
one, gimme your contract" I handed
it to him, and was a bit surprised when
he thrust it into his pocket and said to
a fellow next to him: Better get in
and search the car"
What's the matter?" I asked.
Got anybody in the car with your"
he snapped.
Nobody but five horses and a dog" 1
grinned, but he boosted the other chap
in and said This here is a Denver de-
tective. He's looking for an escaped
murderer and he wants to search the
car"
IAN right" SAYS I. but be careful
about that sorrel filly in the corner stall
She's a devil with her heels!"
The detective had a dark lantern, and
went fumbling in among the horses.
giving Lady Wilkes a wide berth.
There anit nobody in here but me-
went on, winking at the crew assembled
at the car door, but I'm dead anxious
for company. I've got few cold quarts
here all right"
Maybe that fetched the detective, but
anyway he came back out of the box
stalls and set down on my bunk.
opened up a few, the crew went back
and the train started. Then the detec-
tive, drinking up my S@dS most friendly
, said that he was after the Pardee wo-
man that had killed her husband il
i, Denver. 1t seems she had made for the
.. railroad yards during that Afternoon.
and it was suspected that she had
, crawled into an empty freight. We
drifted onto horse talk then. and when
we got down to Palmer Lake he got out
to catch the night passenger train back
| to Denver.
When we got going again lingo. thap:
my dog, he begun acting queer. Lad.
Wilkes was kicking a good bit and hang
ing back on her halter. but lingo We,
used to them capers and couldn't make
out what he meant. He sneaked up By
the STALL begun paving at the straw
and hollering like he Smelt a badger a
least Finally about midnight 1 wanted
to go, to bed, and I commenced holler-
ing at him. He went on worse than
h.
took a look at the Lady.
What do you think 1 sees, setting
right under the feed trough. her face
white and her clothes covered will
straw and chaff?
The Drettiest little woman you ever
saw! There she was a staring at m,
out of her big, scared eyes.
Mister" says she, you won't Civ,
me IMP
Not on your Iife," says I wondering
if she was really the Pardee woman al
had killed her husband. Are you Mrs
Pardee?' 1 asked her, and she said shi
was. but that she never done it.
showed her the paper, and asked her i
she knew detective had searched thu
c2--
'Oh, yes I know it," she said, still
sitting in the straw bed that Lad.
Wilkes had paved up over her. II knew
they'd say that 1 heard them come &
search the car. and blessed you wilei
you said that this horse would kick.
thought may be you saw me crawl il
here. Did you? No? Well, 1 got il
while you were over at the store. Is h
lis Pardee dead? 1 hope he isn't dead.
showed her the paper which said tia
he was found dead, and she put her lit
tie pale face down in her lap and erie,
like a baby. Then passed her sand
witch and an orange. she wouldn't .tr,
the beer, and, squatting there under tn
feed box she said:
HE wanted to sell me. At least, h
said he had friend willing to MARI
me if he himself would get out of tn
way. He showed me the money he got
| fifty dollars, and ] was to let Howgats
( that's the foreman at the brickyard wher
| Pardee works. I was to let HoMgate i