The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-02
MARRIED AT
 RAILROAD SPEED
Torl-naLl

The baggagemau looked at him fin. Quiringly.
 An you're the baggageman too.
 "Of course I'm the baggageman."
 "You was a-runnin' this car when we bed a weddln' an weddin' tower all to onc,." replied the farmer.
 You don't mean it!'
 "I do mean it. an never see any one connected with that little ahar tha; don't shiver. an then l want to hug 'em. | have had some close slaves In my life. an that was the closest l ever had. If 1t hadn't been fur that feller that fust helped us out an then prevented my gettin' bullet through my head. I'd a been slumberin' all these wears tn our buryin' ground"
 You refer 10 the time when the gun went on." said the haggageman. "I confess was as much frightened as YOU were. To tell the truth, after l heard the report expected to see you fall and was surprised when you didn't"
 'Ny friends" said. offering both Havana cigar. "I never can bear to see people enjoying a good thing without sharing in the amusement. Tell me the story"
 You see. stranger. Ann Eliza Per kins n me. belu' bent on sitten hitch cd. an me not beln' acceptable to the ole man. we lighted out one mornin from her home in her paws buggy. calculatin' to ketch the train fur Quin- cy that stopped at our station at 5:3o.
 "waaL we was a-drlvin' silentlike ou.cu the gate when up goes a winder, m ole Perkins head stuck out give the mare a cut. an We went Nckety split down the road We he'd three miles c make to tue station an twen- ty minutes to do it in. But 1t didn't make no difference as Co our time. It was the time Of the train an the time the ole man would make a-chasin' us, fer we knowed he'd follow with his gun. We made the station in fifteen minutes but as we wasn't on a prairie we couldn't sec whether the train was a-comin' or not. Fact was the track run around the base of hill. an we couldn't even hear the engine a-putiin'.
 You bet that was long five min utes. Ann Eliza up on the platform a-lookin' fur her dad. me with my ear down on the rails a-listenln' fur the train.
 "He's a-comln'. cried Ann Eliza. a.turnln' pale.
 "'So's the train said I. a-shakin' with excitement. a-hearln' the rattlin of the wagon an the click of the train on the rails.
 "when the train drawed up. we got inter the baggage car. to bc furtherest from the ole man. When we moved on. put my head outen the door. an there he was. a-hangin' on to the rail of the last car.
 "'Game's upr said. lugubrus.
 "'Not a bit sald a Chicago drum mer who had folleyed us inter the car. 'Wonder cf there's a parson aboard
 "'Therc's no time to ind out l said. 'S'pcct the ole mans a-comin' through tie train mighty fast
 "'T'n play parson myself. said the drummer an. whipnin' Off his cravat. he tied white handkerchief around hls neck. buttoncd up his coat. borryed a pair Of spectacles an told us 10 stand up afore him fur to be married.
 "I hain't a-goln' 10 be married by a bogus parson.' said Ann Eliza. I want a certificate. an a glnulne one too
 "'You don't catch on to the game said the drummer. When the ole man comes. hell think you're married. that he's too late to break or the match. an Len give you his blcssin'. Soon's you reach Quincy you kin a1t a minister m bc married regular
 This paclded Ann Eliza. an We stood up afore the drummer. He had only time to yell as the door opened. Man an wife" Perkins. seein' he was tco late. leveled hls gun at me, but the drummer was spry an knocked It up, an there. by gum, is the hole the ball made in the roof.
 "'Ole man. said the bogus parson. a-drawlln' his words. why try to sep arate those who hev been joined to- ccther in the holy bonds of wedlock? Would you send this young man away from his bride afore his time:
 'Then the ole man broke down. He see how near he'd been to murder, an he was too late to save his daughter from a-marryin' me. which. I reckon. was bad piece of luck fur Ann Eliza. He began to cry. an A.nn Eliza went to hlm an put her arms aroun' him an begun to cry. an I. not to be out in the cold.f begun to cry. an the bogus par Ion-hc was really a soft hearted fcller -tuk his han'kCrchlef from his neck an Gllcd it coniousllke.
 "How c'ulI you bey done itT sob bed the ole man.
 "'Oh. Paw. erred Ann El'la' l' hain'f-
 "'Siy dear said tho drummer. Inter ruptin'. I'm sorry l hail't got no blank certificates wl;h ITO. but I'll flll one out as soon as we get Co ouincy.'
 "The ole man put out his han to me m hoped I'd lo e3od to his dear little gal. which made me feels if I'd been a-s;eal!u' apples orren his best tree. tx.t. - ....-t,r n,,f.,,. x-o shoot