The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-12-27
The Persistent
PaSse nSeg

the conductor had emerged from the
baggage ear and begun TO take up
tickets. Coming to gentleman with
Il pale complexion, red hair and gold
spectac!es, Lc-punchcd his ticket, hand,
ing it back with the remark, Don't
stop at Blimton."
Don't stop at Blimton: Then what
did the agent sell me ticket on this
train furE'
The conductor passed on without IA
reply, clicking his punch, turning from
right to ieft and left to right, Ike the
president bowling to a crowd
See here, Mr.. Conductor If you
don't put me of at Bljmton. I'll make
it hot for you"
And if YOU don't shut UP I'll put
you off in swamp"
The passenger was very angry. NUT
tCrng to himself about the tyranny of
railroad men. When the train reached
Blimton, he pulled the bcllCord and
made for the door. The conductor.
who happened to be in the car. seeing
the act, gave a signal to 60 on. but not
before the train had slowed down and
the passenger had jumped Then the
conductor gave terrific stop pull on
the cord and made for the door l. m.
self. In few minutes the train hands
were carrying the l.fcless body of the
passenger into the baggage car. where
it remained till the train reached its
first regular stop.
Six months after this event the night
express carried Il passenger who pre-
sented ticket to Biimton and was
informed that onl" local trains stopped
at that station When the train reached
BlimtOn, the passenger went to the
door and gave Il leap in the dark \
brakeman who saw him save stop
signal, and tile remains 81 t4c passen-
ger, mutilatcd beyond recu. %. ton. were
found lying beside the track.
The next day the couDGc, r of the
lightning express made :p. cation to
be transferred to local train that
stopped at Eiimton
what do you want that for. Tow
ler|' asked the superintendent. 1T
VIII cut off SO a month of Your pay"
81 know ii will replied the con
ductor, but I'm getting nervous about
fast trains. | don't think I'm we'll"
The conductor of the local ran his
train for several months when new
time table was issued cutting off its
stop M BlmtUn. When the first train
had passed that station. a brakeman
stopped the train, hurried TO the con
ductor and announced that passenger
had jumped and had undoubtedly been
killed. The conductor sank into a seat
and directed the brakeman to 90 back
and find the body. \ search was made
with lanterns, but the remains We're not
found Some said the brakeman had
been mistaken. others that the passen.
ger had not been killed This was not
likely, as the train was moving at the
rate of forty miles an hour.
Fowler" said the superintendent
one morning, "Willams is sick in bed,
and you must take the lightning ex.
press"
fowler turned pale I'D rather not
If you can get any one else
But there's no one else to be spared.
| can put an inferior man on your
train, but the lightning express needs
one of our best conductors"
fowler knew that to decline posi-
lively would be to lose his position
and asscnted. 1t was fully fifteen min.
utes after the train moved out Of the
station before he mustered courage to
20 through the cars for tickets. How
ever, occupation is good for the nerves,
and he was forgetting his supersttious
dread when Il ticket was handed him
for BlimtOn. Starting he looked up.
There sat pale man with red hair
ana wearing gold trimmed spoctacles.
TOwlcr stood with his punch in one
hand and the ticket in the other star.
ing at the passenger. He tried to speak
the words. This train doesn't stop at
Blmton" but his tongue would not
utter them \ brakeman who was
following him up as assistant saw him
staggpr. caught him in his arms and
assisted him to the baggage car. After
the train had passed Blmton pas,
v,nger came hurryug into the baggage
ear tu announce that a man had
jumpe6 FROM .He tram The conductor
groaucd and in faint voice ordered
that the train be not s,oTged.
Conductor fowler had uue more
meeting with the troublesome passun.
ger Who insisted on getting III at
BHmton His health was failing and
he had been assigned the easiest juh
on the road night local that stoppco
at every station The hours. however,
were very short one night fowler
was sitting in a car without Il single
passenger. He had been suffering all
DAY from depression Of spirits couse-
qucnt upon bodily aImout and sank into
a troubled sluuUcr He was dream.
ing over time table which did not
give Blimtou rs oUr of his stops, and
yet he was sure that lie stopped at all
points. He heard the train come to .
halt. ana when II moved on brake
man put his head 10 at th" door and
called
The next station is Biinton"'
fowler half asleep wa, conscious Of
some one sitting IN the seat beside him
next to the window, yet how this could
be ne could not tell. for he had been
sure there was no one In the car With
an effort a dread. ne opened bis eyes
and turned them sidewisp
They fcll fun upon man with pale
face red hair and gold spectaclrs