The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-27
ROMANCE OF a BOX CAB.

During the recent trotting races az Mem
phis Peter Tiflin, the o.d-time trainer.
owner and driver Of PAGERS. sitting IL th.s
lobby of tbs Peabody hotel told this one:
had I'VE in my string at Denver. and
decided TO bring them 70 s.. Louis for .
chance at the money hung Up ay the fair
grounds. The Missouri Pacizc railroad
owned me damages for killing nice two
year-old, and as / was short Of cash and
never believed IN soaking the railroads.
1 agreed 20 sign q release il they'd give
me free box car from Denver TO St
Louis Ter my FIVE horses. myself and nv
outfit They were glad 10 do il. ard 50
was 1, so I had car sidetracked and
spent about four days putting in box
stalls for my stable. L rugged up the
stalls IN each end. leaving q kind o. wide
hallway from the opposite side doors Of
the car, knocked down my sulkies and
strung them, wheels and AL. against the
roof Of the car and set Up my cot in the
free space.
Then / put in some provisions, canned
stlilf. case Of bottled beer, some books
and all the newspapers AID sporting mag
azines I could buy. I hung my lantern
to the Tafter and let EN- know I was
ready for the road. Oh, yes | had my
dog. I've got him yet. and. by the way.
he can trot as far and faster than any
cog l have ever seen. That's him set
ting over there by the counter Well. the
night We left Denver they jeri5ed my car
around the yards till my head ached. We
were bumped and iostIed for near three
hours. and by the time the train was made
Up lingo, that's the dog. and my five
horses. 10 say nothing OF me. We're rs
nervous as a bunch Of girl graduates.
Finally they pulled us down the yards
about mile or 50. when I suddenly dis
covered that I hadn't laid in enough to-
bacco- ] asked one of the crew. who
came past, il l had time TO run over 10
the store. and as he said yes. I jumped out
With lingo, bought a carton CT smoking
tobacco and caught the train just as 1t
started away toward Pueblo.
We ran along pretty steady then. down
past Burahara. heading for Palmer Lake
ond 1 got out my newspapers and began
I" read them One was an extra. all
about shocking murder. Il seems wo-
man named Bardee had stabbed her hus-
band. left him dying en- the floor and IS
capped. had reead that and another part
OF the paper, when the train jolted TO a
stanGstih. Pretty soon heard footsteps
crurchlng along by the track-I had closed
both my eyes. for the mountain air was
Chiily-aRd then there was q pounding al
the car side, and voice yelling: open
up. l want to see your contract" OF
course ] opened the door and then ! saw
five men standing outside In the gray OF
a starlit night. I'm the conductor" said
one. gimme your contract" l handed
il 10 him. and was bit surprised when
he thrust il into his pocket and said 70 a
fellow next TO him: Better get in and
search the car"
What is the matter?' I asked.
Got anybody in the car with your he
Snapped
Nobody but five horses and a dog.
grinned. but he boosted the other chap
in and said: This here is a Denver de-
tective- Hes looking for an escaped muir
derer and he wants 10 search the car"
All right says I, hut be careful
about that sorrel hlly in the corner stall.
Shes a devil with her heels
The detective had dark lantern. and
went fumbling in among the horses. Civ !
ing Lady Wilkes wide berth There /
ain t nobody in here but me-" I went on. !
winking ct the crew assembled at the |
ear door. but I'm dead anxious for com |
pany. I've got few cold quarts here. all /
right