The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-01-22


way pushed the dense swamp. like
black curtain shutting the virgin coun-
try from the view of civilization.
Across the snow were tracks of an
finals.
The train consisted of a string of
freight cars, one coach divided half and
half between baggage and smoker, and
day car occupied by two silent, awk-
ward women and child. In the smok-
er lounged dozen men. They were of
various sizes and descriptions, but they
all wore heavy blanket mackinaw
coats, rubber shoes and thick German
socks tied at the knee. The air was
so thick with smoke that the men had
difficulty in distinguishing objects
across the length of the car.
The passengers sprawled in various
attitudes, and their occupations were
diverse. Three nearest the baggage
out much success. A man in the cor
ner breathed softly through mouth
organ, to the music of which his seat
mate, leaning his head sideways, gave
close attention. One big fellow with
square beard staggered back and
forth down the aisle offering to every
one refreshment from a quart bottle.
It was rarely refused. OF the dozen
probably three-quarters were more or
less drunk.
After a time the smoke became too
dense. A short, thickset fellow with
an evil, dark face coolly thrust his heel
through a window. The conductor.
who, with the brakeman and baggage
master. was seated in the baggage van,
heard the jingle of glass. He arose.
"Guess I'll take up tickets" he re-
marked. Perhaps it I'M quiet the
boys down little
The conductor was a big man, raw
boned and broad, with a hawk face.
His every motion showed lean, quick.
pantherlike power.
LET her went" replied the brake
man, rising as matter OF course to
follow his chief.
The brakeman was stocky, short and
long armed. In the old fighting days
Michigan railroads chose their train
officials with an eye to their superior
deltoids. The two men loomed on the
noisy smoking compartment.
"Tickets, please" clicked the con-
ductor sharply.
Most of the men began to tumble
about in their pockets, but the three
singers and the man who had been Of
fering the quart bottle did not stir.
"Ticket. Jackv' repeated the con-
ductor "Come on, now!''
The big bearded man leaned uncef-
tainly against the seat.
"Now, look here, Bud" he urged in
wheedling tones. Il amt got no ticket.
You know how it is, Bud. | blows my
stakes" He fished uncertainty in his
pocket and produced the quart bottle.
nearly empty. Have a drink?"
NO" said the conductor sharply.
"a right replied Jack amiably.
''Take one myself" He tipped the bot
tie. emptied it and hurled it through a
window. The conductor paid no ap-
parent attention to the breaking of the
glass.
eff you haven't any ticket, you'll
have to get off, said he.
The big man Strengthened up.
you go to blazes.'' he snorted, and
with the sole of his spiked boot deliv-
cred mighty kick at the conductors
thigh.
The official, agile as a wildcat, leap
ed back, then forward and knocked the
man half inc length of the car. You
see, he WAS used to it. Before Jack
could regain his feet the official stood
over him.
The three men in the corner had also
risen and were staggering down the
aisle intent on battle. The conductor
took in the chances with professional
rapidity.
Get at 'em, JIMMY" said he
And as the big man finally swayed
to his feet he was seized by the collar
and trousers in the grip known to
''bouncers" everywhere. hustled to the
door, which some one obligingly open
ed. and hurled from the moving train
into the snow. The conductor did not
care straw whether the obstreperous
Jack lit on his head or his feet, hit a
snow bank or pile of ties.
The conductor returned to find a roll
energy knocking the varnish off all one
end of the car. A head appearing. he
coolly batted it three times against a
corner of the seat arm, after which he
pulled the contestant out by the hair
and threw him into a seat. where he
lay limp. Then it could be seen that
Jimmy had clasped tight in his en-
brace leg each of the other two He
Rugged them close to his breast and
Jammed his face down against them 10
protect his features. They could pound
the top of his head and welcome. The
only thing he really feared was kick
in the side, and for that there was
hardly room.
The conductor stood over the heap,
at manifest advantage.
''You lumber jacks had enough, or do
you want to catch it plenty?"
The men, drunk though they were.
realized their helplessness. They sig
nified they had had enough. Jimmy
thereupon released them and stood up.
brushing down his tousled hair with
his stnbhv fingers.
"Now. is it ticket or bounce II lnquir
ed the conductor.
After some difficulty and grumbling
the two paid their fare and that Of the
third, who was still dazed.
The interested spectators of the little
drama included two men near the
water cooler who were perfectly sober.
One of them was perhaps past the best
of life, but still straight and vigorous.
His lean face was leather brown in