The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-05-19
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
|l01N the evening in question some
iii VI thirty or forty miles southeast
INU of Railways camp train was
" crawling over a badly laid
track that led toward the Saginaw
valley. The whole affair was very
crude. To the edge of the right OF
way pushed the dense swamp, like a
black curtain shutting the virgin coun.
try from the view of civilization
Across the snow were tracks of an.
imals.
The train consisted of string OF
freight cars, one coach divided half and
half between baggage and smoker, and
a 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
room door attempted to sing, but with.
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 a
square beard staggered back and
forth down the aisle offering to every
one refreshment from a quart bottle.
1t was rarely refused. OF the dozen
probably three-quarters were more or
less drunk.
After 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 will quiet the
boys down a 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 a 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 doomed 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, nowv'
The big bearded man leaned uncer
tainly against the seat
"Now, look here, Bud" he urged in
wheeling tones, II amt got no ticket.
You know how it is, Bud. I blows nv
stakes" He fished uncertainty in his
pocket and produced the quart bottle,
nearly empty. "Have drink?"
mo-" 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 an
parent attention to the breaking of the
glass.
IF 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 the 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 roll
ing, kicking, gouging mass Of kinet;c
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 q seat, where he
lay limp. Then it could be seen that
Jimmy had clasped tight in his en-