River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-14

with his 80 varieties the next jump. That
brought me back to the stern realities
of life.
81 had been planning to make Sevilla
myself and knew that what little chance
I had there would be gone if Richards
got in there ahead of me.
81 looked at my watch and it was three
minutes to II.
Il grabbed my grips, which stood near
and made one jump out of the place and
started up the middle of the street, run
ming like house afire. | heard the
train whistle just as got cut of the door
so l knew hadn't any time to fool away
Yes. | guess | ran. All Burrowslech
turned out to cheer me. They'd never
seen anything like it. But for all that
the train pulled out just as hit the sta
ton platform.
Tough!
There was some blamed farmer there
acting as porter, baggageman, agent,
ticket seller and operator and he seemed
to think my appearance was funny l
had mislaid my sense of humor at the
time and as soon as 1 had got enough
breath to swell out my chest walked
up to him and gave him the gimlet eye.
/" When is the next train out Of this
dog-hole?' l asked.
HE looked humbled some, but not
much.
'Ten-thirty tomorrow morning, ne
chuckled.
81 sweled out about six inches more.
Can l make any freight this afternoon!
/ asked.
Nary one he replied. You might
drive over to Pletwick on the main line
and catch the passenger train, but you q
have to drive. It's due to pull olt OF
Pletwick at 1856
81 made rapid calculation. While,
was making it he began to smoker again
and | felt he needed impresslng.
hadn't much hope of catching the pas
senger, but owed it to myself to make
bluff at it. l snatched up a telegraph
blank and wrote on it:
Hold north passenger ten minutes for
me at Pletwlck JONES'
81 addressed it to the trainmaster at
Swinford junction and pushed it across
to the agent.
Here, send that over the wire at
once l said in frappe tones. Then WIN
out waiting for him to read it ! strolled
away.
Just at the end of the platform l
saw a fellow driving rig across the
track and | hailed him, calculating TO
have him give me and my grip llIt 10
the hotel. He waited until came up.
care you going down the street past
the hotel?' l asked.
HE looked mad.
Nav. | amt; I'm going to Pletwlck
and l haven't got no time to waste, he
said. 'Geddap!'
His team started. but chucked the
valses into the buggy and made ny
ing leap after them myself.
"Never mind me; just drive ahead
I said, as | removed myself from his
corn. I'm for Pletwick and it's a dollar
and half extra for you
"He abandoned the intention of pitch
ing me out, which 1 saw in his eye, and
was just starting up again when we
heard the station agent yell and saw
him wave his arms at us.
"'Drive on says. I know what the
blamed chump wants, but haven't time
to talk with him.
80 off we sailed.
81 want to tell you we made time. |
explained to the fellow that l wanted
to catch that train and l had flask OF
strip of sympathy in one of the grips.
That made the explanation clearer, but
it made me nervous the way he drove.
We were up in the air holding to moth
ing three-quarters of the time, as con-
servative calculation.
1--WE hadn't got more than halfway
before was trying to convince him that
it would rather please me if | didn't
catch the train. All he said was, 1t
don't make no difference Then he'd
veil and hit the horses few more ticks.
Finally, saw the sawmill stack of Plet-
wick in the distance and l let go the rail
with one hand long enough to get my
watch out of my pocket and look at it..
Pull up now, you crazy idiot l said.
It's 1875 and I've lost the train. I'd
like to escape with my life if you will
oblige me to that extent
Don't make no difference he says.
'Whoop!'
THAT was all there was to it except
that we touched few more high places
in rapid succession.
''Ten minutes later we pulled up at the
station and hanged if that passenger
train wasn't still there. The conductor
seemed to be on the lockout and came to
meet me, but as soon as he got close he
seemed disappointed. I made sure it
was Mr.. JONES' he said. Well, he can't
be coming now, so l guess I'll give him
two minutes grace and then pull out
"T am Mr.. Jones, says.
"T mean the division superintendent
Superintendent Jones, he says, climb
ing aboard after me. He wired from
Burrowsleck to have the train held ten
minutes for him. 1 guess, though, I'd be
safe starting now"
And as great 1,000-candlepower
light burst upon me said with profound
assurance, Yes, think you'll be safe +"
Chicago Daily News.