The Colfax chronicle., 1904-05-14


In Hoopoe and aimed to make Sevills
with his 80 varieties the next jump. Tha
brought me back to the stern realities
1 of life.
81 had been planning to make Sevills
myself and knew that what little chance
| had there world be gone If Richard.
got In there ahead Of me.
'T looked at my watch and 1t was three
ninutes to IL.
| Il grabbed my grips, which stood near
and made one jump out of the place ant
started up the middle of the street, run.
ming like a house afire. heard the
train whistle just as got out of the door
so knew hadn't any time to fool away
Yes, / guess | ran. All Burrowsleck
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
tion 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.
had mislaid my sense of humor at the
time and as soon as had got enough
breath to swell out my chest walked
up to him and gave him the gimlet eye.
ss-"lWhen is the next train out of this
dog-hole!' I asked
He looked ahumbled some, but not
much.
"Ten-thirty tomorrow morning he
chuckIed.
Il swelled out about six inches more.
Can make any freight this afternoon?' 2
asked. st
Nary one,' he replied. You might
drive over to Pletwick on the main line
and catch the passenger train, but you'd
have to drive. It's due to pull out OF
PIetwick at 1856 W4 ss
Il made rapid calculation. While !
was making Il he began to snicker again
and l felt he needed impressing.
hadn't much hope of catching the pas
senger, but owed it to myself to make a
bluff at It, l snatched up telegraph
blank and wrote on it.:
Hold north passenger ten minutes fol-
me at Pietwick. JONES'
Il addressed it to the trainmaster al
Swinford junction and pushed it across
to the agent.
Here, send that over the wire at
once said in frappe tones. Then with
out waiting for him to read 1T / strolled
away.
Just at the end of the platform ]
saw a fellow driving a rig across the
track and l hailed him, calculating to
have him give me and my grip lift to
the hotel He waited until came up.
"'Are you going down the street past
the hotels? asked.
"He looked mad.
Nav, amt; I'm going to Pletwick
and l haven't got no time to waste. he
said. 'Geddap!'
His team started, but chucked the
valises into the buggy and made fly
ing leap after them myself.
Never mind me; just drive ahead,
l said. as l removed myself from his
corn. I'm for Pletwick and it's dollar
and a half extra for YOU
He abandoned the intention of pitch
ing me out, which l 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.
$50 OF we sailed.
Il want to tell you we made time.
explained to the fellow that wanted
to catch that train and had flask OF
sirup 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.
I'VE hadn't got more than halfway
before was trying to convince him that
It would rather please me II didn't
catch the train. All he said was, II
don't make no difference Then he'd
yell and hit the horses few more licks
Finally, / saw the sawmill stack of Plet-
wick in the distance andI let go the rail
with one hand long enough to get my
watch out of my pocket and look at 1t
Pull up now, you crazy idiot said
It's 1:35 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 II except
that we touched few more high places
in rapid succession.
Ten minutes later we pulled up at the
station and hanged il that passenger
train wasn't still there. The conductor
seemed to be on the lookout and came tc
meet me, but as sc on as he got close he
seemed disappointed. I made sure II
was Mr.. JONES' he said. Well, he cant
be coming now, SO guess I'll give him
TWO minutes grace and then pull OUT
Il am Mr. Jones. says.
at mean the division superintendent
JONES' he says, climb
ng aboard after me. He wired from
to have the train held ter
minutes for him. guess. though, I'd be
safe starting now"
And as great 1,000-candlepowel
light burst upon me said with profound
Yes, think you'll be safe.''
Chicago Daily News.