Evening journal., 1905-02-21
The Station Agent
AT Alpena Station
IorigInaLl


try. Pills family lived in log cabin.
Children came plenteousiy. demanding
food and clothes, and life was gener-
ally unattractive. Once In five years
Phil would make an application for a
better position, but three applications
only brought the post Of baggage agent
at a new station opened near his cabin
with starvation wages After this he
frequently made applications for some
thing better TIL the superintendent be-
came weary Of reading them and re-
solved 10 put a stop to them.
Up the road was a station, Alpena,
near which lived a gang Of men who
succeeded I'm always riding free. The
way they managed II was this: A grim
countenance with a background OF
shocky hair and a sombrero would APP
pear at the window and ask for a tick
ct The agent would do the necessary
stamping and throw the ticket down,
mentioning the amount due. The appli-
cant would pick up the ticket and walk
away without making any payment.
The agent knew If he declined to sub
NIT TO this one sided way Of doing
business the applicant would poke a
revolver through the opening and be-
gin to shoot.
The superintendent on receipt Of
Phil's last application wrote him that
I'm view Of his long and faithful serv-
ice ON the road he was promoted to be
station agent at Alpena. The writer
chuckled as he dictated the letter and
congratulated himself upon not IN fu-
ture being troubled by the baggage
mans applications. AS for Phil, he
knew all about the gangs operations
and saw at once that unless he collect
ed the fares he would be removed. II
he collected them. he must take his
chances Of being shot. He thought the
matter over, resolved to accept the sit
uation and mhde his preparations ac-
cordingly
Since Phil had been known in. the
country roundabout as a peaceable,
plodding fellow, so soon as the gang
heard OF his appointment they made up
their minds to make more frequent and
longer trips. The second morning aft
or the new agent took his place in the
Office one Of their number walked up to
the hole and asked for a ticket
give dollars and thirty cents" said
Phil in feeble voice.
"Gimme the ticket l don't pay till
l git the goods" said the man, lazily
drawing weapon from his hip.
Quick as a flash a revolver was
thrust through the hole from Within
a Shot rang out, and the applicant for
a ticket dropped dead
There was no one else In the station
at the time, and Phil, going to the
baggage room, took out an oblong box,
put the corpse in it, nailed down the
lid, tackled card on II on which was
written the address OF the superintend-
ent and sent it by the next train, with
a railway ticket and $3.50 inclosed in
an envelope. On a piece Of paper he
wrote to go with the rest:
Ticket sold this morning Not used.
| Don't know what TO do with 10 ror the
money SO forward them TO you. Corpse
OF the applicant in baggage car. Shall I
XIII any more OF 'em?
PHIL CARLTON,
RNdAipn AbtNAf fAihtAAd-
When the superintendent read this
note and learned from the bearer that
there was a coffin shaped box in the
baggage room awaiting his orders he
was more astonished than IL he had
been Informed that the whole line Of
the road had been swallowed by an
earthquake. He walked the floor for
awhile in deep meditation. then took
Phips note to the president
That afternoon there was a meeting
OF the board Of directors, with the
roads attorney I'm attendance, who as
sured them that since Phil had not re-
celved nor could prove that he had re-
celved orders TO kill any applicant for
ticket who refused to pay his fare,
none OF them would be liable to be ar
rested and tried for murder. Phil was
alone responsible; but, considering the
lawless state Of the country and the
character Of the unsuccessful applicant
for free ride, 1t was not believed that
the man who had shot him would be
molested.
The body was sent back to Alpena
for burial, and Phil was directed not to
kill any more deadhead ticket appli-
cants.
But Phil did not need to kill any
more Of them. The others, taking
warning from the fate of their compan-
Ion, found Il unnecessary to travel
often thereafter on the road and when
they did, not being sure but the station
agent, fearing that they had come to
practice their former methods, would
shoot to kill, always paid their fare on
the train. Indeed Phil Cartons ad-
ministration OF the affairs of Alpena
station proved so satisfactory that he
was summoned TO the main Office with
view 10 determining If he were not
capable Of filling some important posi-
tion. Not being an educated man,
this was not to be considered SO Phil
was made superintendent OF, stations,
at a salary Of $500 year. when the
iawless citizens along the line interfer-
ed with the company's interests he
was sent to overawe them. This was
all that was required OF him. and SIS
his exploit at Alpena had made him
famous as a fighter he was never oblig-
ed 20 fight. His presence alone WIS
quite sufficient 10 restore the refrac-
tory to their senses.
Gradually the country along the line
Of the road became civilized, and Phirs
occupation being gone. he was retired
on two-thirds' pay. Meanwhile he had