Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-08-02
the JEALOUSY
OF TIGE

ton was connected with the house
of the station by private telephone.
This telephone was equipped with
bell that could make noise to put
any peace congress in the shade.
ITO muff1e the sound of this bell
stuffed it with paper every night. AS
| was lying on the table one night try
ing to catch a few winks between
trains, every few minutes l would be
awakened by the rattle of the paper
stuffed bell.
Il would answer the phone and the
station agent would declare that he
hadn't been anywhere near the line
and furthermore, if I didn't stop dis
turbing him and calling him out OF
bed to ask such fool questions he
would come down to the station and
endeavor to change the topography
of my face.
$50 lay down to rest, there being
hiatus in the trains owing to small
freight wreck up the line. But after
brief interval l was awakened by a
DuZZ rlSHI ny lily ear.
81 jumped about 'steen feet when
I discovered that / had made my bed
right near the biggest rattlesnake l
had ever seen. He was all curled up
ready to strike. This was what had
been disturbing my rest.
81 grabbed a broom handle and was
going to put him out of business. But
kindly CLEAN of something in the
snakes eye seemed to fascinate and
deter me from killing the reptile
Well, sir, do you know that snake
seemed to have a degree of intelli'
| gence, and as l had more or less ex
perience in the training of snakes
having been with travelling circus IN
my youth, 1 decided 1 could teach the
reptile so he would be of use to me
in my business.
$50 I gave him the high sign and In
| a few minutes l had him charming
mice, with which the little station
| was overrun. 1t wasn't many days be
fore l had broken the snake, whom
christened Delirium Tremens, so tina
he was a regular alarm clock.
'T would make up my bed and OF
the approach of a train the snake
would sound his rattles-he had ID o
them-and wake me up. would thel
report the train as passing the station
and go back to sleep.
81 never knew old D. T. to fall dow
| -, vrnioht h9Un fore
seen, though, that snake with IL raj
ties was in for an unlucky existence.
Zone day the electric bell on tn
| highway crossing which warned We
hicles and pedestrians passing alon
the road of the approach of train go
out of order. 1t would be some tim
before a lineman could make his al
pearance and readjust the apparatu;
| The station agent was in a prett
pickle
"'Why,' l said, that's easy. l.
lust put old D. T. up there in the be
box and he will stay on the works an
do the job up to the handle He dl'
too.
| there Wdo Ouly ohS eAAAo >-~
marred the happiness up there
Kimbles after 1 adopted the suake
assistant night operator. The static
agent had a large hound which wa
general facvorite around the ST.
ton with the hangers on. But tn
wonderful accomplishments OF m
trained snake got noised around an
Tige's nose was out of joint.
"He plainly showed that Tremer
was persona non grata with him. HOY
ever, the dog was a little afraid
the snake and I had no fear that I
would dare to violate the principle
of the Hague conference and mix ma
tiers up.
"The day that Tremens was doir
duty as crossing bell happened
: be my pay day and strolled down
. the station about noon to get my col
! saw the station agents dog goir
, along ahead of me with his master
;. lunch bucket. It was his daily du
, to see that his master got a war
' lunch.
$ "As Tige happened along by II
t crossing bellpost Tremens was 1u
:. being relieved from duty, the bell ha
a ing been repaired. When Tige spt
] ted Tremens dropping from the BIZ
box the green-eyed monster with
him overcame his fright, and letti1
his masters pail shift for itself
:. made a Jump for the snake.
= "Tremens curled himself up
= strike and succeeded in sticking b
I fangs into Tige's neck, but not
fore the dog had sunk his teeth In
/ Tremen's publicity bureau and sna
ned off his Is rattles. Tremen's dea
" fangs fixed Tige up all right, al
5 the dog died before the sun set tn
evening.
"That night Tremens was on du
as usual. But he was no longer al
use as assistant night operator. T1g'
teeth had put his fire alarm system
the blink and he couldn't create a.
more of a disturbance than katyd
a in a boiler shoD..>
A reckless chauffeur is a sort
automaniac.
- A woman is always looking on
bright side-of a mirror.
Any man who doesn't want what
hasn't got has all he wants.
Il Just now. the open season for CT
9 chuting is drawing to a close.
u Never Judge the dimensions OF
woman's brain by the size Of her b
Endorsed by the County.
1.-THE most popular remedy in Ots'
loountu and the heat friend OF