The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-03-14
The Sheriff of BottstoWn.
BY BENTLEY CROSBY.

less, from Kansas City, owed its place
on the map to the K. C. & G. L. rail
way. 1t had several factories. drawn
hither by the earnest efforts of the
railway company. quite colony of re-
tired farmers, dozen or SO land
agents. goodly number of merchants,
and consfd cradle number of railroad
employees whose runs began or ended
at that point.
There was nothing particularly at
tractive about the town, and yet young
Jim Helm found it very pleasant
place to ltve-when he was able to be
| home. Helm was a conductor on the
K. c. &c G. L. railway, and repined bit
terly when it was first borne to his
| intelligence that he must spend most
| OF his time of the road at this place.
IL even emblttered, at first, his JOY
| at his promotion from freight conduc-
tor to conductor of the fast express.
But the promotion was so great an adj
vance that his objection to Bottstown
| was confined to sundry and divers ex-
pressions of profanity and dark hints
to his old friends that he'd be blith-
cred If he would stand it," and that
the road would lose his valuable serv.
ices If they didn't make other arrange
ments pretty dinged soon.
Inasmuch, however, as these threats
and mutterings were invariably deliv-
cred to his subordinates, or to persons
not connected with the road and
never to his superiors. no harm was
done, and Jfm's standing with the off,
| Gals grew and waXed strong.
What made Jim particularly warm
was that his run was so arranged
that he had but a few hours between
| trips at Kansas City, while at the end
OF every round trip he had two nights
and day at Bottstown.
Presently, however, his friends
| noted that Jim's lamentations grew
| less emphatic and he seemed to regret
the few hours he had in Kansas City
| more than the days and nights in
Bottstown.
or course it was girl-which ac-
counts for nearly all the sudden con-
versions of mankind. This particular
girl was Bertha Griggs, and as she
was admittedly the prettiest girl In
town 1t was not so awfully surprising
that Helm succumbed to her smiles
and dimples. She was parsonage of
some importance, too, being the
daughter of Hiram Griggs, sheriff of
Bolts county. But railway men were
in high feather in Bottstown, and a
tor-especially the conductor of the
fast express, with his bright brass
buttons and his soft, white hands
was not to be sneezed at.
So 1t happened that Helm became
the frequent escort of the fair Bertha
TO church sociables and picnics, and
now and then to dances. Also it was
observed that the young conductor
was visitor at the GriggS home
every Sunday evening when he was
in town-and some of the most OBJ.
serving called attention to the fact
that the light in the Griggs parIor
burned until late hour upon such oc.
caSionS.
To himself Helm did not admit his
infatuation at first. He was simply
trying to kill time in this God -forsall-
en- town-and surely Bertha Griggs
was most delightful antidote for
ennui. This stage lasted for two
weeks or more. Then he admitted to
himself that the fair Bertha was well
worth an extra effort to arrive in
town in time to spend the evening
with her. \ couple of weeks later, in
a moment of stern self-analysis. Helm
admitted that he was very much in.
terested i the girl. And within a
month thereafter he surrendered en-
t1rely and gladly admitted not only to
himself, but also to his more intimate
cronles, that he was heels over head
in love with her. and he didn't care a
rap VINO knew it. Whereupon he
haunted her with persistence onIy
possible under the divine power of
love. He quit drinking. smoking and
chewing. and joined the church He
became her veritable shadow. He
held her hymn book at church. and
he resented it when any other man
looked at her.
In the meantime Bertha took the
gilt the Gods sent her and white she
may have Eloried in her conquest She
gave him no sign further than in her
demure acceptance of his invitations
ana MS company. She knew her
charms and her power-and she hold
them not cheaply. Helm was allowed
TO bask in the sunlight of her uras.
ence, but he was not permitted Ia -.
clare the sentiments of his pert1rbcd
heart Why. l do not know. bat al.
most any girl probably can tell Won
Now. during this time of the, ta-,i,.
and conquest of Jim Helm. bad doiues
had occurred on the X. c. G. G. I,
railway. band of robbers had haan
plying their nefarious arts on the
trains of the company between XIV.
ND De-