The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-03-07
The Sheriff of BotfstOWn.
BY BENTLEY CROSBY.

iSoos nom fAduSdS lily, owen 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. a dozen or SO land
agents. goodly number of merchants,
and consid 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 a very pleasant
place to live-when he was able to be
home. Helm was a conductor on the
x. G. & G. L. railway, and repined bit
terly when it was first borne to his
intelligence that he must spend most
OF his time off the road at this place.
1t even embittered, 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 bith-
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.
1nasmuch, 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 Jims 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 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.
OF course 1t was a Girl-which &C.
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 a 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
handsome young passenger conduc-
tor-especially the conductor of the
fast express. with his bright brass
buttons and his soft, white hands
was not to be sneczed at.
So 1t happened that Helm became
the frequent escort of the fair Bertha
To church sociablcs 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 parlor
burned until a late hour upon such &C.
casions.
To himself Helm did not admit his
infatuation at first. He was simply
trying to kill time in this God -fo~sali-
en- town-and surely Bertha Griggs
was most delightful antidote for
ennui. This stage lasted for two
weeks or more. Then he admitted 10
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 il,
moment of stern self-analysis. Helm,
admitted that he was very much in
terested i the girl. And within 4
hloHlu thereafter ne surrendered CT
tirely and gladly admitted not only tn
himself, but also to his more ir..rus..
cronies. that he was heels Over head
in love with her, and he didn't caro- q
rap who knew it. WhereupoD he
haunted her with = persistence ONLY
possible under the divine r0y,r or
love. He quit drinking. snlok.u.- and
chewing. and Joined the church He
became her veritable shadow. IIa
held her hymn book at church avn
he resented it when any other man
looked ut her.
In the meantime Bertha took tho
gift the Gods sent her. and while she
may have slOried in her conquest s1,o
gave him no sign further than in har
demure acceptance of his invitations
and his company. She knew her
charms and her power-and She hold
them not cheaply. Helm was allowed
to bask in the sunlight Of her. rras.
ence. but he was not permitted IN 60
clare the sentiments of his rcrturbed
heart. Why. l do not know. blt ,,-
most any girl probably can tell YOU
Now. during this time of the ta;uioo
and conquest of Jim Helm. bad dnings
had occurred on the X c. & G. I.
railway. \ band of robbers had haap
plying their nefarious arts on the
trains of the company between E5,.
sas City and Bottstown-and eve, in
the territory beyond Bottstown Tho