Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-03-01

really something else instead? For
my part don't remember to have
heard of a man who actually did not
work ut all, calling himself q laborcr.
When people of uncertain profession
get into the hands of the police and
are constrained to name their associa-
tiOn, they almost invariably call
themselves actors or journalists.
Still, have often been struck with
the fact that some men who dwell in
large towns appear to get living by
merely leaning against the cigar
stand, or in front of some saloon,
gazing at decent, self-respecting wo-
men, who must pass by these moral
lepers, with their sickening smile
and frequently vulgar remarks. How
they do it is one of life's mysteries.
But they do. Are they the so
called laborers," of which THE
Voice of the Stars speaks? I hard
ly think so. 1t seems quite impos-
sible to think of these men rOusing
themselves sufficiently to commit a
violent outbreak of any kind. So
that l am still wondering.
1t was in a saloon in Olympia, and
man was urging his companion to
hurry and drink a glass of beer.
20, don't be in such rush." re-
piled the man, with big glass of
beer in his hand, wait a minute;
I'm no steam engine"
Just then q hobo, sitting close to
the stove, remarked
Il have often wished was one,
for the time being.
why so," said the man with the
glass brim-full of that delicious, am
ber-colored, stomach-cheering, and
heart s-delight fluid-Olympia beer;
it's the water
YES" continued the hobo, "A
steam engine is q mighty useful
thing to have in q family. I'd rath-
er have it than o watch, though it
has got an all consumin' appetite
that makes it an expensive luxury
for q poor man to have. But when
it comes to getting over the ground
-Geel how the thing will get up and
dust"
Can you give us story about q
steam engineY' asked the man with
the glass of beer in his hand.
Certainly, I can," replied the
hobo.
"Tell us about it," said the man,
now sitting his empty beer-glass
upon the bar.
Il remember one case distinctly u
commenced the hobo, that occurred
under my personal observation. ]
was in Deadwood, Dakota, years ago
during the first rush of gold-seekers
to that famous camp, when the
roughs had captured the town.
I'VE piled all the honest folks or
the train, gave the engine its break
fast, and away we went at such q
speed that the suction of air raised
humps of coal as big as your hal
right up through the flue, or what
ever they call the chimney that let!
off the smoke.
j "Al looked favorable, but w
hadn't been long on our way, whe1
we sighted another train in pursuit
The rioters had coaled up and wa.
a-comin' after us so fast that a
times their whole train made jump.
and didn't touch rail for fifty yards
i; II never saw a race so exciting a:
that before or since.
Our speed was such that we tori
up the ground and sent boulders fly
, ing through the air incessantly, bu
. in spite of this, the other traiI
gained on us.
!. The women and children in oul
cars cried pitiful, and they shed Sc
many tears, the weather being cole
enough to freeze the tears, that the!
filled the whole train with hail
stones, and we had to keep shovelini
them out of the windows, so as t.
carry no unnecessary load.
MY pard, Sam, and I stood OF
, the platform of the rear car.
u, They're gainin' on u.s." sait
Sam.
! ''They are that" said 1.
i. I'm afraid we're gone up" sale
he.
i "I'm afraid we will 60 up later, u
said 1.
I'm not prepared, said he mourn
fully.
!. AS starter, you might han(
me back the dollar you owe me,
said 1.
''Ill do it," said he, and he did.
Next" said 1, 'smash your
whisky-bottle against the car!''
| He started and grew pale round
the mouth.
That's too sweeping a reform, ;
said he; but to ease my conscience
bit, I'll pour the whisky out"
With that, he tipped up the bottle
an poured the whole half-pint down
|, his throat-down the inside, mind
you-but just as the last of it dis
appeared, he dropped the bottle