The Cairo bulletin., 1907-06-30
He HELD THE TRAIN
But How or Why He
Could Not Explain

One OF the limited ira 1S was all OF
half an hour late In leavin ( Washing
ton for its warm weatherwarl run to
| the south one night last week, and
| some of the second-splItters in the
lowers had begun to make remarks
about the people who wouldn't keep
their cows at ho;ae, before there was
any getaway racs from tho choo-
choo But it's wonder the train left
/ at all. There was a great man at the
station that night, and the train was
held for him, though he didn't take II
after all This was the way of It.
On that particular evening a local
newspaper man who hadn't Travelled
much since the l. c. c. got Inc legis-
latiye hypodermic, went down to the
station to meet his home. bound spouse
who'd been doing some family visit
Ing up near SmokeviA. Her ira n was
! due at GIG, but his watch was li2zy,
and he landed at the main gaze an
easy half hour ahead of time.
Leave me hurdle the barrier" he
suggested mildly to the blue back of
the fat gateman. MY wife is &c ling
home, and | want to wait by the Dar-
allels and give her the grand clutch
as soon as she alights from Mrs.
Pullmans little wagon"
Nope replied the fat gateman
without turning around Its against
the rules"
But suggested the newspaper
man not so mildly. I've got a no.
ton I'm going out there, and"
But he didn't have time to finish
for the gateman fixed his face for
real crushing look and swung
around. A second later that gate
mans best friends wouldn't have
known him. He got red In the face,
then white, then red again, lifted his
lid, bowed and swung the gate open
so fast its hinges smoked. remarking,
with a sickly grin: You will have
your little joke, sir"
The newspaper man drifted through
In a hazy dream effect, and began
walking up and down the PLATFORM
wondering whether he wouldn't better
so back and hand the fat gateman
one on the nose for his real fresh.
funny actions. But he noticed that
the gateman had called some more
uniforms Ia his side, and that the
bunch had their heads together, think
ing in whispers and looking in his
direction.
The newspaper man began to get
worried He looked himself over, dis
covered that he was wearing his
shoes, that he hadn't forgotten his
shirt and that there were no signs
hanging around his person. And no
had just about decided to register
diagnosis of congenital lunacy against
the crowd when one of the uniforms
wobbled toward him.
rs there anything ! can do for
you?" he inquired.
The newspaper man, pretty well
convinced that somebody was trying
to get gay with him. scowled fero-
ciously. mot a thing" he replied,
grouchily, whereupon the official said:
Thank you. sir, and went away look
ing as happy as Boston broker ON a
copper holiday.
About minute later portly per-
son in uniform steamed up, nodded re.
specially and touched his hat.
mo. is pretty nearly on time, sir"
he remarked.
Telephone that up to the Office"
said the newspaper man, shortly. It's
worth an extra edition any day"
And at that particular moment he
began to feel light in the head For
the effect of that little pleasantly on
the station master was something
fearful to behold He curled up and
laughed and uncurled and laughed
some more. And after he was all
through laughing he went trotting
around the station telling that re-
mark to all the uniforms in sight,
and the train shed was certainly real
hilarious place for awhile.
But five minutes later the uniform.
ed person steamed back, looking pes
tered in the head, and did another
lowly approach.
beg pardon. sir" he said, but
when saw you come In wired down.
dhu Ahti1 , "a uiaMiu6-lOOui oil OLA bt-
ing saved for YOU
That's mighty thoughtful" re-
piled the newspaper man. and the
person did another departure. purring
as contentedly as Maltese cat
Then No. steamed in, and for the
next 20 or 25 minutes the newspaper
man got dippier every second. Every
attache of the station had their lamps
glued on him all the time, and he be-
gan to feel as prominent as J.sDiggum
II ckefeller and John Alexander Dowie
rolled into one But the air was full
of tension. Seventeen people In uni
form stood around looking as II theyd
like 10 suggest something II they
dared. and finally one OF them drifted
up looking tF-sFs'y about the chin'
and gave a preliminary coagh;
"Beg pardon. sir; excuse me for
mentioning IT.. and I'm sorry to dis
turb you." he said at length, but
we've held No. 20 minutes for you,
and II you could cone now, sir. we"
Il guess I won't go tonight" said