The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-08-09

stamping their feet, car doors being
slammed, and general uproar.
i say, Tom, this is a dandy car of
fruit" cried voice so near that. at
first, Ben thought some one was in the
| car.
Bet your life it's fne," another
voice replied.
LET me out of this holel" yelled
Ben.
who in the dickens is yelling, Bill?"
asked the first speaker.
Blamed if know; some ones in
the ice box, maybe!" was the reply:
then he shouted, Where are youY'
"Shut in the ice box!' Ben called
back.
Its a tramp, Bill, and likely he's
locked in the ice box. l reckon you'd
better let the fellow out" said one of
the men.
Il reckon so, too, Tom," Bill replied,
as he climbed to the roof of the car,
and lifted the hatch.
At first he could see nothing, but
presently he discerned the features of
white-faced boy, dirty, unkempt, and
almost at the crying point.
well, by crickets, son, how long
have you been shut in this box?" cried
the man, as he reached down helping
hand, and pulled Ben from his prison.
"Since I left Jackson, sir" answered
Ben.
"What-Jackson, Mississippi?"
LES, sir l believe the train was
delayed, for l ought to have been here
long ago. I'm pretty glad to get out
of that hole. There's whopping big
snake among the bananas" Ben de-
clared.
Snake? Nonsense, son, there's no
snake in the car" laughed the man, in
credulously.
"Yes, there's big fellow in the car:
| guess I've heard him hiss!" protested
Ben. "But where's the depot? I've a
coat and suitcase there. The agent at
Jackson telegraphed to have them left
at Memphis"
"See here, son. returned the man,
pushing Bens cap from his face and :
looking him squarely In the eye, where
do you think you are?'
I'm Memphis; where should be?" !
replied Ben.
"Memphis!" shouted the man.
That's a good one." ~
"Am not In Memphis, sir?" de-
handed Ben, not understanding why
he man should make light of his as :
iertion. :
'IneMemphis? Not by five hundred
niles; you are in Kansas City," :
kansas City?" stammered Ben. II
70 be sure you are; but can't stop J,
o learn why you are. This car Of BAN ). )
mas must be unloaded. Come down I
md give us lift, and We'll talk while
we're unloading" the man concluded,
Is he crawled down the side of the car. L
While he assisted the men Ben told I
If his adventure
i understand why you were locked :.
n the box" said Bill. Its this way.
The |. G. refrigerator cars look like
alike. They are numbered in series; : :
ifty-two, ffty-four and fifty-fve thou I
sand. This car is fifty-four thousand !,
Ind sixty-three is this the one the
Messenger told you to get intoY' 4
4 suppose It's the one; | have the :,
number on a card" replied Ben, taking = =
he card from his pocket mo, I'm =.
wrong; the number is fifty-four thou ! !
and and sixty-ninew - -
II knew it." exclaimed the man. :.
When you came from the lunch coun- ),
er you climbed into the wrong car :, -
ou got into a Kansas City car instead !. q
f the one from Memphis!'
Serves me just right" decared Ben. :
l believe don't know enough to go .
utside fathers back yard. But how'll = =
get my thingsY ~
That's easy; I'll have messenger g
ring them up tomorrow. But, how =
bout that whopping big snake?p !.
uizzed Bill. hs
He's over in the corner" replied :.
Ten, indicating certain spot. "Get - =
lub to kill It'll" ~
mo, no, don't kill It; let's take It
live!" returned Bill. "Tom, you yank ~
ut the bananas, while l catch it In u
ais blanket" az
Tom pulled the stems of fruit from ~
1e corner; but no snake was found.
en- was SO positive that further search -
as made and, sure enough, lying coiled -
4 the floor, under the false rack, was Y
green-motted snake. two feet In
myth.
There, what did tell you!" cried :, :,
en-, triumphantly. How should you -
ke to be shut up with that fellowT
I'D rather be excused" returned
i'll. but don't believe the critter =.
ould have bitten you; we often find
lakes in the cars. They crawl up the
EN- where the fruit grows and stay nh
ere until they reach the North" is,
Ben's troubles were now at an end. ba
day or two after he received his be- mn
ngings: his ticket was safe in his 90,
-ercoat pocket Then he went West
Id in due time reached his destina- so,
on, Uncle Johns ranch in Colorado Fr
'averley Magazine. VII
==-=--sz---z--
He Was One.