Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-03-28
The Sheriff Of Boitstown.
nv BENTLEY CROSBY.


way, II had several factories, drawn
hither by the earnest efforts OF the
railway company, quite colony of re,
tired farmers. dozen or so land
agents. a goodly number OF merchants,
and a considerable 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 II a very pleasant
place 10 liye-when he was able to be
home Helm was a conductor on the
X. &. a q. l.. railway. and repined bit,
terly when II was first borne 10 his
intelligence that he must spend most
OF his time on the road at this place,
II 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 ad-
vance that his objection to Bottstown
was confined 10 sundry and divers ex'
presslons of profanity and dark hints
TO his old friends that he'd be blith,
cred II he would stand H." and that
the road would lose his valuable serv'
Ices II 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 Jim's standing with the off,
cials 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.
OF course II 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 IL was not SO awfully surprising
that Helm succumbed 10 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
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 sneezed at.
So IL happened that Helm became
the frequent escort OF the fair Bertha
TO church sociables and picnics, and
now and then to dances. Also 1t 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 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-forsak
en- town-and surely Bertha Griggs
was a 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. A couple OF weeks later, In
moment of stern self-analysis, Helm
admitted that he was very much In
terested 1 the girl And within a
month thereafter he surrendered en-
tirely and gladly admitted, not only to
himself, but also to his more intimate
cronies. that he was heels over head
in love with her, and he didn't care
ran who knew it. Whereupon he
haunted her with a persistence only
possible under the divine power OF
love. He quit drinking, smoking ano
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
gift the Gods sent her, and while she
may have gloried in her conquest she
gave him no sign further than In hei
demure acceptance of his invitations
and his company. She knew hel
| charms and her power-and she heit
them not cheaply. Helm was allowed
to bask in the sunlight OF her pres
ence, but he was not permitted to de
clare the sentiments of his perturbet
heart. Why, ! do not know, but al
most any girl probably can tell you.
Now. during this time of the tanning
and conquest of Jim Helm, bad doing'
had occurred on the X. G. 4 q. L
railway. A band OF robbers had beef
nlying their nefarious arts on TN
trains of the company between Kan
sas City and Bottstown-and even II
the territory beyond Bottstown. TIT
depredation of this gang was yer!
sore snot in the minds of the ofhclai