The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-09

oHe Wis 10 COIne, SO the tettef SAID,
by way Of Ozark. and the brevity of
the instruction conveyed no hint of
Its tremendous Significance. no hint of
the fact that though the stage coach
has practically disappeared from our
midst, In the bobtail train its spirit
goes marching on. Accustomed to =
world that takes a shameless pride in
Its flyers" In trains as memorable rs
time and tide. how was to suspect
that the bobtail train was bit OF old.
time poesy set like jewel in the pro-
sale present; that coming by way OF
Ozark would involve q spiritual renas.
cence; that should arrive at my
journeys end with heart Quickened
and purified? Yet so II was.
emerged from the sleeper at X.
into q morning all blue and gold spar.
kie. At the ticket window In the time
worn station l huttered anxiously In
the background of several overstop.
INDUCING lazy zest for railroad in.
formation. Stonily1 watched the clock.
whose long. gaunt finger was creeping
closer and closer to the decisive hour.
tormented by visions OF the Ozark
train giving last wild shrek and de-
parting without me. In the midst OF
my fidgety despair the foreground
shifted with the elaboration OF a stage
scene and l found myself next the
wicket.
Even In the preoccupntion OF that
moment the severity of the ticket
agents face impressed me. Why so
unutterable gravity at SO natural
question: Had ! perchance outraged
some canon OF railroad etiquette by
asking when the train for Ozark would
leave. and. II not. what could be the
meaning OF the lurking dignity In his
glance? Puzzled. but not daunted, !
turned away.
There was. II seemed. time for the
lunch counter, a taste for which |
have uniiinchingly preserved In spite
OF tough steaks and stale sandwiches.
For me there has always been a gla.
NOR about them. and was soon dang
ling happily from revolving stool.
awaiting wheat cakes and coffee. star
Ing immodestly Mt the god-like profile
OF the youth who presided over the
cash register and humming to myself
from sheer contentment.
The coffee and cakes were hot. tho
profile all too perfect. In the glow
produced by the three quite forgot
that these joys were en- PEASANT until
my eyes happened TO fall upon the
large, plain face OF clock on the OPP
posite wall. II was the sort OF n clock
that one simply could not doubt. One
knew that Il had always done It's duty.
always would, and In trice ! had
ceased to dangle and was standing be-
fore the god. adjuring him by the nine.
forty train to Ozark to make haste
with my change. to strike the mystic
keys. pull the stop and gather my
dimes and quarters from the drawer
prestissimo. an II please him. He was
not. must confess. vislbly affected
by my objurgations. He. too. eyed me
frigidly. and performed his solo on the
cash register tempo.
A big. putting, assertive monster of
an engine was ut that moment bring.
Ing a train to stop on the platform.
As the last passenger alighted | pre-
scented myself Mt the steps. glowing
with triumph and half inclined To wave
my handkerchief at the ticket man and
curtsey derisively to the Apollo OF the
cash register. for had not achieved
that train In the face OF Official cold.
ness and encouragement that might
well have sent me some other way
round? In the midst OF my triumph a
protesting voice fell upon my ear.
"Dis yere amt youah train. lady.
Youah train. hits ovah yundah som.
air. Gress yo' don need to run!"
This Information. delivered by col.
ored porter. had at least one redeem.
ing feature. II was accompanied by a
grin. and no longer felt myself an
offense In the land. With few proud
snorts and Kisses the great engine
dragged It's train away. leaving the
platform to the Ozark train and me.
found II at last-an archaic day.
coach poignantly suggestive Of the
days Of Robert Fulton. coupled to
some dat-cars loaded with cinders.
There was no engine In sight. but
one no longer wondered. Nothing now
seemed more probable than a round
house filled with engines all haughtily
refusing to draw the train to Ozark.
From time to time loose jointed men.
and worn women with babes In arms
and fringes Of them clinging to their
skirts. sauntered In and disposed
themselves about with lack OF haste
that was ominous. ! vain l searched
their faces for some fixed intention OF
departure. Their intentions seemed to
be In the air.
Two drummers. one stout. creased
and Of slovenly appearance. the other
spare and groomed. looked as II they
had once meant to. but had given It
up. and plunged into the morning pa
pers for forgetfulness. At last there
was q nnal rustling of the papers as
they threw them aside. their news en-.