The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-05-04
THE RAILROAD
CLERK
BY SIIEd 4 Esr1lER DUNN
Copyright " American Press Assoc

Coyne when we was drivin' across
the plains, ''till he's tried. When the
Union Pacific was stretchn' itself
westward from Omaha, with tempo
rary terminals. SIGH as Julesburg. Lar
annie and them kind. little fellow
come out from the east to take a POSI-
ton in the Office. He wasn't more'n
eighteen years old and was awful
dandiiicd lie wore one o. them col
lars they called chokers in them days
because. ! suppose. the men as wore
'cm always looked as If they was
bcin' choked They said he was the
son o one o the men who was back.
in MP the road financially and had
come out 10 learn the railroad bust
ness In these we're parts SOS he could
De one o the managers when the road
got TO runnin' regular.
Every body laughed Mt such q thing
as that, for the boy wasn't more'n
FIVE feet five and not n sign OF n
beard. His hair was the color o.
molasses candy. and his eyes was like
two robins eggs-jlst "A purity boy.
There was ranch not far from the
terminal, where this young Teller
Johnny Blttern was his name-was
slingin' ink on high stool. on which
there was the purtiest little gal you
ever see. She was at the colt age,
mostly legs and arms, but her face
would make yer mouth water to look
at She and Johnny met somehow or
other-l disremember jist where It
was-and they took shine TO each
other right of
Il got horse and wagon my dad
sent me from Chicago said John.
Will you go ridin with me?'
you'd come back dead II did.
got Teller, an If ] went rldln' with
you he'd fiji you full of holes
Maybe might shoot fust.'
"1 don't keer. Ef you want TO take
the chances I'll go with you
$50 that afternoon Johnny drove up
TO the house where Lizzie lived and
TUX her into his wagon, and the two
went Off just as If they was grown
up man and woman.
"Ben Hackstaff was the Teller that
was courtin' Lizzie. When she and
Johnny started Ben was a-huntin' up
some lost cows. but he come home
soon after.
Ben said one o. his pals, yer gals
gone off to ride with that measly lit
lie tenderfoot in the railroad office
"Johnny BitternY
"Yaas.'
Which wayT
THAT away
Ben wheeled his boss about so sud.
den that he come nigh THROWN him
and galloped down the dirt road along
the railroad track. Them as seen him
go remarked that it was n pity there
was no parson In the town to make a
decent funeral for Johnny.
'The children had gone as far as
they wanted to and was comm back
when they saw Ben tearin' along to-
wards 'em, furious.
"'There he comes says Lizzie. Git
yer gun out. Johnny
Johnny throwed the reins to her
and took revolver in each hand. Liz
zie TUX the reins in one hand and put
t'other one around him. She didn't
think that Ben would dare shoot al
Johnny so long as he might hit her In
stead, though she took risk, for Ber
was mad enough to shoot her too.
ale CO. said Johnny.
"T WON'T says Lizzie.
by this time Ben was purity nigh
He jist TUX a deliberate aim at Johnny
and his bullet passed between the two
children's heads.
THAT made Johnny mad. He lei
drive with Llzzie's arm around his
waist, never mindin' the danger they
was both in. He seemed to think th'
best way TO protect her agin mar
that would shoot as Ben had shot was
to disable him as soon as possible. lie
had both arms stretched out for'ard
firm from both pistols. at the same
time callin' on Lizzie TO duck
at may n been that Ben on seconC
tEnuguts wns afraid o. hittin' the gal
ANYWAYS. none % his shots TUX effect
whilr uuurN all o'.Iohnny's made holes
iu hen There wasn't none o 'em tina
l;,d gl" at onct, hut he lost so mucl
nad l'El ue dropped often his hoss
Il uN u ,hc road MS good as dead.
"&u.lc railroad men in n wagon come
along about that time and seen Johnny
down In the road a-kickin man lyin
there.
"'What you dom that forY the,
asked.
"'He was a-shootin' at a gall sait
Johnny, and with that he began kickin
ag'in.
"'You better git back into yer wager
and drive the gal home; Wen look on
for the corpse
Johnny give last kick. then climb
ed up beside Lizzie, and they driv or.
"Jes' g soon's the story got out In tn
town Johnny was elevated from ten
derfoot that wore chokers to hero
Everybody was down on Ben Hack
STAFF for shootin' at Johnny so clos
beside Lizzie and didn't give him N
sort O. funeral nohow. But they a.
rthort Johnny was mighty right to 81