The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-04-27
THE RAILROAD
CLERK
BY sHEILA ESTHER Dunn
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

] 49, - ~Na"W ~ ~ KAANNAH -AAA N1-AA
Coyne when we was driyin' across
the plains. ''filI he's tried. When the
Union Pacific was stretchin' itself
westward from Omaha. with tempo
rary terminals. SIGH as Julesburg. Lar
annie and them Kind. a little fellow
come out from the east 10 take a posi-
ton IN the ONCE He wasn't more'n
eighteen years old and was awful
dandihed. He wore one O. them col
lars they called chokerB In them days
because. ] suppose. the men as wore
EN- always iooked ss II they was
bein' choked. They said be was the
son O one o the men who was back
In up the road financially and had
come out 10 learn the railroad bust
ness In these yere parts SOS be could
be one O the managers when the road
got 70 runnin' regular.
Everybody laughed AZ such a thing
as that. for the boy wasn't more'n
Eve feet Eve and not a sign Of a
beard. his hair was the color O.
molasses candy. and his eyes was Ike
two robins eggs-jist a purity boy.
There was a ranch not far from the
terminal. where this young Teller
Johnny Biftern was bis name-was
slingin' Ink on a 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
otber-I disremember fist where Il
was-and they took a shine to each
other right on.
81 got a horse and wagon my dad
sent me from Chicago said John. /
VIII you go ridin' with meT
You'd come back dead II I did |
got a Teller. an II went ridin' with |
you bed on yon full OF holes.
Maybe ! might shoot fust'
~ don't keer. Fl you want TO take
the chances TN 60 with you
80 that afternoon Johnny drove up
TO the house where Lizzie lived and
TUX her into bis wagon. and the two
went OF just as II they was a grown
up man and woman.
ben fiacksia6 was the Teller that
was courfin' Lizzie when she and
Johnny started Ben was a-huntin' up
some lost COWS but be come home
soon after.
Ben said one o bis pals. yer gals
gone OF 20 ride with that measly 1T
tie tenderfoof IN the railroad ONCE
Johnny Bitternr
. sYaas.'
(which wayr
That away
-Ben wheeled his boss about 90 sud
den that be come nigh THROWN him
and gaiioped down the dirt road along
the railroad track. Them as seen him
90 remarked that Il was a 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 fearin' along to-
wards 'eui. furious.
There be comes says Lizzie. Git
rer gun out. Johnny
-Johnny throwed the reins to her
Ind took a revolver in each hand. Liz !
.ie TUX the neins IN one hand and put
'other one around him She didn't
hink that Ben would dare shoot az
Johnny 50 long as be might hit her In
tead. though she took a risk. for Ben !
Vas mad enough to shoot her too.
lie go said Johnny.
~ WON'T says Lizzie.
by this time Ben was purity nigh.
Ie jlst TUX a deliberate aim at Johnny. n
nd his bullet passed between the two \
hfldren's heads.
That made Johnny mad He let i.
rive with Llzzie's arm around bis !
'alst. never mindln' the danger they :,
'as both IN. He seemed to think the !,
est way to protect Der agin a man !,
BAT would shoot as Ben had shot was !,
, disable him as soon as possible. He !,
ad both arms stretched out for'ard. !,
rim from both pistols. at the same !.
me calm on Lizzie to duck.
1T may a been that Ben on second !.
loughts was afraid O. hIttin' the gal =
nyways. none o his shots TUX eject
lille nearly all O. Johnny's made holes
Ben. There wasn't none o EN- that
lied him az onct. but be lost 50 much :,
God that be dropped often his boss -
ID lay IA the road as good as dead.
"Some railroad men In a wagon come a,
ong about that time and seen Johnny
,wn In the road a-kickin' man lynn ve
ere.
: what you dom that fOrY they ii
ked. 10
" Ne was a-shootin' at a GAL said
hnny. aud with that he began kickin'
in.
b You better sit back into yer wagon an
d drive the gal home; wen look out
r the corpse
Johnny give a last kick. then climb IN
up beside Lizzie. and they driv OF. 10,
'Jes' = soon's the story got out IN the No,
wn Johnny was elevated from ten on
rfoot that wore chokers to a hero. m
'orybody was down on Ben Hack
ln for shootln' at Johnny so clost
side Lizzie and didn't give him no !
Z o. a funeral nohow. But they all yol
,rt Johnny was mighty right to git dai
ID about Il and didn't blame him est