Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-02-10

the cen,rr o. Il Cesoi;,ie section OF tie
road where the inhabitants who used
the railroad l;ihitualy if.imidatcd the
ticket agent. securing tickets without
payin. any money for them. One
agent after another had been dis
charged for not collecting for tickets
sold The official Endorsed Oh Frank
EuShnelrs letter "Appoint him agent
at llawkcye."
When Frank learned that he was
transferred /" Hawkeye at a salary OF
S:''n year he was encouraged till he
learned the facts. Then he was cor
rcspnniin=lN depressed Put life look
cd gloomy to him that he didn't
care much whether he got killed try
ing to collect fares ut !lawkeye or not.
He wnS passing into middle age. had
no home and. worst Of all. wanted to
make one With Il Girl he knew. Ent
that was nnt Of the question.
The first morning Frank appeared
at his window il wild looking man ap-
Piled for i ticket. Frank handed It
out. but kept his hand on it. demand
Ing the money for it. The man was
putting his hand to his hip for his re-
vover when Frank laid his own hand
on one beside the window invisible
from the outside and fired IL random
through the opening Then he wtut
outside 10 discover I'll. results and
found The man. shot through the
breast. givin. his last kick. Going
back to his telegraph c!itl.rr. he sent
the following message 10 the man who
appointed him:
| Killed man for refusing 70 pay fare.
! Send undcr,ahcr. Shall keep on.
! When the gentleman received the
dispatch he WAS puzzled just what to
! do in the matter. This taking the law
in the hands Of the company through
one Of it's agents WAS nor III keeping
with the policy as laid down by its
chief attorney. The recipient Of the
telegram took it into the president.
who read it and was visibly i'm
| pressed.
''Send an mdertakcr' Il. said. and
report the matter to Mr. pM-h." Mr..
Pu"l WAS the roads chief attorney
But the reply to the station agent
rs to his future course? You see. he
asks if he shall keep on killing those
who refuse to pay"
appoint another man ia his place
and as soon as the legal difficulties are
out of the way order h.:l to report to
me here
There were no legal difficulties. Every
one knew all about llawkeye Station
and felt assured that If The people liy-
ing about il couldn't take care of them.
selves the law would fail also. In a
few days Bushnell appeared before the
president Of the road.
1T seems to me- said the president.
that YOU have indicated tho field for
which You are fitted. | am director in
man brave enough and At the same
time honest enough to guard our funds
AID securities. | am told that you are
scr,\'ulously honest. | can secure for
yCu IN, position of chief Watch,Mln ut
the bank. Yon will liz held account.
able for its safety. and as Jeur duties
will be very important Yen. salary will
be commensurate. You viii receive
$1,000 Il year"
Frank was so astonishei that he neg
lected to reply. Finally. recalling him
self he said:
IF this promotion is fer killing o1,e
man. why not let me stay there and
kill few more of 'em. l could get rs
big salary us any one ilei in time.
ut isn't for killing Il man that YOU
are taken up for Il more responsible
position. but for furnishing evidence
that you have plenty of nerve"
Frank Bushnell entered on his na.,
duties. At first it seemed to him that
having been put there for the purpose
IF killing those who sought to rob the
bank, he should shoot some one Al
least once Il week in order to retain SC
line Il salary. But rs time went on ht
learned that his value was negative
not to display his nerve. but to have II
always in readiness. Not till he hat
been with the bank for ten years dic
ne get another raise. and then it was
for being in the line of promotion rath
81 than on account of his readiness t
| LII.