The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-11-15

self, for the others wanted 10 nurdef
him. Ashton advised lynching, but
the conductor arrived on the scene IN
time to prevent violence.
Fosdick informed him of the ire
trievable loss of the useful buffet walt
er. The conductor promised to get
another at Ogden.
Ashton walled: Have we got to
sit here and die Of thirst till then?
The conductor refused to back up
for a coon" but offered to send in
sleeping-car porter as temporary
substitute.
AS he started to go, Fosdick. who
had been necessarily consulting his
watch, checked him to ask: "Oh, con
ductor, when do We get to the state
line Of dear old Utah?"
Dear old Utah" the conductor
grinned. Wed "a been there already
if we hadn't "a fell behind a little"
Just my luck to be late" Fosdick
moaned
what you SO anxious to be in
Utah for, Fosdick?" Ashton asked, sus.
piciously. You go on to Frisco, don't
YOU"
Fosdick was evidently confused at
the direct question He tried to
dodge it; yes, but-funny how things
have changed. When we started, no.
body was speaking to anybody except
his wife, now"
Now" said Ashton, drily, every
body's speaking to everybody except
his wife"
You're wrong there" Little jim
ME interrupted. q wasn't speaking
to my wife in the first place. We got
on as strangersh and we're strangersh
yet. Mrs. Welln'ton is a"
"A queen among women. we know!
Dry up said Ashton, and then they
heard the Querulous voice Of the por
ter Of their sleeping car: Il tell you
don't know nothin' about the buffet
business"
The conductor pushed him in with
a gruff command Crawl in that cage
and get busy"
Still the porter protested: "Mista
Pullman engaged me for a sleepin
car, not drinkin' car. I'm a berth
maker, not mixer" He cast re
sentful glance through the window
that served also as a bar, and his
whole tone changed: Say, is you
goin' to allow me loose amongst all
them beautiful bottles? Say, man, II
you do. can't guarantee my con,
duck"
IF you even sniff one of those bot
ties" the conductor warned him, 9TH
crack it over your head"
That won't worry me none-as
long as my mouf's open" He smacked
his chops over the prospect of init
macy with that liquid treasury
"Lordy! Well, I'll try to control my
emotions-but remember, l don't guar
antee nothin'."
The conductor started to go, but
paused for final instructions: And
Reconsideration We get to Utah we
can't serve any hard liquor at ALL"
whats that? Don't they low moth
in in that old Utah but ice-cream
soda?"
That's about all. If you touch q
drop, III leave you in Utah for life"
ooh, Lordy, III be good"
The conductor left the excited black
and went his way. Ashton was the
first to speak: Say, Porter, can you
mix drinks?"
The porter ruminated, then con
fessed: We'll, not on the outside, no,
sir. If you-all is thirsty you better or
der the simplest things you can think
of. If you want to command anything
fancy, Lord knows what you'd get.
Supposin' you was to say, Gimme a
Tom Collins. I'd be just as liable as
not to pass you Jack Johnson"
We'll, can you open beer?"
"Oh, I'm a natural born beer
opener"
Rush 1t out then. My throat is as
full of alkali dust as these windows"
The porter soon appeared with a
tray full of cotton-topped glasses. The
day was hot and the alkali dust very
oppressive, and the beer was cold. Dr.
Temple looked on it when it was am
Der, and suffered himself to be bullied
into taking a glass.
| (TO BE CONTINUED)