The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-09
CHAPTER N.

iHo carry 6tF08 anc the worm.
In the enormous barn of the rail-
road station stood many strings OF
cars, as If a gigantic young CULVER
stabbed his toys there and invisibly
amused himself; now whisking this
one away. now backing that other In.
Some OF the trains were noble equip
ages, fitted to glide across the whole
map with cargoes of Lilliputian mil
lionaires and their Lilliputian ladies'.
Others were humble and shabby
linked-up day-coaches and dingy
smoking-cars, packed with workers,
like ants.
Cars are mere vehicles, but locomo-
tves have souls. The express en-
gines roll In or stalk out with gran
deur and ease. They are like en-
perors. They seem to look with scorn
at the suburban engines snorting and
grunting and shaking the arched
roof with their plebeian choo-choo as
they puff from shop to cottage and
back
The trainmen take their cue from
the behavior of theii locomotives. The
| conductor of a transcontinental mods
to the conductor Of a shuttle-train
with less cordially than to a brake
man of his own. The engineers OF
the limiteds look like senators in
! overalls. They are far-traveled men,
leading a mighty life of adventure
They are pilots of land-ships across
land-oceans. They have q right to q
| certain condescension of manner.
But no one feels or shows so much
| arrogance as the sleeping car porters.
They cannot pronounce "supercili.
| ous," but they can be 1t. Their dis
dain for the entire crew of any train
that carries merely day-coaches or
half-baked chair-cars, is expressed as
only a darkey In a uniform can ex-
press disdain for poor white trash.
OF all the naughty porters that ever
curled lip, the haughtiest by far
was the dusky attendant In the San
Francisco sleeper on the Trans-Amer-
lean Limited. His was the train OF
trains in that whole system. His car
the car Of cars. His passengers the
surpassengers of all.
His train stood now waiting to set
forth upon a voyage of two thousand
miles. a journey across seven imperial
states, a journey that should end only
at that marge where the continent
dips and vanishes under the breakers
of the Pacific ocean.
At the head of his car, with his lit
tie box-step waiting for the foot of
the first arrival, the porter stood, his
head swelling under his cap, his
breast swelling beneath his blue
reflections of his own eyes. His name
was Ellsworth Jefferson, but he was
called anything from "Poarr-turr" to
"Pawtah," and he usually did not
come when he was called
Tonight he was wondering perhaps
what passengers, with what DISPOSE
lions, would fall to his lot. Perhaps
he was wondering what his Chicago
sweetheart would be doing In the
eight days before his return Per
haps he was wondering what his San
Francisco sweetheart had been doing
In the five days since he left her, and
how she would pass the three days
that must intervene before he
reached her again.
He had Othello's ebon color Die
he have Othello's green eye?
Whatever his thoughts, he chattec
gaily enough with his neighbor ane
colleague of the Portland sleeper.
Suddenly he stopped In the midst
of soaring chuckle.
"Lordy, man, looky what's aeon
in"
The Portland porter turned to gaze
IL got my fingers crossed"
Il hope you git him."
Il hope I don't"
He'll work you hard and cuss 70,
out, and he won't give you even &
Much Obliged"
That's right. He amt got a ushel
to carry his things. And he's go
enough to fill van"
The oncomer was plainly OF Eng
lish origin. 1t takes all sorts Of peo
pie to make up the British Empire
: and there is no sort lacking-gloriou
; or pretty, or sour or sweet. But thi
! was the type of English globe-trotte
j that makes himself as unpopula
: own people. He Is almost as unen
durable as the Americans abroad VIII
e twang their banjo brag through Eu
d rope, and berate France and Italy 70
/ their innocence of buckwheat cakes.
e The two porters regarded Mr.. Hal
old Wedgewood with dread, as b
bore down on them. He was almos
/ lost in the plethora of his own lug
q gage He asked for the San Frar
l. cisco sleeper. and the Portland porte
). had to turn away to smother his gul
Cling relief.
Ellsworth Jefferson's heart sanl
. He made a feeble effort at self-prc
lection. The Pullman conductor nc
being present at the moment. he ii
: CURED:
Have you got 20 ticketY"
LOT cawse"
Gould / see it,"
, to fish it out
The porter was fading. do 20
remember yo' numba?"
"Of cawse. Take these" He bega
D to pile things on the porter like
0 mountain unloading an avalanch'
: The porter stumbled as he clambere
b up the steps. and squeezed thrc ug
> the strait path of the corridor int
the slender aisle He turned agai
and again to question the invade
but he was motioned and bunte