Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-03

appointment as station agent at Owl
Creek junction. a point out on the
plains not far from the Rocky noun
tains. Jim had another surprise. The
salary as station agent ut Owl Creek
junction was laid down as $50 month.
which was a good deal more than he
had been getting.
With sad heart he started for
his new field of labor. On the way
he asked about Owl Greek junction
and learned that it was looked upon
as one of the most promising points on
the road. True. at the time the pOpu-
lation in the vicinity were a lawless
lot. such as usually precedes the better
class who begin the real development
of new countries. But the branching
of great thoroughfare was sure in
time to make Owl Creek junction a
city.
This welcome encouragement caused
hope to arise in the breast of James
Perkins. He had $50 that he had
saved when he expected to marry
Laura Bingham. and he resolved to
invest it as soon as he arrived in a
! town lot He did not expect TO get 4
/ lot for so small an amount in the cen
/ ter of the place. but would be salts
/ fed with one on the outskirts.
! Hopeful youth-that leads one on
( through dreams to realities. ending ell
ther in success or failure. After all.
are not such visions better than pes
simism, which undertakes nothing, &C
complishes nothing?
The nearer Jim got to Owl Creek
junction the more he learned about 1t.
One bucket of cold water after anoth-
err was dashed over him till he received
the bucket itself. which struck him
with such force as to stun him. The
conductor in charge of the last section
of the road gave him a true picture OF
Owl Creek junction and made II plain
to him why he had been appointed
agent there.
The nearest house to the junction
was a mile. The country round about
was infested with jayhawkers and
horse thieves No agent at the rail
way station had thus far been able tc
collect money for tickets from GO pei
cent of the persons who Travelled or
the road. They either demanded tick
cts without pay at the point Of thu
revolver or used the same implement
to pass the conductor without payiDe
a fare. But the usual method was t.
call for a ticket at the station. ge
their hands on IL and walk away. for
getting to leave the cash for 1t. There
bad been five agents within sil
months. Now the last one appointed
was eagerly waiting for his successor
Jim received this terrible backse
shortly before the train drew up a
Owl Greek junction. and his Gear
sank down into his boots. When tn
train stopped at his new home h
looked upon as desolate a sight as h
had ever seen in his life. There were
station. a water tank fuel house an
nothing else except an open stretch o
country inhabited principally by tn
prairie dog. the sole vegetable produc
| being the cactus.
AS Jim stepped of the train a ma
came out OF the station expectantl!
A bandage covered his forehead an
his left eye. His arm was in sling.
THE new AGENT" he asked OF Jim.
, YES" replied Jim family.
"Well. come In here and I'll tur
= over the property. This train got
back in half an hour. and l propose
go on her"
Been hurtT" inquired tie new agen
4 Slightly. ! was fool enough to Il
I. to collect the price OF O ticket from
o rustIer. advise you not to try IL, b.
IL you're bent on doing so you'H fnd
couple OF ~ caliber reviewers In Il
9 drawer under the ticket window. II
company sent them out for the use