Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-03

was proceeding to remove It when he
discovered that it weighed something
like a hundred pounds
That's the heaviest skeleton / ever
handled he remarked.
How many have you handled?" ask
ed the shipper.
Il don't know that I ever handled
any"
Then how can you tell what one of
them should weigh? Take hold of that
end and I'll take this. Now she goes"
And the box was carried into the
freight station and stood up on the
right end. Then the agent went TO
desk and. taking a blank receipt, asked
| the young man his name.
John Smith," was the reply.
ANY middle Manner
"No"
Where tor
"Hallowell"
! Hallower was a town some twenty
miles distant
You don't need the name of the per-
son the skeleton was when alive. do
you:" asked Mr.. Smith.
| The agent turned from his writing
| said:
Young man, will you be offended II
say something plain to you?"
NO; drive on
You're the biggest fool that ever
| came into this station"
You've hit it right, pard. I en-
| tered college ten years ago, and I'm
| freshman yet. I've been turned back
with nine classes. ] was to have been
| graduated with the class of '04. Now
l am at the foot of the class of IA"
"Oh, give us q rest. I've something
to do besides Ginning with an idiot.
There's your receipt. I'll put the box
on the next train that comes alorg, at
1905. That's an hour"
Isn't there a train before that
timer
mo"
At this point a carriage was driven
up to the passenger entrance of the
station, and DR.. Bidwell, president of
Merton college, and DIR. Arabella Cax.
ton. president of the woman's college
Of the same institution, alighted. The
agent, who had charge of both the pas
senger and freight departments, was
proceeding to the ticket Office when
Mr.. Smith stopped him and said:
"See here. old man; don't talk about
that skeleton I'm shipping. These two
prexys were opposed to the sale, and
they might not like 10 see it co.
"Oh, l mind my own business" re-
piled the agent and went on his way,
while Mr.. Smith put himself out OF
sight among the boxes in the freight
house.
Have you seen anything" DR.. Bid
well asked the agent, of young man
and young girl going OFF on any Of
the trains?''
NO: I haven't was the laconic re-
ply.
DR.. Bidwel turned to DR. Caxton
and remarked. do you suppose they
have gone from the upper stationT'
"They may" replied DR.. Caxton.
! "When does the next train pass"
the agent was asked.
AT 1905"
After a consultation the two presi-
dents decided that DIR. Bidwell should
go to the upper station and DR.. CaXton
should remain and watch the 1905
train. Other college officials were TAX
ing care of other routes DR.. Bidwell
drove off. leaving his colleague in the
waiting room. When the 1905 train
came along the agent wheeled Mr..
Smiths box on n truck to the bag.
gage car. and it was lifted inside.
''Corpse?" asked the man on the
car.
mo: skeleton"
mighty heavy skeleton"
Meanwhile Mr.. Smith. when sure he
was not observed. swung himself on TO
the rear platform of the last car of the
train.
When the train was recedlng in the
distance and President Caxton was
leaving the station Mr.. Smith made his
way to the baggage car and saw that
the box rested in n comfortable po-
sition for its contents till Hallowell
was reached. then superintendent its
removal into the freight house Of that
station. Calling for tools, he opened
the box and handed out ms pretty n
structure OF bones with appropriate
. flesh ms had ever been shipped by that
, or any other railroad
Can you direct me-" he said, Ito a
/ parsonf'
. Certainly" said the astonished
, agent You'll find one right under
that spire you see over there" point
; ing. The parsonage is next the
. church."
The girl. n student OF the woman's
3 college Of the university. chung TO Mr.
) Smith, whose real name was Jim ste
vens. sophomore. and the two hur
I ried to the clergymans house ant
were there united In the bonds of mat
/ rimony.
g That ended the curriculum OF boil
s Mr.. Stevens and his wife as colleg'
q students. The affair created consider
able commotion in the mems and wo
= mems colleges. and the faculties o
r both institutions seriously considers
the separation OF the two on tn
/ ground that they furnished too favcr
e able opportunities for elopements.