Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-03
" 2 A. Mitchell.


lectionS''
Jim received the contents OF the
ticket office and receipted for them in
time TO see his predecessor step on
the train happily and pulled away to
civilization. The pulling of the loco.
motive gradually died away in the
distance, to be replaced by an absolute
silence. Jim would have liked to hear
the boot of even an owl. but there were
no trees for an owl to roost in, and he
wondered how the creek got its name.
He looked for place in it deep enough
to drown himself in. but it did, net
afford even that.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon os
the day after Jim Perkins arrived aS
Owl Creek junction. jim was sitting
at desk with his hat pulled down
ever his eyes. He was ut the lowest.
or. rather. the highest point OF desper
alton. A train was due in ten minutes
from one of the branches of the rail
road. going eastward. A man with
red face, stubble beard and one eye
stepped up TO the ticket window and
said:
Young Teller, gimme ticket to An.
telope. and be quick about it,
Jim arose from his chair and stepped
TO the window. He had laid cooked
revolver beside it where it could not
be seen. He took down ticket from
a rack. stamped it and, holding it in his
! hand, said:
Three dollars and forty cents.
please"
/ A glare came In the ticket purchas-
( er's eye. and he put his hand to his hip.
/ There was a report, but not from his
! revolver. Jim had snatched his own
! weapon. brought it to bear on the pur-
! chaser and fired.
/ When the train reached the station
the conductor stepped down on to the
| platform and went into the station.
mans body was lying on its face below
the ticket window.
whats up?" he asked.
1--WE been sent out here" replied
Jim. Ito sell tickets for money. That
man wanted TO go 10 Antelope without
paying his fare. He can go free as
baggage, | reckon. You'd better help
him on TO the train"
at Jim for few moments. then said:
by cracky! You're n cool one. Do
you think you can keep this up?"
I'll keep it up till | get killed. and
I'd rather get killed than remain a
railroad employee, especially at Owl
Creek junction"
The conductor succeeded in getting
brief account of the affair from the
only living participant. then. not wish
, ing to get behind time. called the man
in charge of the baggage car and with
: his assistance carried the body on
: board the train. Then there was Il
whistle and the big snake crawed
! away over the plain.
Jim Perkins did not have to kill any
more men Mt Owl Greek junction sta
) ton. The news that the railroad cOm-
: pany had sent out an agent who meant
t business circulated. and after that
would be passengers paid their fare.
l Jim since lie had begun the work
1 would not give it up till he had proved
that he was master of the situation.
d then wrote to the president of the
S road that the population under the in
j fluence Of the railroad was beginning
to change and he thought that any
0 agent could collect for tickets there
a He would like station in more set
tied locality.
: A reply came notifying Jim that an
other man would relieve him and he
was TO report at the general Offices OF
u the company. When he reached the
terminal and showed his order to a
Il man at n desk he was sent up to the
office of the president.
HIM" said that officer II believe
You are the man who collected fares al
Owl Creek junction" ..s1fLr.
l. II am, SIR" replied Jim.
I'm sorry haven't another place
:. especially fitted for your peculiar abili
ties. What kind Of n position would
you like"
:, ANY you happen TO have vacant
n I've been railroading all my life.
a don't know anything else"
The president tapped bell An Office
N boy entered and vas directed to cal
- the superintendent When that gentle
a man entered the president said to him
\. mfr. Bowers. this is James Perkins
IN recently station agent Mt Owl Creel
,r junction. Make him n train dispatche
N and as soon as he learns the duties o
K. that position give him the next job II
10 the scale man who could max
NJ Owl Greek junction a paying station
70 must be good for almost anything A
to any rate. try him
of Before entering upon the duties o
r. his new Office Jim went to see hi
re sweetheart and told her Of the chang
tx that had come over bis fortunes Jim
I'd salary was quite sufficient to warran
r. their marriage. and their engagemen
ct was renewed. Jim passed through
az number of grades and finally beca N
TT president OF the road besides makin
he fortune. Throughout all OF his az
he ministration he was known as one d,
he voted to the welfare of the thousa nd
n Of employees Of the road under h
nd Management
ct Nov. 3 in American