Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-13
BLACK BOX HOODOO.
Camera May Not Have Unlocked
the Trouble, But It Got All
the Blame.
BY Il. M. LONE.

tnan that OF land boomer, especially
when much of the land so doomed
was productive of little else than sand
burs. sage-brush, cacti, jack-rabbits.
and fair sprinkling Of rattlesnakes.
That is by the way. however. II
you make inquiries among his eastern
friends-especially in Montague street.
Brooklyn-you will gather some pic
tuesque estimates of M. Blanchard's
business abilities. Financial persons
Of Brooklyn pride themselves on being
possessed Of certain Yankee shrewd-
ness which steers them clear Of the
wiles Of the average schemer.
Apart from that, no man is consid-
cred reliable until he has been proper
ly introduced by an old Brooklynite.
This once done, he is established In
their confidence.
Now. Ben Blanchard managed to
make his entry into Montague street
under the auspices Of certain
Brooklynite Of ancient and honorable
lineage. Through the introduction thus
afforded him, the community promoter
made a number Of acquaintances Of
highly beneficial sort.
Among the communities which
Blanchard had brought into being
were couple in western Kansas. At
various points farther west he was
In touch with other promoters to whom
he introduced good things" from the
East, receiving in return a percentage
Of the ensuing plunder.
Once a year he was accustomed to
Issue invitations for a western trip
to the rich and easy" people whom
he met In the East. The junket was
done In fine style. A special car with
attendants was provided, the food was
excellent, at Topeka and the stopping
places beyond, the local boards OF
trade did honor to the distinguished
visitors. and so did the local news
papers to the extent Of many columns.
During the very last trip en-.
gineered by Blanchard acted as his
torian"-to use the Blanchardian term.
In reality, was his press agent Thus
II was that he happened to have a
certain experience with railroad su.
perstition.
The party. after visiting Denver and
Manitou, was on its way east. At Pu.
eblo, one afternoon, there was a
change Of engines, and, as II subse-
quently turned out. the engineer had
orders to ''let her lick" across the
prairie 30 as to show the eastern gen,
try that there was nothing slow about
that particular section.
An old-time 'dobe house, not far
from the depot had excited the inter
est OF some Of the party. and while
Awaiting their return the writer walked
up the platform. carrying kodak ot
goodly proportions. Jim Dell, the en-
gineer-tall. lank. and sunburnt tc
the hue OF an Indian-was Just getting
Into the cab. His fireman followed
wiping his fingers on a clout Of greasy
waste. The camera was made ready
for action.
Dell wheeled sharply as the bellows
catch Of the camera clicked. Then he
frowned at the instrument and its
owner.
You're sure thinkin' OF gettin' pic
ture OF this here machine?"
! said that was my plan.
"And OF me and my pardner!"
nodded.
We'll. I'm saying this. am. The
machine can't get away from you,
/ s'pose. But I'll be burned II you gel
: my face or Bills inside the contrap
ton. Why? For reasons-good rea
sons! I've never had my picture tool
by one OF them black boxes that wai
owned by 4 passenger but what trou
Bile Of several sorts followed. Aint
that the truth. Bill?"
Bill grunted assent.
Then the pair clambered hastily into
the cab. and even as they did so the
bulb was pressed. and a good mega
tive OF two greasy rear-facades was
secured.
Dell followed instructions In tn,
matter OF speed. as a roaring, swirl
ing wake OF dust and dried cactus at
, tested. But the going was too goot
! TO last.
. Whether the hoodoo In the "blacl
box" bestirred itself. or whether Bill
got too busy with the fire shovel, tn,
narrator knoweth not. The fact re
. mains. however. that less than fift,
miles from the starting point the en-
] gine and the car came to a jagge,
halt.
: As the camera registered n recor,
Of the wreck. Jim and his helpe
cursed eastern dudes whose hoodooI
worked mischief with western loco
. motives.
II was three hours before Puebi,
!, furnished another engine that. eyer
T to the lay eye, looked grouchy and su
}. perannuated.
!. IT'S that confounded old highbind
n er. No. g." Jim was heard TO mutte
}. as the fresh engine wheezed int
!. sight over a roll OF the prairie. "Hea
a the burned bron.i-cal lungs OF her"
Q Anyhow. No. was coupled up. an,
Jim and his helper proceeded I,
= throw II into her for all that the.
we're worth. and triAe more than sh
o was. Thirty miles had not been GOV
Q cred, when the car seemed 10 turi
itself into an aeroplane for a sicken
ing second or 80. came back down Of
N. roti, ,,ttb m ANNA On rring thud