Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-20
THE DYNAMITE CAR
Not Explosive, 1t Was at Least
Valuable Freight, to Be Han
died With Care.
BY HARRY LILLY.

loSdi WeSl, do euS puiiOu ouI VI
Shacktown. Family troubles were hard
enough on q man without any addi-
ton.
He had an alteration with his
daughter the night before over the
eternal Hazenfritz question, and now,
here, next to the caboose, was this
car-with as many placards as we'd
ding trunk-Dynamite High Explo-
sives! Handle Carefully! Keep All
Lights Away!
keys passion welled up and up
until 1t reached the acme Of anger.
He was too angry to swear. For II
there was one thing of which he was
more afraid than of snakes, 1t was
dynamite. Ikey usually waved his
hand scornfully at the agent as his
train ran by the station, but today he
was too angry to administer the Gus
tomary insult to his daughters suitor.
For three years George Hazenfritz
had been trying to gain keys con-
sent to the match; and for two years
lkey had watched the morning pas
senger train, and after, as his local
freight rumbled by, had given a mock
ing salute to Hazenfritz, the agent.
There are but two passenger trains
a day-one east and one west-over
the branch OF which Shacktown is one
terminal, while Slowtown, the county
seat, Is the other. So when Ikey, hav.
ing watched the morning train. pulled
out with his way train, he knew that
there was no possible chance for an
elopement that day.
On the next morning when Ikey was
working east again. the conductor or
the opposite run would watch the pas
senger even more zealously than Ikey
himself. He was keys choice for 6
son.in-law.
lkey turned over his bundle OF way
bills. There were bills for three car,
whose contents were to be distribute,
at the various stations along the way
There were bills for two cars OF keg
for the brewery. a car OF sand for tn,
foundry, a car of scrap from the Jev
at Shacktown to the jew at Slowtown
a car with a little jag OF company
stun, but not scrap OF paper tha
said a word about dynamite. or any
thing more dangerous than whisky.
When the train stopped to unloa
freight at the first station out @
Shacktown. lkey made an inspectlo
OF the car. II was sealed and sid,
carded from Shacktown to Slowtowr
contents dynamite. Some one ha
sketched a deaths head. in red inl
on the card
THAT cursed Hazenfrltz." muttere
lkey, as he signaled to go ahead.
The long day wore on with its M
notonous dropping of car her
picking up another somewhere els
stopping at every fence corner to pic
up, or unload. freight and ever c
keys mind was the dynamite ca
Once. at station half way ,
the run, he caught a fool brakey stri
Ing a match TO light his pipe on Il
door OF the dynamite car.
Another time. when making a shIi
the engineer struck her so hard tn
lkey held himself down with bo
hands. expecting to go up any minut
Then he went forward and cursed q
engineer. but this made things wors
for after that he hit her a bump whe
ever he could.
II was dark when at last, No.
pulled into Slowtown.
You're late. old man" remarked Il
agent. as lkey entered the Office al
threw down his bills
Lucky TO get In at ALL" snarl,
key. Lucky We didn't take the 81
route"
"Why7 What's the matter? II,
any trouble3'' asked the agent.
mo. only some wooden headed 10
shipped up a car OF explosives. dyn
mite, on our train: and every tin
that fool engineer struck her.
struck her harder than the last. Luck
as said. We didn't take the 81
route"
"A shipment OF dynamite?" repe,
ed the agent. taking up a messaI
which he kept beyond the range
keys vision. I'VE dent get any d
Mantle up this end. Where's the wa
bills?" he asked. as he turned oy
the bunch lkey had Just brought
A faint smile played around his m,
tache as he spoke.
mo bill did ! see for Il, but 4
side-carded plainly enough" hiss
key. Then. you couldn't exp,
Hazenfritz TO make a side-card and
way-bill In one day"
Another mysterious smile was ba
born beneath the agents mustacl
but he said nothing.
lkey marched up town to his boa
Ing house and the agent took a lante
and went out into the yard where ,
dynamite car stood. lie broke the a,
and, holding the lantern I'm the do
way. peered In. Evidently he "
not afraid OF dynamite.
When lkey reported for duty
next day. shlfter was setting
car for his train.
What have you got in her {
timer" he asked. In n Jocular voice,
he proceeded TO tear on one OF
offending placards.
Hold on therei" cried the q
ductor OF the shifter. pointing to