The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-14

ONE CONSOLATION LEFT TO VIC
TiMIZED PEDESTRIAN.
Effort Cost Him Much, However, and
Ii Was Without Great Pleasure
That He Learned He Had Been
Fooled, B'Gosh."

It was a typical old-fashioned coun-
try store. The real native that goes
with such a place was seated on
cracker box, clad in the old-time care
less country style. Another of the
same vintage was engaging him-let
US call him Gray Whiskers-in heat
ed argument on election. The second
man in the course of his remarks
said she was nigh onto eighty years
old" referring with pride to his war
record. (He was mustered out at
Readville.)
What time does the next train
leave here for Boston E" briskly in
CURED the writer.
ooh, about two hours or more they'll
be one," said Gray Whiskers.
The writer lost some of his brisk
manner and expressed discomfort and
d few other things.
At this p ut the veteran volun-
teered the Information that a train
stopped at Sharon Junction in an
hour and the writer might walk there
and wait for it,
Holy smoke" howled the writer.
you expect me to walk four miles in
an hour? Couldn't do it,
Huh, four mile IS nothin'; I've
walked it in three-quarters of an hour
an I'm eighty years DID," boasted the
veteran
Yes, an I seen him do it and I'll
bet We he kin do it again." butted in
Gray Whiskers.
Well, various remarks were passed
and the writer offered to cover all
bets, but there was nothing doing. II
was two o'clock sharp when the writer
left for the long journey down the
track; the train was due at Sharon
Heights about three or little after
81 wonder if that old rube could
make it, he pondered as he skipped
the ties. There's Edward Paysor
Weston, he was an old has-been.
reckon I'll try to make a little record
myself
The day was fairly cool; a little
of the sun lent.its rays to warm the
scene. The sky -,as blue and walk
another flashed by. Feverishly the
writer gazed at his watch; he was vel
inside the limit. The last mile pos
was dancing toward him, but what
difference in the atmosphere. He wa:
stifed with the heat Hat in hant
and coat over arm he sped onward a.
if the devils were at his heels.
At last the journey was ended. H
fell into a chair at the station am
looked at his watch once more. TIL,
veterans record was smashed t,
atoms, done in So minutes, and tn
station agent there to prove it. H
would hand it to those rubes. TIL
fact that his collar was a shapeles
pulp and his clothes wringing wet wit
the strenuous effort was nothing. TIL
record was broken. That was enough
A few weeks passed and the inc
dent was forgotten. Lately, however
the writer had occasion to visit Fox
boro again. He went to the genera
store and sought Gray Whiskers an
the veteran. The proprietor was tn
only one present. Triumphantly tn
writer told how speedily he had COY
cred those four miles
The proprietor blew out a wreat
of smoke; AN you took any stock i
the talk of those two fellers? Why
they never walked more than 10
yards from this here store in years,
he said. An that old veteran he
all bunged up with rheumatism.
guess We were fooled b'gosh."
The writer took look at the tim
table; he had an hour to wait, bu
he took Gray Whiskers' place on tn
cracker box and did not try to brea
any more records