The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-07

~ IL ne only dared. f4e Was looking
back ove the track and his face was
He tlrned wildly upon the porter.
4 want you to stop this train and
let me off, he shouted. I've lost
something valuable back there on the
track. Stop the train quick, ! tell You,
or I'll sue the railroad"
What was IL you lost?" asked the
porter respectfully. He wasn't sure but
the man was half asleep yet.
1T was ~a--my-why, 1t was a very
valuable paper. IL means a fortune to
me and several other people and I
must go bach and get it. Stop the
train ! tell you. at once or III Jump
out, &,
II can't stop de train, sab. you'll hev
4 to see de conductah, sab, bout dat.
But l specks there's mighty little pros
pee o. gettin' dis train stopped fob 1t
gils to 1t d~estlnashun, sab. Yves one
hour a'hind time now, sab, an he's
gotta make up fob we gifts to Bufflo.%
The excited passenger rallied and
stormed until several sleepers were
awakened and stuck curious sleepy
c~ountenances out from the curtains OF
their berths, but the porter was OBJ
durate, n would not take any meas
ures TO stop the train, nor even call
the conductor until the passenger
promised to return quietly to his berth.
The thick set man was net used to
obeyfng, but he saw that he was only
hindering himself and finally hurried
back TO his berth, where he hastily
parted the curtains. cYaning his neck
to see back along the track and over
the green valley growing smaller and
smaller now in the distance. He could
just make out two moving specs on tho
White winding RIBBON OF the road. He
felt sure he knew the direction they
We're taking. If he only could get OFF
that train he could easily catch them,
ior they would have no idea he was
coming and would take no precautions.
IL he had only walened a few seconds
sooner he would have been following
them even now.
Fully 10 minutes he argued with the
conductor, showing a wide in~congru-
ity between his language and his gem
tefnanly attire, but the conductor
would do nothing but promise that
he would set him down at a wateT
tower 10 miles ahead where they had
to slow up for water. He said sue Or no
sue he had his orders. and the thick
set man did not inspire him either to
sympathy or confidence. The conductor
been many years on h road and
generally knew when to stop. his train
and when to let It 20 on.
Sullenly the thick-set man accepted
the conductors decision and prepared
to leave the train at the water tower,
his ~ out for the landmarks along
the way as he completed his hasty
toilet.
He was in no pleasant frame Of mind,
having missed q goodly amount Of his
accustomed stimulants the night before,
n seeing little prospect OF either
stimulants or breakfast before him. He
was not built for a 10-raile walk over
the cinders and his flabby muscles
already ached at the prospect. But then,
Of course, he would not have to go be-
fore be found an automobile or some
kind OF conveyance to help him on his
way. He looked eagerly from the win
dow for indications Of garages ior
stables, but the river wound Its silver
way among the gray green willow
fringes, and the new grass shone a
placid emerald plain with nothing more
human than a few COWS grazing here
and there. No even a horse that might
be borrowed without his owner
knowledge. II was a strange, forsaken
spot, 10 whole miles and no sign OF
any public liyeryl off to the right
and left he could see villages, but they
were most OF them too far away from
the track to help him any. It began
to look as IL he must Just foot II all the
way. Now and hen a small shanty or
tiny dwelling whizzed by near at hand,
but nothing that would relieve his
situation.
HWA ~ " "AiAill. " ~ III III
dining car for breakfast, but even as he
thought of 1t the conductor told him
the train would stop In two minutes
and he must be ready 20 get off, for
they did not stop long.
He certainly looked a harmless
creature, that thick-set man as he stood
alone upon the cinder elevation and
surveyed the landscays DER. Ten miles
from his quarry, alone on a stretch OF
endless ties n rails with q cleaning
river knocking him down In the valley,
n a Laughing sky jeering overhead.
He started down the shining track his
temper a wreck, his mind in chaos, his
soul at war with the world. The worst
OF it, all was that the whole fault was
his opyc for going to sleep. He began to
fear that he had lost his chance. Then
he set his ugly jaw and strobe ahead.
The morning sun poured down upon
the thick-set man and his pilgrimage,
and waxed hotter until noon. Trains
whizzed mercilessly by and gave him
no succor. Weary, faint. and fiercely
thirsty he came at last to the spot
where he was satisfied his quarry had
escaped, He could see the maks of their
rough descent In the steep cinder bank,
and assaying the same himself came q
shred Of purple silk caught IN a bram-
Die at the foot,
Putting and painting, bruised and
I LOPN-DOl 20 iC INV az lLC NCIy PlaCO
where Celia had stopped to have her
shoes fastered, and mopped his purple
brow, but there was triumph in his
ugly eye. and after a few moments, rest
he trudged onward. That town over
there ought TO yield both conveyance
and food as well as Information con
corning those he sought. He would
catch them. They could nev get way
from him. lie was IN their track again,
though hours behind. He would get
them yet and no man should take his
reward from him.
Almost spent he came at last to the
village. and ate a surprisingly large
dish OF beef and vegetable stew at the
| quaint little house where Celia and
Gordon had b~reakfasted. but the old
lady who served it TO them was shy
about talking, and though admitting
that a couple Of people had been there
that morning h was non-committal.
about their appearance. They might
have been young and go~od-looking and
worn feathers in their hats, and they
might not. She wasn't one for noticing
peoples appearance il they treated her