The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-12

Whenever Dan Beasley needed food,
or drink, or dime to pay for Ded,
he invariably made claim to having
past where meritoriOuS work was his
portion.
"Tm no lazy 'bo, friend" he would
say. 1--WE strung wire half over the
country" and he showed pair OF nip
pers that belonged to the kit of teie-
graph construction crew.
If encouraged, Dan would dilate on
remarkable exploits in his line, well
seasoned with peril and hardship. Ii
presented with query as to present
lack of employment, he would cite old
age and younger men crowding him
out.
Dan was tired of cheap lodging
houses at Wolverton and wanted to get
to Crescent, where a real metropolis
presented variety and broader field
for the exploitation of his peculiar
genius. He swung onto the platform
of the last car as the 8:11 pulled out
of the depot. Dan was familiar with
railroad ways and time schedules. He
knew that the 8:11 was "a through
train to Crescent, with an express car
attached. The chances of discovery by
some lynx-eyed conductor, even hud-
died up in the shadow of the lower
step as he was, were entirely against
him, but to compensate for that the
probabilities were that he would not
be kicked off, nor would the train be
stopped especially to put him off.
Dan fairly cleared the door of the
rear car when it opened and man
came out. Dan scrunched close, but
felt easier as he observed that the in
truder wore no uniform. It was only a
passenger come out on to the platform
to get a breath of fresh air and puff
at a cigarette He noticed Dan, but
made no remark. His smoke being of
contemplated brief duration, the pas
senger had not taken the trouble to go
ahead to the smoking car.
"Tickets," and the door swung open
and the conductor appeared, punched
the bit of pasteboard presented and
then noticed Dan.
"Stowaway?" he observed smartly.
You'll have to vacate."
"Where tO-Pullman or chair carr?
grinned Dan, coming to his feet. you
amt the kind to fire me into the ditch,
your face shows that. Have a heart,
boss. I've seen better days. See,"
and Dan presented the inevitable last
tool of his former calling. "Lineman
once, and a good one. Lift me to Cres-
cent, won't you?"
The conductor grOwled some uncom-
plimentary remarks, evidently deciding
slamming the door after him. The
passenger dropped his half-consumed
cigarette. 1t fell to the platform.
Greedily Dan picked it up and with a
chuckle of rare content placed 1t be-
tween his lips, putting luxuriantly.
"Keeps away the hunger, see?' he
said, bracing comfortably ON the top
step now.
You're that, eh?' questioned the
passenger.
swell, when you get to Crescent use
my contribution for genuinely square
meal" and the speaker handed Dan a
half dollar.
"Strike wood! I'm blind or dream
ing! cried Dan, and he joyously
tapped the welcome coin against the
car door. "Say, I'm in rare luck ~
The young man smiled and went into
the coach. His charitable act pleased
him. He was, in fact, filed with pleas
ant thoughts. Well might that be, for
inside his breast pocket was long fat
wallet 1t contained one thousand two
hundred dollars, the savings of two
years, which would enable him to go
to Crescent, marry Mary Lane, the
girl Of his choice, enjoy rational we'd
ding trip and have enough left over to
furnish a neat little flat.
So he dreamed fond visions of bliss
reclining in the car seat, and Dan, out
side, extracted the last atom of warmth
and flavor from the diminishing Gig
arctic stump and closely clasped the
half dollar, gloating over an antici-
pated satisfying bill Of fare in the near
future.
Dan lolled over the entire platform
now. There would probably be no
more Interruptions and no stops until
Crescent was reached. He dozed, and
must have been on the verge Of dreams
for fully two hours when there came
shock. Dan just grabbed the brake
rod in time to evade topple over.
"What is it?" he grumbled "This
isn't Crescent. 1 don't like that!'' he
added, swinging sideways, clinging
with one hand and peering ahead.
A red light showed the stop signal
just ahead of the engine. The head
light of the locomotive revealed more
than one figure scurrying about. Dan
to the ground with the startling words {:
"Ginger-it's a holdup!"
Dan ran to the side of the track. He
made out at least six men armed with
revolvers lining or aboard of the train.
Two had clambered aboard the loco
motive: two had boarded the express
car; two others were coming down the
tracks.
They'll take my fifty cents, maybe ~
half joked Dan to himself. and say,
it isn't six miles to Crescent. They've
detached the engine"
Dan glanced about to find a hiding
place. None offered, for there was no