Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-06-10
TheVanished
Freight
(copyright.l
4
By 2. FLORENCE

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watery-eyed one met on common
ground. They had both been fired
from the same freight, and were
drawn to each other--or, more correct
~ speaking, fired at each other, for
they came near cOlliding In the process
Of ejectment.
"Must take us for blooming can
non.balls," grunted the loose-jOinted
one.
"Yes; those fellows are certainly
on the firing-line, all right" replied the
watery-eyed one. Reminds me Of
the way I've often floated through
space in Kansas, riding bareback on
q cyclone"
$50 you've been in Kansas, too2"
queried the loose ointed one. "Now,
there's state that can boast some
about nearly everything. And, talking
of cyclones, did you ever hear how
they are formed.
Houses, trees and cattle are gath
cred In its loving embrace, and the
whole blooming outfit forms sort of
relief expedition to the afflicted place.
The world moves, but Kansas Is a
whole moving picture show.
"It may leave a path of devastation
behind it, but think Of what would
because of that airless void If the
G. Q. D. was ignored.
"That's So" replied the watery-eyed
one Mature has got railroads skinned
alive when 1t comes to delivering the
goods, Then, again, cyclone is a
great actor in promoting social inter
course. There are lots Of people out
there who would never see each other
were 1t not for the fact that they
are thrown together by the thoughtful
cyclone. know Of a couple Of fell
lows who had not seen each other for
years, who met In the air, both Joy
riding aboard the same cyclone.
Halo, Billr shouted one; T
haven't seen you for a good while
NO yelled the other fellow; I don't
often get up this way
Speaking of railroading," said the
loose-jointed individual, ard like to
relate to you some Of my experiences
in the railroad business. Back in the
seventies did Responding down in
Kansas, on the P. D. Q. road. I held
down shanty up along the line,
forty miles from the nearest refectory.
"Did nothing much but give the
trains clear track or hold them up to
side-track SOS to let another train
pass. The old P. D. Q. was a single
track road, with shanties and sldlngs
at regular intervals, at which a num-
Der Of other jays like myself did the
brainwork for the system.
81 was holding down this Job in
that Queen Anne cottage, with no great
white way nearer than the milky
'baldric Of the skies and the only
stars l could fiirt with ware those
winking at me across millions of miles
Of space. But l was not astronom-
ically inclined-gastronomy has al
ways been my long suit.
''Well, this particular incident have
in mind happened on one of those days
when nature seems to be resting and
getting ready for a grand-stand demon
II seemed to sense something was
going to happen, and felt as fussy as a
kitten. There was a south
hound train due at my villa at 7;30
p. m. I had orders to hold 1t on the
siding until the north-bound passen-
ger, due at 7:45, had passed.
II set my signals and busted my
self doing nothing until the south
bound should arrive. I felt mighty |
glad Of the chance for human compan-
lonship which the sIde-tracked freight |
would supply.
1.-THE sky had assumed a dirty-gray
color. I felt certain that there was a
cyclone sashaying around somewhere
IN my vicinity.
81 was wondering If my villa was in
Ehe path Of the whirling dervish, when
the stiffness was suddenly fractured
By the shrieking Of the south bounds
whistle.
II got ready to do the reception act,
md wondered why Jim Bludsoe kept
Ais whistle blowing.
"In a few seconds the big engine
doomed in sight. Along she came, like
I race-horse on the home-stretch, and
suddenly I realized that the big galoot
at the throttle was going to give us
the go-by.
II grabbed my red flag and got busy
with the wigwag performance, but old
ron horse swished past with his long,
brown tail Of empty freights strung
but behind like the appendage Of a
comet.
"'What the Sam Hills the matter
with that giddy chofferY thinks l.
Then it struck me all Of a sudden that
In about seven and a half minutes
there was going to be trouble, likewise
4 lot Of scrap-iron scattered over the
scenery Of the Sunhower state.
"The north-bound train had already
entered the same block, and the two
rains would meet about halfway be-
tween my bungalow and the next one
yonth, on the curve around a grove
In my mind l pictured