The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-06-02
TheVanished
Freight
elS
(copyrlght)
By e. FLORENCE

/
ground. They had both been fired
from the same freight, and we're
drawn to each other--or, more correct
ly speaking, fired at each other, for
they came near collidlng In the process
Of ejectment.
"Must take us for blooming can
pon-balls," grunted the loose-jolnted
one.
ayes: those fellows are certainly
on the firing.llne, all right" replied the
watery-eyed one. Reminds me OF
the way I've often foated through
space in Kansas, riding bareback ON
a cyclone"
$50 you've been in Kansas, too?"
querled the loose-jolnted one. Now,
there's a 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 a sort OF
relief expedition to the afflicted place.
The world moves. but Kansas Is a
whole moving picture show.
ut may leave a path Of devastation
tehInd II, but think OF what would
because Of that airless void II the
c. Q. d. was ignored.
That's So" replied the watery-eyed
one. Mature has got railroads skinned
alive when It comes to delivering the
goods. Then. again, a cyclone Is
great factor In promoting social inter
course. There are lots OF people out
there who would never see each other
we're II not for the fact that they
are thrown together by the thoughtful
cyclone. know OF couple of fell
lows who had not seen each other for
years, who met In the air, both joy
riding aboard the same cyclone.
"'Hallo, Bnlr shouted one: 4
haven't seen you for good while
No yelled the other fellow; 4 don't
often get up this way.
Speaking Of rallroading," said the
loose-jolnted individual. "Pd like to
relate to you some Of my experiences
in the railroad business. Back In the
seventies l did Responding down in
Kansas, on the =. ID. Q. road. l 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. ID. Q. was n single
truck 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 end the only
stars l could flirt with ware those
winking at me across millions Of miles
OF space. But I was not astronom-
ically inclined-gastronomy has al
ways been my long suit.
well, this particular incident I have
In mind happened on one OF those days
when nature seems to be resting and
getting ready for grand-stand demon
stratlom.
II seemed TO sense something was
going to happen, and felt as fussy as
magnetized kitten. There was south
bound train due at my villa at 80
p. m. l had orders to hold II on the
siding until the north-bound passen-
ger. due at 7:45. had passed.
Il set my signals and busted my
self doing nothing until the south
bound should arrive. felt mighty
glad OF the chance for human compan-
ionship which the slde-tracked freight
would supply.
THE sky had assumed dIrty-gray
color. felt certain that there was
cyclone sashaylng around somewhere
in my vicinity.
Il was wondering II my villa was in
the path of the whirllng dervlsh, when
the stiffness was suddenly fractured
by the shrleklng Of the south bounds
whistle.
II got ready TO do the reception act
ond wondered why Jim Bludsoe kent
his whistle blowing.
I'm n few seconds the big engine
loomed In sight Along she came like
race-horse on the home-stretch. and
suddenly realized that the big galoot
at the throttle was going to give us
the go-by.
Il grabbed my red flag and got busy
with the wigwag performance, but old
IRON horse swished past with his long.
brown tail Of empty frelghts strung
out behind like the appendage OF a
comet.
What the Sam HlWs the matter
with that glddy chofferT thinks /
Then 1t struck me all Of n sudden tbot
Ii about seven and half minutes
there was going to be trouble, likewise
lot OF scrap-iron scattered over the
scenery Of the Sunfiower state.
THE north-bound train had already
entered the same block, and the two
trains would meet about halfway he
tween my bungalow and the next ono
sonih, on the curve around grove
lhereabouts. In my mind I pictured
the horror OF the scene.