The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-06-04
TheVanished
Freight
By e. FLORENCE
(Copyright.)

The loose ointed Individual and the
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 coliding in the process
of ejectment.
Must take us for blooming cam
ron-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 fioated through
space in Kansas, riding bareback on
a cyclone"
$50 you've been in Kansas, too"
Gueried the loose ointed one. "Now.
there's q state that can boast some
shout 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.
at may leave path of devastation
lehind IT. but think of what would
because OF that airless void il 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. cyclone is a
great factor in promoting social inter-
course. There are lots of people out
there who would never see each other
were II 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, Bill" shouted one: Il
haven't seen you for good WHILE
No yelled the other fellow; I don't
often get up this way
speaking of railrOading." said the
loose-jointed individual. I'D 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. l held
down a shanty up along the line,
forty miles from the nearest refectory.
Did nothing much hut give the
trains clear track or hold them I'D to
side-track SOS to let another train
pass. The old p d. Q. was a single
truck road. with shanties and sidings
at regular intervals. at which a num-
Der Of other jays like myself did the
brainwork for the system.
81 was holding down this lob in
that Queen Anne cottage, with no great
white way nearer than the milky |
'baldric of the skies and the only |
stars 1 could flirt with ware those |
winking at me across millions of miles |
Of space. But was not astronom-
icnlly inclined-gastronomy has al.
ways been my long suit.
We'll, 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
Il 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 80
p N. / had orders to hold 1t on the
siding until the north-bound passen-
ger. due at 7:45. had passed.
Il set my signals and busted my
'elf doing nothing until the south
FOUND should arrive. l felt mighty
ylad Of the chance for human compan.
onship which the side-tracked freight
would supply.
The sky had assumed a dirty-gray
'oIor. felt certain that there was a
cyclone sashaying around somewhere
n my vicinity.
Il was wondering II my villa was in
ne path Of the whirling dervish, when
he stiffness was suddenly fractured
y the shrieking Of the south bounds
whistle.
Il got ready to do the reception act,
nd wondered why Jim Bludsoe kept
is whistle blowing.
In a few seconds the big engine
oomed In sight. Along she came, like
race-hOrse on the home-stretch. and
I realized that the big galoot
t the throttle was going to give us
he go-by.
Il grabbed my red flag and got busy
nth the wigwag performance. but old
'on horse swished past with his long,
rown tail Of empty freights strung ,
ut behind like the appendage Of a
omet. G
What the Sam Hills the matter S
18th that gfddy chofferr thinks I. O
hen 1t struck me all of a sudden that 7
about seven and a half minutes q
,ere was going to be trouble, likewise n
lot Of scrap-iron scattered over the I
emery Of the Sunfiower state. Il
The nOrth-bound train had already h
1tered the same block, and the two
aims would meet about halfway be- I
veen my bungalow and the next one e
NTH. on the curve around a grove
lereabouts. In my mind / pictured O
'e horror Of the scene. "
MY mind was full of the possibili- I
es Of the situation, and i was stand p
{ fharo raralx-za1 &c u xro-1 | r