The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-23
CHAPTER IT JaSDer HeayeS a Sigh.

OdSDer bOStNGS al SISh.
 Jasper woke up-to daylight and 8 husky head man.
 The daylight was flooding through the door of the box car The shack was bending over, kicking Jasper foot. Jasper sat up and then he stood up.
 ''Mornin'. brother O mine." he said. About where are we?"
 ''We are at BenderviIle. Was that the station your ticket called for, sir?''
 Gee. I've been robbed!'' said Jas. per, discovering that his pistol and nashlight were among the missing.
 ''You converse like a ,prina, donna,' the shack said.
 'swhat is Benderville?' Jasper
 'It's the end of the subdivision" ;" the shack answered.
 Whats the chief despatchers name?" Jasper asked
 Dolan. You an opp"
 -cn you can o. S. a train, go see
 T can just about do that" Jase1 eaid. "ru go. Much obliged
 -'Eungry % the shack asked.
 s-Hollow.''
 'Here's thirty cents"
 Jasper took the money and jumped flown from the car. After he had eaten he went to Npolan's office.
 In ten minutes Jasper found him self in possession of a pass to Mar win Center.
 He stepped down at Marvin Center at one o'clock in the afternoon. The Station was rather an ornate struc sure
 Jasper went into the waiting room and approached the door of the tele- graph office.
 The first-trici rran was a girl.
 Pardon me-" said Jasper. T was te-k here by MT. Dolan to work the thin. trick tonight. expected to rnes< a man.
 A nttle color came into the girl's cheeks
 .Fw1lI you come in?" she asked.
 Jasper went dn.
 sTs the second trick man a girl. Ruo9'' he asked.
 ~Yes," she said, ''n1y sister,
 All of a sudden Jasper had hum ole and a contrite heart.
 You look tired.' he said. Let me work for you O while and you go out and take the air"
 Hardly" said the girl. E'You know well enough that isn't permitted
 Jasper knew when ne was dismiss cd He went out the door feeling that he had failed to make a hit with He went to Eagle Hotel which stood on a side street and was a disreputa- ble, weather-beaten hostelry.
 However. Jasper supposed 1t would be better than a box car He went inside and explained his situation 10 the man behind the desk. \, ~'I'm the proprietor, the man said. ' You can stay here If you give me an order for your check"
 "ru do E1at," said Jasper He went through the torna1ities. Say" he asked then. 'Ewhat's the names of the two ladg operators at the station %
 Morton" the man answered. The father was the agent here till he died The two sisters and a brother learned telegraphin' from the old man. The mother was a Western Union operator in the city before sne married Norton" j. ''Where's the brother now?" ''Aw, he's q tramp. He run away a year ago. He's what the railroad boys call a boomer. That's 9 next door neighor to a thief, a burglar and a panhandler ah i1 one, I reckon
 want up to his room
 He sat down by the window ana thought for lorg time. Finally he said:
 .'I've seen a good deal of scenery and that's about all. Next door neighbor to a-Let me sleep on that" He lay down on the bed. When he awoke the sun had set Ho went down stairs and ate what the proprtotor of the Eagle Hotel called supper. Then he wendcd has way to the station. A girl with shining black hair and features as regular as an artists ere ation wheeled about from the ele- graph table as he entered the room