Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

framed copy Of the timetable, and he stood
studying 1t. train went to Caxton at 81
Another train came from Caxton and passed.
through the town he was now in ut 7:43, the
7:19 out Of Caxton. The man In the small
business section of the station opened o slid
ing panel and looked at him. The two mem
just stared at each other without speakingI
and then the panel was slid shut again.
John looked at his watch. Two-twenty- eight
At about 6 he could drive over to Caxton and
dine at the hotel there. After he had dined|
1t would be evening. and people would be COM
ing into the main street. The 7:19 would
come In. When John was lad, sometimes
he, Joe, Herman, and often several other lads
climbed on the front Of the baggage or mail
car and stole ride to the very town he was
now In. What thrill, crouched down in the
gathering darkness on the platform as tho
train ran the 10 miles, the car rocking from|
side to side! When 1t got little dark, I'M
the Fall or Spring. the fields beside the track
were lighted up when the fireman opened his
fire box to throw in COAL Once John saw
a rabbit running along In the glare of light
beside the track. He could have reached down
and caught it with his hand. In the neighbor1
ing town the boys went into saloons and played
pool and drank beer. They could depend upon
catching ride back home on the local freight
that got to Caxton at about 1890. On ond
and Joe had to help them into an empty coal
car and later get them out at Caxton. Her1
man got sick, and when they were getting Off
the freight at Caxton he stumbled and camd
very near falling under the wheels of tho
moving train. John wasn't as drunk as Her1
man. When the others weren't looking, nd
had poured several Of the glasses of beer intd
q spttoon. In Caxton he and Joe had I'd
walk about with Herman for several hours, and
uTho TOhvH Av1ol lvy how Infc
still awake and was worried He had to lid
to her. II drove out into the country with
Herman, and wheel broke. We had to walk
home" The reason Joe could carry his been
so well was because he was German. His
father owned the town meat market, and tho
family had beer on the table at home. Nd
wonder it did not knock him out as it did
Herman and John.
There was bench at the side of the rail-
road station, in the shade, and John sat therd
for long time-two hours, three hours WhI
hadn't he brought book? In fancy he comb
posed letter to his son and in it he spoktk
OF the fields lying beside the road outside thtL
town OF Caxton, of his greeting old friend4
there, Of things that had happened when nd
was boy. He even spoke of his former sweet4
heart, of Lillian. If he now thought out Just
what he was going to say in the letter, hel
could write 1t in his room at the hotel ovelt
IN Caxton in few minutes without having
to stop and think what he was going to say I
1t was $40 when John drove into Caxtori
and went to the hotel, where he registered
and was shown to a room. On the street al
he drove into town he saw Billy Baker, Who'll
when he was young man. had a paralyze3
leg that dragged along the sidewalk when nd
walked. Now he was getting old; his fact
seemed wrinkled and faded, like dried lemon$
and his clothes had spots down the frontk
People, even sick people, live long time ir
small Ohio towns. It is surprising how the,t
hang on.
John had put his car, Of rather expensive