OCR Text |
Show Pec. THE CITIZEN 23, 1968 Christmas Encounter By Alary Hannah Jack Ward peered through the open doorway at the yard lights, coming up more slow- ly now as the lead cars be gan to hump and jerk and BIG jf Efji slow. 0 He heard voices and knew that he had waited almost too m tire store "The Home of Sudden Service" long to make his departure. He should have known that railroad cops would be on the job, even if it was Christmas Eve. He hit the ground running, jumping tracks with the agility of an Olympic hurdler. He heard the shouts of discovery moments before he reached the last track, hurd led it and half stumbled, half fell down the shallow em bankment into a dry creek bed. Resting momentarily, he turned away from the lights and melted into the darkness of the night. The Truck Stop Cafe was virtually deserted. In one booth, a burley truck driver was eating ham and eggs like a man in a hurry to catch a MM WISHES ALL OF YOU ik jf HAPPY wHOLIDAYS n jUST B TO TOO AND TOOBS HS Bm, Lynn FackreU Plumbing mm May the peact and hops of Christmas brighten your holidays. AND HEATING KNUDSON Packing train. At the counter, a young laughed and giggled FPle jnt0 thcir goft drink bottles The bearded waiter hardlv looked up from his game of solitaire. "Whafll you have, kid?" "How much is a cup of coffee and a donut?" "Got no donuts. Give you a sweet roll. With coffee, 21 tax." "Just make it coffee." cents with "O.K., big spender. One cup of coffee." "Aw, give the kid a couple of hamburgers, Sam. After all, it's Christmas." Christmas is just another day, Rufe. You gonna pay?" The truck driver stood up, dropped his napkin into his plate. "Cook 'em Sam. And get off that stupid card game." Bringing his cup, the truck driver walked behind the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Why aren't you home where you belong, kid? It's Christmas Eve." the cafe window. through Jack froze. He wasn't afraid, but he sensed futility in any attempted escape. Rufe opened the cigarettes, took a box of matches from the cash register container and started for the door. "By the way, Sam, if you can give up that card game for a minute, you can do me a favor. Call the police at Taylorsville and tell them I'm coming in on the south road with kid who ran that away from home last week in Jackson. I heard on the radio before I came in that his parents were mighty worried and I know they will be glad to have him back by Christmas Day." Whistling softly, he slammed the cafe door. ELECTRIC PS SOITH STATU PRESTON ft IT r "I'm going there now. Just stopped in for a minute." "Thought I knew everyone around Taylorsville. Where do you live?" "I live the other side of town. Several miles out You wouldn't know mv family." "Maybe. What did you say your name was?" "Smith, Jack Smith." "That's a good one. Nobody quite sure just how many Smiths live in the county. You Jeb Smith's boy?" "No, no sir. My dad's Fred Smith." The big man looked down at his coffee thoughtfully. "Fred, yeah, Fred. 0. K. Jack, eat your hamburgers. I'm going your way soon as have another cup of lava, I'll give you a lift as far as I go. And, no arguments. Looks like a storm might be brewing up outside." They were seated in the cab, the motor running, when it began to snow. Rufe open ed his door. "Sit tight, Kid, I wanna buy a pack of cig arettes. I have a long haul to make." Jack watched as Rufe went back into the cafe. Now was his chance. He started to open the door, then paused as he saw Rufe looking at him From this Christmas 'til ths next day will be happy for yon. MERRILL'S MARKET ERVIN AND BETTY MERRILL TRENTON, UTAH Co. Wishing Ton The Magic 0! Christmas.. SEASON'S GREETINGS May you hear Santa's slelghbclls jingling in the sky . . . capture once again all the wonderment of the season. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR TO ALL LEWISTON WITH THANKS TO OUR . . . MANY FRIENDS. WE SAY A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND BEST WISHES FROM THE GOSSNERS MAYOR L. D. Bodily CITY COUNCIL Wendell Hurren J. D. Van Orden Glen Wheeler Melvin C. Gilbert Duane Goodwin CITY RECORDER 10 NORTH and 10th WEST Visit our plant and taste our fresh cheese curds LOGAN, UTAH and our specialty cheese selected to your special taste RESI- DENTS AND ALL OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS GOSSNER CHEESE FACTORY IIAPPY R. Sid Karren CITY OF LEWISTON 7 |