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Show 10 SALT FLAT NEWS, DECEMBER, 1972 TTh wh fouled uj . P I dll a 1 1 ep Satoiras last it was wonderful, but Leloa told me how much better it would be to move to a better and new place and fix it up. I wanted decent furniture and a new Caddy. So I took myself a night job as a special deputy, patrolling the of the old El Paso. With the baby coming; I wanted to be there when it arrived. And when it did come, I realized that it would be quite a wait, until he got older and started to walk, talk, and develop a personality of his own. Then the railroad asked me personally to investigate a series of robberies that were occuring along the line. I was living high on the hog with all the expenses payed, and more than once I was tempted to unwind that old watch. It was a good life; of course, it would be better still if I didnt have to work. Sooner or later I intended to cut in one of the companys big deals, and make enough to retire on. Then everything would just be ideal. Eventually I did manage to swing the big deal. By this time my son was going to high school, and I got a strong hunch it was now or never because I wasnt exactly a kid anymore. But about that time I met Cherry Cottwest. She didnt seem to think that I was middle aged at all, even though . I was losing hair and adding an oversize stomach! She taught me that a toupee could hide that shining bald spot. A cummerbund could take care of the pot gut. She taught me quite a lot, and I so enjoyed learning, that I actually took out the old watch and prepared to unwind it Unfortunately, I chose the wrong moment, for at that same moment a couple of private dicks broke down the door of the Sure,-- trip out-reach- es by Floyd Eaton International Ranger Floyd Eaton's writing career was born with the discovery of a typewriter in Wend over's city trash dump. A touch of oil and a dash of mechanical wizardry , and the rusting L. C. Smith was pronounced good as new" by the d lawman and international is This the second installment ranger. of a story inspired, according to the author , out of the clear blue sky. semi-retire- Eringo Sanchez's search for happinessJeads him along a straight and narrow path the Texas Central Railway where one dark and stormy night he is confronted by a mysterious black train and an even more mysterious conductor. The conductor makes a bargain with Sanchez: an eternity of his happiest moment in exchange for his soul. We have made our bargain, my boy. I only intend to place something in your hand, the means of fulfilling the wish. Are you going to give me a time stopper? I asked. That is- the general idea. Soon as I can decide the practical item. He hesitated. Ah, the very thing! Here, take my watch. He pulled it out of his vest pocket a railroad watch in a gold and silver engraved case. He opened the back and made an adjustment; I couldnt see exactly what, for his fingers moved in a blur. There, he smiled. It is all set. Whenever you decide, just turn the stem in reverse and unwind the watch until it stops. Then time will stop for you, too. And he dropped the watch into my hand. I closed my fingers tightly around its case. Thats all there is to it, eh? Absolutely. But remem: ber be certain the moment you choose that you are completely satisfied. You can stop the watch but once. I only want to be fair with you, Sanchez. I will, I said. You have been fair with me, so I shall be fair also. You seem to forget one thing, though it doesnt matter what moment I choose, for once I stop time, that means that I stay where I am. I shall never grow old, and if I never get any older, I shall never die. And if I never die, I will never have to ride your train. He turned away, and his shoulders shook as if he were sobbing. He said in a strangled voice, And you said it was I who was worse than a high power salesman. He walked off in the fog, the train whistle shrieked; then it moved slowly down the track, rumbling swiftly out of sight in the darkness. I stood there looking down at the fancy watch in my hand. If I hadnt been able to see it, and feel it there, and smell the peculiar odor, I might have thought I had imagined the whole thing train, conductor, bargain, and alL I had the watch, and I could still smell and recognize the scent left by the train as it departed. There arent' too many locomotives in the world that use sulfur and brimstone for fuel. And I had no doubts of his bargain thats what comes of thinking things through to a logical conclusion. Some folks, I guess, would .have asked for wealth or power, or --"Jean Harlow. And 'others - -- - hotel room. After that, there whs a long stretch when I was so busy fighting a divorce case that I couldnt honestly say I was enjoying much of anything. When things were finally set- tied with' Leloa again, I was broke, and Cherry didnt seem to think I was so young and handsome after all So I squared my shoulders and went back to work. I made a pile eventually, but it took just a little longer this time, and there wasnt much chance to have any fun along the line. Those fancy dames in those high class bars just werent interested in me anymore, and the liquor didnt taste so good, either. Anyway, the Doc had warned me off of it. But I found there were other pleasures for a rich man to find. Travel, for instance. And not riding the caboose of an old freight, or driving over those rough and hot highways, either. I went around the world on luxury liners. For a while it seemed that I would find my moment of perfect happiness after all, visiting those tropical islands by moonlight I pulled out the old watch and got ready to unwind it. Nobody was there to watch me . I 'guess that was why I hesitated. Sure, it was an enjoyable moment, but I was alone. Leloa and the kid were gone, Cherry was gone, and somehow I just hadnt had the time to make any new friends. Maybe if I could just find a few congenial people, I would have the ultimate happiness. That could be the answer it wasnt just money, sex, or power, or seeing beautiful things,. The satisfaction lay in friendship. (To be Continued) Floyd Eaton would have sold out for a quart myself a plush apartment out in of moonshine. But I knew that I the Bueno Vista area. And I had made a better deal. Better? began to think ot what Id heard Why, it was foolproof! All I an old conductor say once, Its needed to do was just chose my okay to run around with those time and moment. 1 put the little pigs, but what a man really watch in my pocket and walked needs is a good girl of his own that is the main ticket. . on down the track. I had but one thing on my I felt that I owed it to myself mind I was going to find one to find out if he was right. If I real moment of happiness. didnt like it,-- could always go I realized perfectly well that back to the old ways. Six happiness is related to many months went by before I met things the condition and de- Leloa Lillison. Leloa was a lot of grees of contentment yet they fun, and when she said she do vary with ones lot in life. As would many me, I was almost a Special Agent, I was often sat- sure the time had come. Except isfied to be called out of a warm that she was sort of well, she bed in the middle of the night to was a nice girl and said that catch an old freight and ride it we would have to wait until we to the end of the line and return. were married. In six months I was promoted Still, I was aware that there were better things in life, and so was to superintendent of the southdetermined to seek them out. western division. Everytime I Within six months I was prohad any doubts, I would take moted to chief agent in charge out the watch and look at it. But of the' El Paso Division. With I never showed it to Leloa or each passing day things got bet- anybody else. .Most of the other ter and better, so I was soon men wore expensive and the old railroad driving a big Caddy convert. A dark-eyed a different little senor-ittimepiece looked a little cheap every night, and several times by comparison. I smiled as I during this period I was thinking gazed at the stem. Just a few of unwinding the watch. I made twists and I would have somelots of friends among the jolly thing that none of the other crowd, wore good clothes and working guys would have, perdrank good whiskey. manent satisfaction with my Many times I awoke with a blushing bride. Only getting margood size hangover, but .still I ried turned out to be just the bei' i i v i was 'determined. - I soon 'had ginning: ! . FOR YOUR SUPPORT wrist-watche- s, i ! Paid Political Advertisement ; by Citizens for Kutulas,' Jim Snow; Chairman : - |