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Show u - - i , . - 2 &t I fi A Marked Ratterv I i , II aalivw U-CI llvl J By Annette. Angert I l MMM CZS AD" HANSLOW was mH I MMMYli at lho shanty vrith Rl I Hk 1 tnc boys, whp were H ' I mHk there- from force of mmH I ImH hablt on thelr off" mmH BmmV day' "Dad" was H I K i tnere because his mmS I BBF years had given mmV I KWmV D'm an honorable H ID ImmH retirement, and he Hj m couldn't rest up mmV i . . rlEht anF other H a f iffcSaSbi,,I,lthe yards- Th boys mH Si kcd Dfd because he was a fine mH tt Tan and novcr brasged about how m much more head-work It took to run' an.,eI?Te ? bl day than in theirs. mH year?" the.ad nly been buUt a few H years, tno veteran went on, "and the H SSent bod a sort of Vellgious llfCB Idca was to make It un- 52Ki 1ItieatG a ralIroad on a- mH dale dlvityrJ Wale3' on th Cl0'- H hard to ft b07B nevcr trled vry 2a ? P for cattlG r anything HI X?167 fJ atarted down l StlWM. Im uECnt nam0d Bill Hi TO ThtrnMraWned Yank0 bo m1 7 ' .7 said nobody ever cot a. m drill and bored. For a farmTr to sue H ?HaCO " by the Tm0cSa? m Stivers thought was a greater Indlg- H alty than to walk on tho flag. Ho took Hj all tho litigation against tho road as H a. personal Insult Funny way of look- H lng at It, according to our notions out H herei out the big: guns t)f tho road seemed to think Stivers was about right. "Stivers divided all humanity Into two classes fellows who were of honest reputation because they hadn't been found out, and known swindlers. "Naturally, when Colont.1 Barnhart who had come from a Southern state up into this country, put in a bill for ton dollars for two hogs kiled on the N'ew Wales hill. Stivers went on the theory it was a hold-up, and proceeded accordingly. Ho mado a trip oTer to tho placo of tho disaster to the hogs, and met a tall, soldierly-looking man wearing a broad felt hat and giavish mustache. Stivers hated that kind of a man, because, as a loyal supporter of tho government by proxy, he Just couldn't abide one o them darned rebels who sought to tear down the principles of our nation, Is the way he put it "But Stivers was wise to his job. He smiled at his enemy, rubbed his hands sorrowfully for tho pigs, and said tho matter should receive his very earliest and most considerate attention, et cetera. He could use flowery language when he had to, that man Stivers, and the Colonel believed every word he was telling him. "The claim drifted along six month or bo, when tho Colonel writtcd a very nlco little note, apologizing in humblo terms for the 'presumption,' but doubtless doubt-less the matter of the sudden demise of those porkers had been overlooked, Mr. Stivers being a very buBy wan-but wan-but would he. at his leisure when all -weightier; things were out of the way please give such attention as the occasion occa-sion warranted J.o the claim of Yours very cordially and sincerely, Colonel Barnhart "Stivers grinned In that death's-head death's-head way he had when he was baUb-fled baUb-fled with himself, seized his quill and a sheet of paper, and regretted very much to inform your honor that your claim for two hogs killed on New Wales hill, in the year of grace 1875 or thereaboutB In figures and spelled out has been annulled by the Btatutes herein made and provided to the effect that sdeh claims must be filed and prosecuted within sir months! "The next news was from the constable con-stable serving notice of suit in Sauiro Tumulty's court. " T)t 'cm sue says Mr. Stivers. 'He wont bluff me. The old noddle of a squire will find for him because they drink out of the same bottle, and then I'll appeal to the Circuit Court, where a persecuted railroad stands a show for justice. If they want law they can have it' "In due course the case came on for trial, and Stivers was notified that judgment by default had gone against the railroad; he would he allowed ten days to appeal by putting up & bond for two hundred dollars. "It was getting close to the ten days when the Colonel strolled quietly 'round to Squire Tumulty's justice shop, equated down on a chair, and tilted himself comfortably against the wall. "'Any news, squire"' " 'Nopenone, for sure. They filed that bond.' " Lemme see It,' says the Colonel. "The Squire fished it out of a pigeonhole pigeon-hole and handed it over. Then the Colonel asked, kinder careless: " 'Know the men on this bond. Squire?' " 'Nope. " 'Know whether they be worth two hundred dollars?' "'By gum, I don't Do I have to know that?' " 'Turn to your statutes.' "The Squire fumbled through the pagCB until ho found Bonds and Appeals, Ap-peals, and saw where it said he must be satisfied of the solvency of the fellows fel-lows that signed bonds. "'Gee!' cried the old man. 'What'll I doT' " 'You might send It back and aBk them to guarantee the bond,' replied the Colonel, mildly; 'that's one way "And that's the way the Squire did the next day. The day following he got a certified check for two hundred dollars dol-lars and tho endorsement of the home banker that he would cash it, or any amount that might be needed to make good the appeal. "Squire Tumulty communicated with Colonel Barnhart, -who hunted up an almanac. "Case tried and Judgment went against defendant on the 3d of April 2' he asked. "'That's right Colonel; I got it right down her? on my book.' " 'Approved bond got here 15th 7 " 'Yesterday. Yes. that was the 15th. By gum they're out! What'll I do net?' '"You might try an eecution!' "In the early dawn of the net day, Terry McNamara was making tho run. of his life with his old hog to get No.' 15 over tho hill. Ho hadn't tie slightest slight-est intention of stopping at New Wales, but a pile of ties across the track and a man standing on the track, waving a red flag, caused him to change his mind. When he had got all the brakes on and recognized the man with the flag as the agent, he started to make offensive remarks, but he stopped at finding a double barreled shotgun close to his head. " 'What the h ' ""Hands up! Step down! The other oth-er man, too! Lively now! Faces to the wall! That's right Don't move I Now. Sambo, you and Rastus put the chains through those big wheels.' "Colonel Barnhart and the two niggers nig-gers that work for him on thofarm had captured the train. The conductor conduc-tor came scooting down the platform, wanting to know. The Colonel p'inted his gun and made him Join the dead line, faco to the wall. Several of the passengers piled out on the platform and offered the Colonel money if he would spare their lives. Some of the women screamed, and the Colonel went back to pacify 'em. "He didn't seem in a hurry. Another Anoth-er train came from the east but the eogineman saw Bomothtng was up and stopped. The agent sent a man west to flag a train coming from that end. "When all this news was wired into the general offices, the president ordered or-dered the agent to hunt up tho constable con-stable and havo him arrest Colonel Barnhart for stopping the United States mail, threatening the lives of the crow, and blowing open tho epreBB safe; to get In as many things a3 he could think of, so some of 'em would stick sure. "The agent replied that the constable consta-ble was down the river Ashing, and that Squire Tumulty had appointed Colonel Barnhart to act; that tho Colonel had in his inside coat pocket an execution for $125.17, and waB serving serv-ing it as by the statutes made and provided, pro-vided, "The Squire offered to telegraph to headquarters the section Tmder which ho was proceeding, if tho railroad would stand the tolls. "The president called Stivers and showed him the muss they wero in. While they talked the dispatcher reported re-ported No. 23 was blocked on the east end with twenty cars of stock, and tho owners were roaring about missing the market '"Stivers said tho president, 'what did you do to that man?' " 'Nothing1.- Ho had two hogs killed and forgot to bring suit In .time.' " 'I see. You're too far from home. I'll manage this deal now "So ho wired In to the agent at New Wales to settle the Colonel's claim for both tho hogs and the mule, and to ask tho Colonel If ho would please let the steam cars move along. " 'He says ho won't let go till somebody some-body apologizes to him.' replied the agent if " 'It's up to you. Stivers said the president handing him the messas- Ife " 'No, it ain't savs Stivers; "I fired. I don't like the railroad busl- mm ness anyhow J-ai "Then the president walks up and Mj down the room to get tho mad off, anfl Mining Mi-ning this ovor to New Wales: IT'B " 'My dear Colonel, we're all sorry it . we"vo hurt your feelings. Come orer j to the city some night and be my im guest. Will give you the time of your pi life: Dixie forever! ., . 1H " 'JOSEPH SEXTON, President f K " 'Wish you boys a pleasant journey. . m remarked the Colonel, in that gcniaj . U "way of. his. as he grounded arm j M motioned to Terry and the fireman na jhj conductor to break ranks. 'Stop vef wm some time when you're not in a burry. j. and I'll drive you out to the farm an TCtoj givo you some buttermilk ., T?1 " 'What!' cried Torry, indignantly. ;, , "Tho Colonel slowly let the urtfi Jfe fall over his beautiful blue eye"19 m$J left one and Terry grinned. . WEi' '"Hero's to you and your goa Cr health, Colonel he says, aB he stood in the gangway and made like ho , mti drinking something out of his capj an jj may yo raise so many hawgs an' ducks w an' bandy-legged mules that the atame , Injuns can't get by at all!'" "And Bill Stivers?" asked an en- M gineman of the new generation. M - "Oh, ho bought a farm out on m Cloverdalo division ' replied "Dad,-Bjg "and went to raising thoroughbroBJMJ live stock. He made some good sales SK now and then mostlyo the railroad.' jff nr |
