University of Wisconsin Superior - Gitche Gumee Yearbook (Superior, WI)

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8, GITCHE GUMEE N x I 1 X x MISS BETTES, MISS BENNETT. ....-.pg qi- MR. BERG-EN. MR. GILBERT. X X

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By'Courto:-my ol' thu' Wisunnsin QIUIIVIHII ol? ldnlum-amtimm. X

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o We GITCHESG UMEE Vol. VIII. COMMENCEMENT NUMBER, 1907. No. 4 ON THE BLACK LIST. It is going to be a bad stormy night, Brown, so I think I shall come back after supper and spend the evening with you. The speaker was Jack Steele, the day operator and Brown was the night man at Wheeler, a little station on the D. S. C. railroad in Northern Wisconsin. Oh yes, here is a letter that came for you today. I almost forgot it. And tossing the letter on the table, jack went out. When he was gone B1'OW11,1JlCliCtl it up, slowly tore it open and when he had finished reading it muttered to himself: Well, it has come again. I presume l ought to be used to it by this time but it is mighty discouraging to a fellow just the same. With that he went to work and was busy when Steele returned. lily the time jack had taken off his dripping rain-coat and poked up the tire a little Brown had finished and they both pulled their chairs up closer to the stove and settled down for a chat. After they had been talking for about an hour Steele remarked: Brown you have something on your mind. Wfas there anything in that letter that upset you P Yes, Jack, they have 'got' me again. 'Got' you? Why what do you mean? just this, they have looked np my record and it will not stand. This is my last night on this jobf' Your record, jim? You never told me anything of that. VVhat is wrong with it? There is nothing in it that I am ashamed of, continued Brown, though for reasons that will be apparent to you I find it best to say as little about my past life as possible. I have been here With you for over a month and 'have' told you nothing, but now as long as the blow has fallen I may as Well tell you the cause of my leaving. My father died when I was quite young and as soon as I was able l went to work in the depot, helping the agent and learning the business. It was not very long before l was competent to hold a position so when the agent was promoted l applied for the place and got it. Wie were getting along very nicely when, because of some difference be- tween the management of the road and the men, a strike was called and I went out with the rest. W'e never got back. 'l'he strike was lost and I was forced to leave home and look elsewhere for work. Since then I have travelled all over the country, but as soon as I have worked about a month or so that bad spot in my record is discovered and I must move on again. I have taken up a course in the correspondence schools and before very long hope to be able to again settle down and live without this thing hang- ing over my head. Why don't you change your name and cover up that spot in your record, 'suggested Steele. jack, old man, james Brown is a common name but it is as dear to me as the title of the proudest llOlJlC in Europe, my mother's name and the one she gave me, a11d death is the only thing that shall take it from me. XV ell, I am sorry to see you go and would like to stay later and visit with you but it is getting so late now that I think 1 shall go, and see you again in the morning. VVith these words Steele put on his coat and bidding Brown good night started home. A short time after he had gone Old Bill Smith, the conductor came stamp- ing into the oiiice. lle stopped growling about the weather long enough to say: Get orders for the 3085 ready to go in five minutes, and proceeded to register his train. X