The Josephine Mine.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 15, 12 October 1907, Page 14

The Josephine Mine.

According to an established precedent in the Wigmore family, the third-born should be a girl; therefore,,all arrangements had been made for the coming of Josephine Louise, prenamed for her maternal and paternal grandmothers'. Alas, for the blufe-ribboned' layette! Josephino Louise materialised in the form of a lusty-lunged boy. His baptismal cognomen became Joseph, but jest and then custom fastened upon him his original appellation. To his mother's surprise and delight, he early evinced a taste and. deftness for , housework, especially in the culinary precincts. The simultaneous events of his mother's illness and the cook's absence ono day permitted him to acquire unlimited 6cope for the exercise of his prowess, and-the palatable dishes lie served established his capability as a cook. As he grew to young manhood without having displayed aptitude or ability in any other direction, his father'became troubled. His . elder sons were comfortably established in medicine and law. ; V, "I certainly won't permit a son' of mine to be a chef, but : I don't see any other prospect ahead of him," sighed Wigmore senior. : ■ • _ However, Josephine's 'ruling passion won him the favour of Virginia, sole daughter of John Williams, multi-mil-lionaire.- The acquaintance began over the chafing dish, developing rapidly until, his skill enabled him to; distance all other suitors. The father of tho fair Virginia when approached by young Wigmore, was not encouraging. . . . \ , .. " What means have you of supporting a wife?" he demanded. "Nono at present," admitted Josephino, " but I am going west to locate a mine." , 1

"Very good; go at once, and when you have located it so successfully as to operato it profitably you may return to ask and receive." , . „ "How do you expect to strike a'mine, asked his father, when Josephine applied for tho price of transportation to the south-west, "when mining experts and clever speculators havo failed?'?. ■, v But Josephine persisted, in the faith of his convictions, and his' father, preferring that the youth, should'pursue a phantom instead of* remaining in idleness, gave him the amount of money requested. . ... .. ; ■ How do you propose, to live While you aro locating.thife mine ?" he asked ironically. ' ' " I'll' ask ' uncle Horace'for a>]ob on* the railroad out there." 1 ' ' When Josephine" mado known '. his wishes • • to. the. western uncle, • the -, wise railroad magnate became reflective. , ■ Then there stirred in his, memory the reproachful vision of a. lonely telegraph operator in a solitary freight car, on the desert; the • last applicant he had ■"placed." He smileu softly as 'ho said-- ' • ' "My lad, the only berth open at,pre : sent is at .the' little station of Cactilli on our main lino. The man in charge of the ; office would be glad of an assistant, I : presume." . . . Josephine eagerly accepted this position, and his enthusiasm' was not lessened when ho'-alighted'-at Cactilli, a town! represented at present by' the railway office, which'was in a freight car, arid .three .or 'four; adobe : :/lrats, wherein dwelt some ■ Mexican, . railroad hands with their.families. j v .■>. .... It was .not stores and population that Josephino was seeking. .; The. awe-in-spirmg mountains and the 'oured soil'wherein'lay'his fortune, wero there, and beyond' theSo ho had no desire. '• The "man in charge, a pale, homesick looking youth, came- wonderingly out of tho caboose. „ ) • V' l "Are jrou my;, new •• assistant, ?,. ,he , asked hopefully,, "My name is. Raw;lins." , yfigmore returned the .welcoming handshake arid asked, what his duties would

be. ' I. ' . "Do you know how 'to' telegraph,?.?'; asked'Eawlins.- -■ <f. "Not I." "There isn't much else to do—and,very little of that." ."1,, .guess the job will ,suit. me. all right," commented Josephino,' cheerfully. " Whero do ,wo eat ? '* "'j " One of the Mexican women cooks my meals," replied Rawlins,' pointing to an open tent where.a dirty woman'squatted before a J fire : of splints. ■ i " How far is ■ the' nearest : town from ' here and how can, I,'. reach, it ?." : de : manded the new-assistant. . ".There is a small town six'milwV,from - here. , Ono of ~,,th0 , Mexicans, owns.; a' horse 'and cart. '"He - would 'drive "you ' over.But yon are not'going to juriip: ;your-job so soon?" ! . he , finished^, in • alarm.'. ,'"' 1 ' , "No. I want' to 'get. some things.', i Where's your man with the "cart ?".," ; It was nearly, sundown when Josephine .and tho -Mexican returned to .Cactilli, 'laden with supplies.-' .Then the,;,new; as-, sistant:was busy for a short time.-,,' p Presently he and Rawlins. 6at , down tp an omelet, creamed, potatoes, and., coffee, • arid jthe ' latter Vfound himself' enjoying' .'for'the first'time,a ihoal in'Cactilli.. : The next'd£iy Josephine served a meal —a ' sort of picnic—in the ! open to> - the Mexicans. News' travels: apace even in: the -desert, and lit .was not .long before the ranchmen and. .mien,.frqm . .distent, mines came riding in for a square meal —".like'wo had at, home." , X "' ' Before Josephine'realised tho situation' he found'himself running an impromptu "shoi-t' order 'restaurant,. ; His quest for'a'mine was riot neglected., and he prowled among the mesquite and mountains, undisturbed by the dorisions of Eawlins. ''! ■" The, Josephino . mine " became a ■ byword among the cowboys generally. . ' "What', is that sort of chasm - two ;miles down the' road ?"• ho asked Rawlins one day as'he came in from ono of his saunters. '

"Tliafs the bed of a waterless river. You'll.ste-it filling .up in a few.,weeks ■•when the rainy, 'season-is Then there'll 'be doings; Washouts, trains delayed, and ' the • deuce to pay everywhere. Last year wo had 1 to hold the Overland here all nighty until tho eastbound arrived next morning on tho other side of the river. We transfered. passengers from one train to the : other in carryalls and any'old vehicle, we could get from: tho cowboys; reversed engines and sent tho trains on." ■: ; Josephine contemplated the distant mountains in absorbed silence. ; . -p " Limited's only train 'that carries diner, isn't she ?'■ lie "asked finally^'' ' " Yes;' other' trains stop at' 1 eating houses'along the wajr.'V •'.•' '"■ " Only ono in this vicinity is the other side of your dry river, isn't it t" i • ;r. " Yes; at Alomorondo." "Where did your, held-up train get supper, then?'' >: - "They 'had to stake up ,with lunch, boxes back'where they got dinner." That night Josephine . .wrote' a business letter to his uncle. r •' "I guess the boy's coming all right," was his comment. 1: ••' ' When • Josephine received, his uncle's reply he wrote to the man whom he Resigned, to bo ,his father-in-law . "Have located the mine. She'll soon be producing." . A few days later three freight cars were landed at Cactilli, their wheels were removed, and they' wero . set, on. the ground at a short distanco from the station.' ' : ' Josephine made a trip to a town some twenty-five'- miles away,, and.. • returned with a carpenter, some yellow, and-, white, paint and canvas. , . . , , ■•, Rawlins looked on in astonishment as he saw a railing put on 'top of' the cars, some six feet above which was stretched a gay awning, steps built to the wide doors, and, finally, the whole, establishment painted a bright' yellow with whito trimmings. '" Whatever are you up to, Josephine?" asked Rawlins. "When the washouts come this year the west-bound, passengers will get their supper at Cactilli. ' You can do fancy lettering, Rawlins ; Make me some big' signs like these." ■ Rawlins whistled. "Well, this is a great l scheme—beats the mine all hollow, and' it will boom Cactilli in great shape." When tho signs were made up and set' tho men surveyed the now eating-house with pride and satisfaction.;• • • '■ • . ■ Two cars constituted the dining-room and lunch counter." Ovor the big doors was a sign, "Tho Josephine." Other signs, as "Regular meals . at regular prices, 75c." "To Order, 1 dol." ; " Lunch Counter," " Special Lunches Put Up at Spooial' Prices,' occupied conspic-, uous places. ■ ' '■ "

But the crowning glory 'of the Josephine was tho roof garden, with its gay awning, desert foliage, and enticing signs of "Iced Buttermilk," "Eastern Ginger Ale," "Other Ale." ' The third car was fitted up for kitchen and pantry. "Where are you going' to get your provisions, tables, chairs, and dishes?" asked Rawlins. ■ i j "I havo contracted at a town up the road for provisions arid ico to come down by train every , day. Lifton has cut down his force for a-season, and he's going to loan l me an outfit of tables,' chairs, cook-stove, dishes, etc.,, from tho •mines." ■ While they were waiting for the havoc the rains were expected to bring, Josephine worked, the Mexicans into shape for waiters, and tlio daily rehearsals afforded him much amusement arid occupation. Rawlins was also tutored in tho. mysteries of-cooking. ' ' The elements -proved favourable to their plan. Tho rains descended, filling thp river. bed, which rapidly changed' from a shallow, little stream to, a forceful torrent gathering impetus with each day's accumulation, of'rain. 7 7 The railroad track was submerged and the' programme of last , year was' to' be repeated. -Announcement was made officially on the west-bound express that supper would be served- at Cactilli. . 7 _ . A,hungry.'and irascible, crowd, issued; from tho train. The sight of the unique dining hall caught the/ fancy of the eastern tourists and their ready appreciation of desert resourcefulness'restored: a glint" of 'the good humour'that had been clouded by the announcement' of: the - delay. 7 ■"" -:Soon the long tables were surrounded by a ' curiously mixed . miscellany, . of humanity. ..The train was. to remain at Cactilli until morning,, arid'after, enjoying one .''."of Josephine's perfectly cooked' meals' 1 the travellers " strolled about for an hour or so before thinking "of retiring to their liated''berths. '

, Then came Josephine's second surprise. The roof garden was lighted with Japanese. lanterns, and in - the' farthest corner, ; a dusky Mexican, picturesque in scrape and sombrero, smote sweet strains from, a battered-guitar. Some cowboys/ who had ridden over to' witness jthe opening of the Josephine, caught the spirit of the 'thing, , and climbing to the top of • tho : second cir rendered a cowboy:chorus in inimitable style, and gave an exhibition of'lariating that; won the crowd.;: . . The vaudeville was .well attended, and between numbers- Josephine, found ,a. ready'disposal for . his "summer drinks." -Tho. lunch counter,: had been.'well patronised ;by the ■ lurieh^basket,'class" 'of passengers, and Josephine , ! sat' up late that night after'the passengers had returned to tlie train'to count his profits, ■which he made into a• package and; despatched to tho. father of Virginia, with tho following, laconic. statement"First Day's Output of tho Josephine Mine-"... Tho hext morning , the. passengers'en' masse applied to the Josephine for breakfast. The meal; surpassed their hopes, and descriptions of' tho'"Freight Diner" were communicated so vividly to the east-bound' passengers they passed ia their transit to the . other,; train that those disconsolate pilgrims;'even though they had breakfasted on the. other side of the washout, . visited, the Josephine, sampled the -tempting arid ',e»u> ried away luncheons. ''7 : '' News' of the',' unusual eating ~ house travelled swifter than"' the Overland' Flyer, : and The/ Josephine became one l of the features of- the trip,: and, was advertised'as such, with all the, v alluring; descriptive.' adjectives' bestowed upongrand scenic ~- effects in .the „ .railroad literature. : ; 7,Eyen the.. Limited :stopped for five minutes to "permit ,'tlie ''passengers to behold' and snatch' a' handout."*. Two- week's Of liberal patronage" and prosperity-" followed., ■ Every. - night '■• Josephine despatched' "the. 1 , 'profits'- to'*;- John; .Williams.' » ■;- ■ : Then came the fall.; The river, sub-, sided, tho ■; track,-was. .relaid and trains again ran on- schedule time, which -only permitted a halt at Cactilli arid time for the sale of a put-up luncheon.", '' Josephine had of course' foreseen"this end to his good fortune, and kriew'that the'feeding of passengers would have to' be' resumed '. at ; the 'next"station, where InflisptlodKM® th'enAfficiallidimfrg-room; of the.' railroad company. ,>- 7;: .Within ai.:week; however, ,from tho 'cessation- of The Josephine boom,; the railroad -. dining-room v at. .Shaffers' ? .was 'burned to the ground".';';' 7 '' No one knew" the origin of the fire; and Josephine , knew not' .whether r. to suspect 'the cupidity/'of the'. Mexicans,* > who had' profited' from 'their services in The Josephine, or the'friendliness of, the cowboys. • ' ,;v-:i'r ->)':• ;7ir. >7 The railway; eating-house.- was an old',; rickety- building,, and everyone openly rejoiced in: its .ashes. .Cactilli' became the -scheduled dining station, and Jose-: Rhine's /remittance's, to sweetheart's' father continued 'and. increased.

; "He.'must' really, have struck a'good mine," .' said the astonished 1 man; '"but lie has no experience .or knowledge. of. mining, .and someone will surely .do. the 'lad.. -I;- am/ 'curious ; to. see': this '.mino' ;that produces so quickly, easily,... and regularly. I'll, just take ■_a run,/(Iowa 'there; 1, and : lo'ok .after..! things'* a■■ little ; for him." '," • • . >; '.'l'll go , with you," promptly decided Virginia..•' ,y, : -John'■ Williams and'his/ daughter started- for CactUli without announcing their, intention to' Josephine. 1 "Wheri they neared their'destination';'the news agent - : distributed' • 1 handbills . throughout the train. . -,'V • v ; "Why!":,exclaimed. .'Virginia, 'after reading,- "the l dining. ,hall must be : -'named :after. Josephine's .miuo!",.: "•! .Williams was interested, and. excited.' When the train stopped at Cactilli, he. asked; for tho conductor, "Is, the ;mine far from here?" -r""" '' "The mines? '.0, they , are: over in "the. njouiitains." - ' ' "We'll dine .here!/ .then," 6aid Williams to his daughter,'-"and then drivo out to the mine."'■ . . "What. delicious things .to eat!" :exclaimed Virginia, enthusiastically. . ~"I haven't ,tasted anything so good since Jose left' home." , ; " Willaims made some inquiries 'regarding -.the enterprise'of the whereupon"Rawlins gave a detailed account, of The- Josephine. The - shrewd financier immediately comprehended. ' i At that instant, Josephine, chef-aproned and with sleeves rolled to : elbow, saurn tored in from the kitchen car.,,,: . "I say, Rawlins!". he began. Then. he beheld the form of Williams and his face'rivalled the brilliancy of the 'territorial'sunset. The next instant . and Virginia- 1 was folded in 'his bared arms, bfissfully happy and unconscious that her. black skirt : was' receiving acoating of .f10ur...--I;' .it,, is . your mine, Jo," said.Williams, advancing.. ; ; "'Yes, sir," ~ replied , 'Josephine -defiantly, retaining his hold of .Virginia:- ; "Well,; .it's,. a, more > profitable, institution than any of tho mines I ever.: encountered. Such business ability as you have displayed;' my boy, should not bo buried m Cactilli.; Come'back <<ast with us;:and ■ go .into''business' with me'."' .Josephine's oyes were only marred bv tho forsaken look ,in- Rawlins's' 1 eves. j 111 bequeath you The '.Tosripliiflo oiltire, Rawlins,' he said, "and. you'll soon make enough to/. retire;" —From-'the Boston .Globe."-." ' . . -.