The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Depot Master, by Joseph C. Lincoln

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Depot Master

Author: Joseph C. Lincoln

Release Date: May 16, 2006 [EBook #2307]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEPOT MASTER ***

Produced by Donald Lainson

THE DEPOT MASTER

By Joseph C. Lincoln

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I.-- AT THE DEPOT

II.-- SUPPLY AND DEMAND

III.-- "STINGY GABE"

IV.-- THE MAJOR

V.-- A BABY AND A ROBBERY

VI.-- AVIATION AND AVARICE

VII.-- CAPTAIN SOL DECIDES TO MOVE

VIII.--THE OBLIGATIONS OF A GENTLEMAN

IX.-- THE WIDOW BASSETT

X.-- CAPTAIN JONADAB GOES

XI.-- THE GREAT METROPOLIS

XII.-- A VISION SENT

XIII.--DUSENBERRY'S BIRTHDAY

XIV.-- EFFIE'S FATE

XV.-- THE "HERO" AND THE COWBOY

XVI.-- THE CRUISE OF THE RED CAR

XVII.--ISSY'S REVENGE

XVIII. THE MOUNTAIN AND MAHOMET

THE DEPOT MASTER

CHAPTER I

AT THE DEPOT

Mr. Simeon Phinney emerged from the side door of his residence and
paused a moment to light his pipe in the lee of the lilac bushes. Mr.
Phinney was a man of various and sundry occupations, and his sign,
nailed to the big silver-leaf in the front yard, enumerated a few of
them. "Carpenter, Well Driver, Building Mover, Cranberry Bogs Seen to
with Care and Dispatch, etc., etc.," so read the sign. The house was
situated in "Phinney's Lane," the crooked little byway off "Cross
Street," between the "Shore Road" at the foot of the slope and the "Hill
Boulevard"--formerly "Higgins's Roost"--at the top. From the Phinney
gate the view was extensive and, for the most part, wet. The hill
descended sharply, past the "Shore Road," over the barren fields and
knolls covered with bayberry bushes and "poverty grass," to the yellow
sand of the beach and the gray, weather-beaten fish-houses scattered
along it. Beyond was the bay, a glimmer in the sunset light.

Mrs. Phinney, in the kitchen, was busy with the supper dishes. Her
husband, wheezing comfortably at his musical pipe, drew an ancient
silver watch from his pocket and looked at its dial. Quarter past six.
Time to be getting down to the depot and the post o