The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-28

of-way pushed the dense swamp ike
a black curtain shutting the virgin
country from the view of CIVILIZATION
Across the snow were tracks of ami
mails.
The train consisted of. a string of
freight cars one coach divided
half and half between baggage and
and smoker, and day car occupied by
two silent, awkward women and
child. In the smoker lounged doz-
en- men. They were of various sizes
and descriptions, but they all wore
heavy blanket mackinaw coats, rub
Der shoes, and thick German socks tied
| at the knee. The air was so thick
with smoke that the men had difficult
| ty in distinguishing objects across the
| length of the car.
The passengers sprawled in various
| attitudes, and their occupations were
diverse Three nearest the baggage
room door attempted to sing but with
out much success. A man in the cor
ner breathed softly through mouth
| organ to the music Of which his seat
mate, leaning his head sideways, gave
close attention. One big fellow with a
square beard staggered back and
forth down the aisle offering to every
one refreshment from a quart bottle.
1t was rarely refused. OF the dozen,
probably threequarters were more or
| less drunk.
After time the smoke became too
dense. A short thick-set fellow with
an evil dark face coolly thrust his heel
through a window. The conductor,
who with the brakeman and baggage
master, was seated in the baggage van,
heard the jingle of glass. He arose
Guess I'll take up tickets" he re-
marked Perhaps it will quiet the
boys down a little
The conductor was a big man, raw
boned and broad, with a hawk face.
His every motion showed lean, quick,
pantherlike power
LET her went" replied the brake
man, rising as matter of course to
follow his chief.
The brakeman was stocky, short, and
long armed. In the old fighting days
| MICHIGAN railroads chose their train
officials with an eye to their superior
deltoids The two men doomed on the
noisy smoking compartment.
Tickets, pleased" clicked the con-
ductor, sharply.
Most of the men began to tumble
about in their pockets but the three
singers and the man who had been Of
fering the quart bottle did not stir.
Ticket, jack" repeated the conduc-
tor, come on, now"
The big bearded man leant uncer-
tainly against the seat.
Nov, look here, Bud" he urged in
wheeling tones, II amt got no ticket
You known how it is, Bud 1 blows my
stakes" Ele fished uncertainty in his
pocket and produced the quart bottle
| nearly empty, "Have Il drink"
mo-" said the conductor sharply.
"a right" replied Jack, amiably;
take one myself" He tipped the bot
tie, emptied it, and hurled it through
a window. The conductor paid no ap-
ont of n ho hVn1 III
the glass.
IF you haven't any ticket you'll
have to get off," said he.
The big man Strengthened up.
You go to hell,'' he snorted, and
with the sole of his spiked boot de-
livered a mighty kick at the conduc-
tors thigh.
The official, agile as wild cat, leap
ed back, then forward and knocked
the man half the length of the car.
You see he was used to it. Before
Jack could regain his feet the official
stood over him.
The three men in the corner had also
risen, and were staggering down the
aisle intent on battle. The conductor
took in the chances with professional
rapidity.
"Get at 'em, Jimmy" said he
And as the big man finally swayed
to his feet, he was seized by the col
lar and trousers in the grip known to
"bouncers'' everywhere, hustled to the
door, which some one obhgingly open
ed, and hurled from the moving train
into the snow. The conductor did not
care straw whether the obstreperous
Jack lit on his head or his feet, hit
snow bank, or pile of ties.
The conductor returned to find a roll
ing, kicking, gouging mass of kinetic
energy knocking the varnish off all
one end of the car. A head appear
ing, he coolly batted ii three times
against a corner of the seat arm, after
which he pulled the contestant out by
the hair and threw him into a seat
where he lay limp. Then it could lie
seen that Jimmy had clasped tight in
his embrace a leg each of the other
two. He Rugged them close TO his
breast. and damned his face down
against them to protect his features
They could pound the top of his head
and welcome The only thing he real
ly feared WAS a kick In the side, and
for that there was hardly room.
The conductor stood over the heap
at a manifest advantage.
You lumber Jacks had enough. OF
do you. want 10 catch IL pienty?"
The men. drunk though they were
realized their helpiessness. They sig.
nihed thaey had had enough. Jimmy
thereupon released them and stood up
brushing down his toueled hair with
his stubby fingers.
Now IL IL ticket or bouncei" inquir.
Cd the conductor
After some dihlculty and Rrumbilng
the two paid their fare ard that 81
the third who weE stiil dazed.
The interested spectators " the iif.
a. .faa Al