Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20

keep away from the post Office. Well get
his mail for him.
Il told him that this morning. He's in
bed, and looks pretty hard. But he won't
dodge those fellows. He claims it's free
country" grinned Foley. But | told him
he'd get over that idea if he stuck out this
trouble"
1t was three days before McNeal was able
to report for work, though he received full
time just the same Even then he wasn't
fit for duty, but he begged Neighbor for his
run until he got it. The strikers were jubi-
liant while the boy laid up; but just
what Dad thought no one could find out
wanted to tell the old growler what 1
thought of him, but Foley said it wouldn't
do any good, and might do harm, so 1 he'd
my peace.
One might have thought that the injus-
tice and brutality of the thing would have
reused him; but men who have repressed
themselves till they are gray-headed don't
rise in hurry to resent a wrong. Dad
kept mute the sphinx. When McNeal
was ready to go out the old fireman had the
pa shining; but if the pale face of his en-
gineer had any effect on him, he kept it to
himself.
As they ratified down the line with a long
stock train that night neither of them re-
ferred to the break in their run. Coming
back next night the same silence hung over
the cab. The only words that passed over
the boierhead were Strictly business" as
dad would say.
At oxford they We're laid out by a Pull
man special 1t was 3 o'clock in the morn
Ing and raining hard. Under such circum-
stances an hour seems all night At last
Dad himself broke the unsupportable ST.
lence.
He'd have waited a good bit longer if
he had waited for me to talk" said the
boy, telling Foley afterwards.
Heard you got licked" growled Dad
after tinkering with the fire for the TWEEN
tieth time
Il didn't get licked" retorted Georgia:
Il dubbed. i never had a chapca RI
fight"
"These fellows hate to see boy come
out and take mans job. Can't blame
EN- much neither"
Whose job did I take?" demanded
George, angrily. Was any one of those
towards that jumped on me In the dark
looking for work on this engineer
There was nothing to say to that Dad
kept still.
You talk about men," continued the
young fellow. IF l am not more of a man
than to slug a fellow from behind, the way
they slugged me, I'll get off this engine
and stay off. If that's what you call men
out here l don't want to be a man. I'll
go back to Pennsylvania"
Why didn't you stay there?" growled
Why didn't you?"
Without attempting to return the shot
Dad pulled nervously at the chain
III hadn't been fool enough to go out
| on a strike 1 might have been running
there yet continued George.
Ought to have kept away from the post
office, grumbled Dad, after a pause
Il get letter twice a week that I thinl,
more of than l do of this whole road. and 7
propose 10 go to The post Office and get II
without asking anybodys permission"
They'll pound you again"
George looked out into the storm "Well
why shouldn't they? I've got no friends"
Got girl back in Pennsylvania
Yes. I've got girl there" replied the
boy, as the rain tore at the cab window
I've had a girl there a good while She's
gray haired and sixty years old-thats my
girl-and IL she can write letters to me 1
can get them out Of the post Office without
a guardian"
There she comes" said Dad, as the
headlight of the Pullman special shone
faint ahead through the mist.
I'm mighty glad of it," said Georgia.
looking at his watch. "Give me steam now
Dad. and I'll get you home in time for a
nap before breakfast"
A minute later the special shot over the
switch and the young runner, crowding the
pistons a Bit started off the siding. When
Dad, looking back for the h.nd-end brake
man to lock the switch and swing on. called
all clear George pulled her out another
notch. and the long train slowly gathered
Roadway up the slippery track.
AS the speed increased the young man
and the old relapsed into their usual ST.
lence. The IA was always Q free steamer,
but George put her through her PAGES