Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
OF A MAN IN THE CROWD DARED PASS A REMARK

and there'n be no back talk from the boys.
either. The Lord knows. some on 'em Is
more fittin to be tramp than that boy
When she once more turned her attention
to the shuffiing lad-of-all-work Riordan
made his escape across the narrow alley to
the bunk house.
He paused in the doorway. gazing
through the dim. uncertain light at the
long slim figure stretched out on the sec
ond bunk to the right The blast of keen
night air struch the recumbent figure and
the man stirred Dennis Riordan, master
mechanic of the Williamantic Short Cut,
closed the door and sat down the edge
of the bunk.
What county," he asked eagerly.
The young fellow blinked up into the
face. grown suddenly kind and replied,
County Mayo"
Forgot your name?"
bitter smile curved the newcomers
ny, Wish I could It was Fitzgerald.Ar-
Riordan almost dropped his pipe.
Fitzgerald of Glenra gen house? Ny
old mother her mother before her. was a
girl on that estate. Thought your grand
mother was the finest lady that ever wore
silk"
Young Fitzgerald glanced with a uuizzi-
cal smile from the decently clothed. square
shouldered master mechanic to his own
gaunt, latter medallion figure.
Families must have sort of changed
places. eh?"
Riordan did not smile in reply His face
turned stern. The honor of the highest
name in his boyhoods' memory was in
danger.
What's Fitzgerald of Glenragen dom
on the road? What's back of it? That's
what want to know"
Fitzgerald shrugged his shoulder.
We'll. If you must know girl a horse
that didn't live up TO his pedigree-and
Riordan knocked the ashes from his pipe
with rough gesture.
Il know the rest-whiskey Where are
you bound for?
NO place in particular. As the train
came around the bend the camp lights
looked sort of good to a hungry man in an
empty freight car. So l stopped Off"
The young chap chuckled as if recalling
the objurgations of the delayed train crew.
Want to stay2.'
Any particular attractions?" was the
easy response.
''Fifty-fve a month TO fire steam shovel
till you brace up Then well see what's
next There's always something open in
railroad ding for a gentleman"
There was an obvious note of pride in
Riordan's voice. queer. choking sensa-
tion came into the wanderers throat He
had been kicked off a freight car only the
day before. He sat up straight and grasped
Riordan's hand
II say, old chap. you're awfully good.
III stay. by Jove. and see that you don't
regret II, either"
Riordan looked at his new employe with
eyes that were suddenly DIM
Come Off, lad It's you that's needed nv
Dennis Riordan. I've had lonesome
enough time here with the bloomin' lot of
foreigners and niggars. Shoulder to Shout
der. Fitzgerald and a Riordan IL be a
hard combination to break
Half an hour later the twain marched into
the commissary. Riordan looking more
massive. more awkward and more dogyed
than ever. and Fitzgerald slender, easy.
debonnair and secretly amused at the
thought of having for his financial sponsor
In this new baptism of clothes and fresh
linen the boy who had been born In a
matched cot Of the Glenragen estate and
whose proudest social boast was that his
older sister had been cook to New York
railway magnate for fourteen years run
ming.
Not a man In the crowd lo1nging In the
cornmissary dared to pass a remark. Part
OF their respect was due to Riordan's readi-
ness with both tongue and fist part to the
TACT that he stood high with the officials of
the Williamantic Short Cut. They backed
their faith in the Irishman by a liberal
salary.
few commonplace civilities passed as
fitzgerald made his purchases, and for
Few moments after the pair vanished once
more into the night. the group round the
stove was silent Then some one guffawed
loudly:
by heavens. the n. n. has taken a kid