Evening journal., 1904-09-30
In the
Cover
BY elliot MaIker
Copyrsghs. 1901. M NJ Wood
CopwsSas. 1901, nv NJ Wood

Aren't you going to kiss me good
by, Jacky" The little womans flush Of
irritation still burned hotly in her
round cheeks, despite the appealing
brown eyes. Her voice was half re-
proachful, half indignant.
The operator hesitated, biting his lip.
His face, too, bore traces Of wrath.
Their first quarrel had been a sharp
passage, and he, being slower Of tongue,
now stood at the door. with an angry
sense of defeat
A chance for a parting stab. He
hoped it would hurt. 1t hurt him more
than he expected.
''No. I'm not" he burst out grufiy.
Wen skip that. Kate You women
think a man can be made a target for
whatever you choose to say and then
brought around at will. I'm not that
sort"
AS he stamped down the steps he
heard her sob, paused, shook his head
resolutely and went on to his post.
The signal tower looked gloomy
enough in the blackness Of the lower
Ing winter evening. Lawson slipped
on the frosty tracks as he glanced up
at the light glaring from the window.
From the heavy, settling sky fakes Of
snow were beginning to whiten the
tops OF the dismal string of empty
freight cars on the siding.
Its going TO be a nasty storm" the
man muttered. climbing the stairway
-Four hours before Bourne shows up
Well. Harry viii be glad to go hom'
to his wife. l wish-no ] don't. IL
rather be here than uncomfortable il
the house with a nagging woman. Il
that what am going TO get for ex
pressing my opinion Of mother-in-law'
prospective visit? She shunt Gomez
Hello. Jack, You're a welcome sight
was getting nervous. Really it's pret
ty poky sitting here alone. Every tim'
the instrument calls ! think. There's
troublev Poor Dickson! Who do yOl
suppose killed him. Jack IA gang ol
some rufian? All alone in the tower
never dreaming of such n thing, anC
then-great heaven. l wouldn't take
your job for SO Il night. You ought tC
have some one with you"
"Pshaw, Harry" Lawson threw Of
his coat. You need seasoning. boy
Dickson's was a case Of a man who car
RED a wad and Dragged of It; bound {,
lose his money some time. That nigh
have occurred on the street or in his
bed; merely happened to be convenien
to nab him at his table. Tough?
know, but when you've been ten year
in this business one poor devil goinl
suddenly isn't a subject to get nervous
prosuation over. The big accidents arr
what shake a chap"
But the way Of it. Jack. The idea
''Oh, trot along home, lad. I've moth
ing TO attract marauders except m,
good looks. No one will bother me. OF
ten some fellow drops in for a chat. an,
Bourne relieves me at midnight. Mucl
obliged for your spelling me, Harry
1t gives me a chance for supper at tn
house. and when a mans married.
He stopped with a shrug Of his broad
shoulders, adding in a different tone
"All clear?"
'All clear, Jack. Everything on time
No. IS went through at Gas. Fas
freight due to pass in ten minutes
Goodbyl Take care Of yourself"
Likely boy" commented Lawson
filling his pipe and sitting down. "Goo'
as any of 'em already; safe and leve
headed. Got nervous, did he7 Not tn
only one on the line. 1 guess. We al
carry a pop now. must say it's
handy companion"
He licked or a message, rose, gazeC
out, grinned, felt Of his hip pocket an,
scowled.
Thunder he exclaimed. II forgo
it. Confound Katei She drove every
thing out of my head"
Nothing but his good looks" Th
man who stepped inside half hou
later to greet the operator cordially ant
to seat himself ungracefully was not il
search of money.
Lawson supposed Sharpson wa
over it." Lately the disappointed Low
er had appeared very friendly. even I
calling twice at the house. Kate hal
made him welcome. 1t was nonsense
the way Sharpson had acted befor
the wedding. but his eccentric tempe
only rendered him butt for ridicul'
A short, thickset, slouching man, black
OF sparse beard and small, close sc
eyes, he held but sorry chances in th
lists with John Lawson. A FOOLS
conceit. surely. that Kate BARLEY care
for him and would have been his bu
for the arrival OF the big strange
from Wheeler Junction. who prompt
md effectively captured the affection
II the ticket agents daughter. 81
months now and the wrath OF Sharpso
forgotten.
bad night" remarked that gentle
uan. brushing his sleeves. Though
d drop in n moment and warm up b'
ore my tramp" ..- -.