The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
~rT 70 hell out of here"

G6f Jake, the burly brakeman,
lHraised his lantern so that its
circle Of light fell upon the
vagabond, a huddled blotch
IN the farthest corner Of the empty
box-car. The figure did. not stir.
Two white clouds Of frosty moisture
coming from his nostrils alone be-
tokened that he was alive.
"Oh, Reddyi Come help me pitch
this hobo out Of the empty here"
Jake had tried evicting tramps single
handed before. as the crooked bridge
Of HIS nose bore testimony. He set
the lantern on the car floor within
the open door and blew upon his
cramped fingers. Reddy from the ca
boose came ambling through the
gloom, buttoning his Jacket and tuck
ing up his woolen wristlets.
Both men clambered into the car
Jake hung the lantern on the rolling
hinge OF the opposite door. Should
ers touching. the two moved cautious
iy toward the crouched figure in the
corner.
without a sound, the squatting be-
ing arose to its feet. over six feet IN
height. with great boles Of muscle out
lined on either side of huge neck,
a chest thick as a tree. and arms like
the driving rods OF a mountain engine,
the man standing there in the uncer-
tain light OF the trainmen's lantern
had the appearance of a berserk.
From out of a mat Of bristling beard
two pig eyes shone green and white;
the two great arms crooked them
selves inward at the elbows and the
knotty fingers curled themselves to-
ward the palms.
Now, here's a go, Reddy!" Jake
hurled himself at the throat of the
vagabond. Reddy ducked and hugged
one muscle-ribbed leg. In breath
Jake was whirled on his feet and
brought down with crushing force
over the bent back of his fellow; a
grunt barked from the throat OF each
as they rolled sprawling on the car
floor.
Why, I'll be damned! Why. I'll
be damnedl" murmured Reddy,
as he painfully stumbled to
his feet. But Jake with a roar Of an
ger rushed at the giant again and
locked arms with him. Reddy gath
cred himself together and Ieapt upon
the heaying back Of the vagabond. his
fingers groping through the tangled
beard for the horny thorax
They swayed, they tossed; back
with a crash against the side OF the
car-now with a slide the giant was
brought to one knee; with a sharp
whistle Of breath through cIenched
teeth he was UP again. Fingers closed
upon his windpipe. and with a quick
turn OF the head and a vicious snap
his teeth met in the lobe of the ear
pressed against his bearded cheek.
God. Jake. down the beastF" Red
dy's fingers slipped up and tore at the
bulging eyeballs. The great body
trembled. lurched forward. and fell
with a crash TO the car floor. Once
the writhing mass Of struggling men
turned over, and again It fell-this
time through the open door OF the car
TO the ground by the tracks side.
An agonized cough broke from three
pairs OF frightened lips at the heavy
impact. Reddy's hold was loosened by
the fall and his hand fell upon heavy
round stone in the roadbed. Eagerly
he grasped II and as the vagabond's
body rolled over him. he CROPPED for
the hairy ~7-ehead and dealt 1t crush
ing blow. Again and again sounded
that mufied thud OF stone against
bone. A spasm racked the massive
body. the bloodshot eyes rolled back
and became flmy. heels ratified for an
instant on the gravr and then the
fght was over.
The two brakemen lay upon their
backs, with arms iimriv outstretched,
until a warning whistle sounded from
somewhere ahead in the gloom and as
the crealKing chain Of cars moved slow
ly past they swung themselves pain
fully to the caboose platform.
Wonder II that DEVILS dead?" Red
dy. with the reek OF battle still in his
mouth. spat laboredly and cast his eyes
back 10 the sprawled blotch by the
track side. An instant, and il was
swallowed up in the gloom.
The tin song Of the rails grew into a
ouaVer-a murmur-ceased; the inter
minable vault OF the snowsheds was
silent It was the silence Of the rock
ribbed Sierra, muffied under its sitting
weight of winter snow.
But the battering Of a thousand ham
mers upon brazen plates, the grind Of
the riven rocks in a titanic earth