The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-05-06

mere were several machine shops
in the place connected with the road.
The company had been throwing off
its men, but in the latter part OF Octo-
Der, 1892, there was an unexpected in
crease of work, which recalled many OF
the idle men to their posts and sent
skyward the hopes of those who re-
manned
Joyce was chuckling to himself over
the situation when, on Oct. 81, he re-
ceived a blue envelope. He took it
mechanically from the paymaster's
hand, stood in the doorway for mo-
ment like a man who has been
stunned from sudden blow, and then,
with an oath and some other words
of which he was scarcely conscious,
turned and left the place, not obserV-
ing the strange glances sent after him
as he went down the tracks.
1t was quite dark when he went out,
stumbling over the rails like a drunk
en- man in the rain and sleet which had
begun falling an hour before. He was
80 full of anger and shame at the oc-
currence that he could scarcely see
where he was going, and once he actu-
ally ran into the end of a fat car, rails
ing his arms only just in time to avoid
dangerous contact with the bumpers.
He would not go home yet, to the
dreary little room in the boarding
house hee called home. The rain and
elect were far better. He crept into
deserted coal shed and sat down upon
the rough elinkers for an hour or more
Mason had discharged him, and for
what? Over and over again he re-
viewed the mans sharp voice, the
quick, impetuous words, his own voice
making some reply which he could not
now remember And then the glances
of the men of which he was only too
well aware as he started down the
cracks.
But as he was stealing along like
hunted wolf between the lines or
heavily loaded freights, he stumbled
over something in his path, and the
next instant he was kneeling above
abe body of the man he hated more
He managed to drag the body from
abe rails where it would have been LETT
so that a passing train would decapl-
tate it, and in less than five minutes
afterward he burst into the shanty OF
one of the night watchmen, covered
with perspiration, his eyes rolling ike
those of a man taken in sudden Mt
'The man, Thompson, the man." ne
gasped as soon as he could find his
voice
1.-THE man? What MANI" returned
the Waterman.
mason, Mason, the superintendent!
Bill, what sight"
what do you mean, Pete? Speak
out like man! Accident, wreck, tlre,
what is it,"
Joyce staggered to his feet.
Come out with me, Bill, and see"
And aoff they started on a run from
the shanty, lodging the shifting freight
cars and moving engines with recK-
lessness peculiar to men OF their Glass;
and so made their way at last TO the
place where the body was lying.
Thompson stopped and looked II
over with a troubled face.
"A bad job, Mr.. Joyce" he began IN
a constrained voice. Tit 1s-do
your"
1t was hard to speak the words, but
Joyce understood, and in the dim light,
amidst the falling sleet, he raised his
hand solemnly.
Before God, William, didn't! L
would not have had the strength to do
it,"
Thompson stood up and rubbed his
hand across his eyes, as if trying to
think of something.
Lets 90 back to the shanty, Pete.
There's no one there, and we can talk
1t over together"
Once inside the hut the Waterman
bolted the door, pulled down the cur
tain at the window and faced his mate
what we have to do must be done
nuickly. Pete. Some one will surely
ne along before midnight" Again he
locked over the trembling form OF
Joyce doubtfully Il only wish knew
what to do with you, Pete, until the
clouds roll by. 1t looks stormy fol
you now, my lad"
with sudden inspiration he went
In a little desk and wrote something
nm a sheet of paper with a pencil.
Here, Pete, take this. It's an order
an the lower shops for a couple OF
rrowbars and a coal shovel. 1t is dat
ed five o'clock, and if any one asks me
about it | will say | sent you down
.bere about quitting time, not knowing
xou had been turned OH.