The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-04-20


In the place connected with the road.
The company had been throwing of
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 checking to himself over
the situation when, on Oct. 81, he re-
ceived blue envelope. He took 1t
mechanically from the paymaster's
hand, stood in the doorway for mo-
ment like a man who has been
stunned from a sudden blow, and then,
with an oath and some other words
OF which he was scarcely conscious,
turned and left the place, not observ-
tng the strange glances sent after him
as he went down the tracks.
II was quite dark when he went out,
stumbling over the rails like drunk
en- man in the rain and sleet which had
begun falling an hour before. He was
so 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 fiat car, rails
ing his arms only just in time to avoid
q dangerous contact with the bumpers.
He would not go home yet, to the
dreary little room in the boarding
house he called home. The rain and
sleet were far better. He crept into a
deserted coal shed and sat down upon
the rough clinkers 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
tracks.
But as he was stealing along like q
~unted wolf between the lines of
.aeayily loaded frcights, he stumbled
over something in his path, and the
next instant he was kneeling above
the body of the man he hated more
than any one else in the whole world.
He managed to drag the body from
the rails where 1t would have been left
so that a passing train would decapi-
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 like
those of a man taken in a sudden fit.
1.-THE man, Thompson, the mani" he
gasped as soon as he could find his
voice.
"The man? What MANI" returned
the watchman.
"Mason, Mason, the superintendent!
Bill, what a sight"
"What do you mean, Pete? Speak
out like a man! Accident, wreck, fire,
what is it?'
Joyce staggered to his feet.
"Come out with me, Bill, and see.
And off they started on a run from
the shanty, lodging the shifting freight
cars ard moving engines with a recl;-
lessneGs peculiar 20 men o, their class;
and so made tAeir way ct las, 10 the
place whore the body was lying.
THOMPSON stopped and looked II
over with a troubled face.
"a bad Job, MIR. Joyce" he began In
a constrained voice. Tit is-dc
you?"
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, I didn't!
would not have had the strength to dc
dti'
Thompson stood up and rubbed his
hand across his eyes, as if trying tC
think of something.
Lets go back to the shanty, Pete
There's no one there, and we can tall
at over together"
Once inside the hut the watchmaI
bolted the door, pulled down the cur
tain at the window and faced his mate
''What we have TO do must be dom
quickly, Pete. Some one will surel!
be along before midnight" Again IN
looked over the trembling form o
Joyce doubtfully. Il only wish l knew
what to do with you. Pete, until tn
clouds roll by. 1t looks stormy TO
you now, my lad"
With sudden inspiration he wen
TO little desk and wrote something
on sheet of paper with pencil.
Here, Pete. take this. It's an orde
on the lower shops FOR couple o
crowbars and coal shovel. II is dat
ed five o'clock, and If any one asks m
about 1t / will say ! sent you dow
there about quitting time, not KNOWN
you had been turned off.
''When you get there, for the Low
of heaven patch up some kind of
story which will agree with mine tina
will send them by the phone, and
careful what you say! II you"
He stopped and ran to the dool
lowered his light and looked ou
When he turned to Pete his face wa
white.
~There's men coming up the track
now! Here. crawl out Of the windo'
and will shut 1t after you. Be quicl
Peter, run, man; run for your life!"
Thomson closed the window aftt