Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-24
In the
Cover
BY elliot lualke'
BY elliot Walker
Copyright. 1907. by VI. Wood

by, Jack?' The little woman's flush Of
irritation still burned holly 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
\ chance for a parting stab. He
hoped 1t would hurt. 1t hurt him more
than he expected.
NO! I'm not" he burst out gruffly.
well skip that, Kate. You women
think n man can be made target for
whatever you choose to say and then
brought around ut 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 I'm the blackness OF the lower
ing winter evening. Lawson slipped
OH the frosty tracks as he glanced up
at the light glaring from the window.
From the heavy. settling sky flakes Of
snow were beginning to whiten the
tops of the dismal string of empty
freight cars on the siding.
Its going to be nasty Storm" the
man muttered. climbing the stairway.
-Four hours before Bourne shows up.
Well. Harry will be glad to go home
to his wife. l wish-no, l don't. I'd
rather be here than uncomfortable in
the house with II nagging woman. Is
that what I am going to get for ex-
pressing my opinion of mother-in-law's
prospective visit? She shan't come"
Hello. Jack! You're n welcome sight
I was getting nervous. Really it's pref
" poky sitting here alone. Every time
the instrument calls l think, There's
trouble. Poor Dickson. Who do you
suppose killed him. Jack II gang or
some rufiian? All alone in the tower.
never dreaming of such thing, and
then-great heaven! ! wouldn't take
your job for $40 night. You ought to
have some one with you"
"Pshaw. Harry" Lawson threw Off
his coat You need seasoning, boy.
Dickson's was case of man who car
ried wad and Dragged OF 1t: bound to
lose his money some time. That might
have occurred ON the street or In his
bed: merely happened to be convenient
to nab him at his table. Tough?
know. but when you've been ten years
In this business one poor devil going
suddenly isn't a subject to get nervous
prostration over. The big accidents are
what shake chap"
"But the way OF II. Jack. The idea
"Oh, trot along home. lad. I've moth
ing TO attract marauders except my
good looks. No one will bother me. Of
ten some fellow drops in for n chat, and
Bourne relieves me mt midnight. Much
obliged for your spelling me. Harry.
1t gives me chance for supper at the
house. and when a mans married.
He stopped with shrug of his broad
shoulders, adding in n different tone,
"All clear?'
"All clear. Jack. Everything on time.
No. rs went through at Gas. Fast
freight due to pass In ten minutes.
Goodby. Take care of yourself"
Likely boy" commented Lawson,
filling his pipe and sitting down. Good
as any of 'em already: safe and level
headed. Got nervous. did he? Not the
only one on the line. guess. We all
carry pop now. must say it's a
handy companion"
He licked off message. rose. gazed
out. grinned. felt of his hip pocket and
scowled.
"Thunder.' he exclaimed II forgot
1t. Confound Kate. She drove every
thing out of my head
Nothing but his good looks" The
man who stepped inside half hour
later to greet the operator cordially and
to seat himself ungracefully was not in
search Of money.
Lawson supposed Sharpson was
lover IT," Lately the disappointed low
er had appeared very friendly. even to
calling twice at the house Kate had
made him welcome. Ii was nonsense.
the WHY NHiIl'Sou ii'iu uCtetl DeIOre
the wedding. but his eccentric temper
only rendered lin butt for ridicuie
A short thicksct. slouching man. black.
Of sparse i:c:ri and small. close set
eyes. he hex! but sorry chances I'm the
lists with John Lawson. y foolish
conccit. surely that Kate hartley cared
for him and would haze been his but
for the arrival of the big stranger
from Wheeler Junction. who promptly
and effectively captured the affections
OF the ticket agents daughter Six
months now and the wrath of Sharpson
| forgotten
bad night" remarked that gentle
man. brushing his sleeves. Thought
I'd drop In u moment and warm up be-
fore my tramp"
where ARE you bound for? 'Tisn't
much IF ni~ht for Il walk
Right II amt Oh I've got TO go
clear ont To DaShcll's. He's sick. and
I'm on his job. Some things wanted
to ask him"
"Thnt's n lonely stretch: Il blamed
lonesome road. Seth. You go by that
Polish settlement. don't you? Say.