Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-11-14


you," added Shockley insolently, turn
ing on Reynolds. "You don't know
what f..l is. This town won't hold
you and me after tonight You can
take it or you can leave it, but the first
time | ever put eyes on you again one
of us will cash in.''
He backed directly toward the front
door and out
Peg Leg Reynolds took only the night
to decide; next day he hit the trail.
The nervy yardmaster he might have
wiped out If he had stayed, but the dis
grace of kneeing before the dog of a
Russian was something never to be
wiped out in the annals of Benkleton.
Peg Leg moved on, and thereafter cow
boys took occasion to stop Shockley on
the street and jolly him on the way he
did the one legged bully, and the lights
were shot no more.
The railroad men swore by the new
yardmaster; the Russians took their
cigarettes from their mouths and
touched their caps when Shockley pass
ed; Callahan blessed his name, but lit
tie Chris worshiped him.
One day Alfabet Smith dropped off
at Benkleton from Omaha headquar-
ters. Alfabet was the only species of
lizard on the payroll. He was the
west end spotter. ''Who is that slim
fellow? he asked of Callahan as
Shockley flew by on the pilot board of
an engine
'That's Shockley."
"Oh, that's Shockley, is it?"
But he could say little things in a
Fay to make a man prick hot all over.
"Yes that's Shockley. Why?" asked
pllahan, with dash of acid.
Nothing, only he's valuable man.
e's wanted, Shockley isl smiled AL
bet Smith, but his smile would freeze
ars.
Callahan took it up short. Look
Fre, Alfabet. Keep off Shockley."
s'Why?"
''Why? Because you and I will
uch head on, if you don't"
Smith said nothing He was used to
at sort. The next time Bucks was
his assistant told him Of the Incl
.nt
'If he bothers Shockley," Bucks said,
ven get his scalp, that's all. He'd
tter look after his conductors and
ave our men alone"
Il notice Shockley isn't keeping his
ogs blocked" continued Bucks, re-
rting to other matters. 'That won't
l want every frog in the yard
ocked and kept blocked, and tell him
said So"
But the frog blocking was not what
orried Shockley. His push was to
ep the yard clean, for the month of
Pcember brought more stuff twice
er than was ever poured into the
pnt end yard before. Chris, though,
d developed into a great switchman,
d the two never let the work get
|ead
80 it came that little Russia honored
1sss-and hio<Dis pay chcclr above
ost men. Shockley stood first IN
tile Russia, then the czar, then Chris,
EN- Callahan. Queen Victoria and
ismarck might have admirers, but
ey were not in it under the bench.
When the Russian holidays came,
|wn below, Chris concluded that the
LIBERATION would be merely hollow
thout Shockley, for was not the very
istence of Little Russia due to him
the growth, all the prosperity
what was it due to? Protection. What
was the protection? Shockley. There
were brakemen who argued that pro-
lection came from the tariff, but they
never made any converts in Little Rus
sia, where the inhabitants could be in
duced to vote for president only on the
assurance that Shockley was running.
"Well, what's the racket anyhow,
Chris 2" demanded Shockiey iaAliy after
Cross Eyes, trying to get rid of the
invitation to the festivities, had sput-
tered switch English five minutes at
him.
I've got Chrismus by u.s." explained
Chris desperately.
Christmas" repeated Shockley grim
ly. "Christmas. Why, man, Christ
mas don't come nowhere on earth in
January. You want to wind up your
calendar. Where'd you get them
shoes?'
"Dollar sefenty-vife."
'Where?"
"Rubedo."
'And don't you know a switchman
oughtn't to put his feet in flatboats
Don't you know some day you'll get
your foot stuck in a tongue or a guard
Then where'll you be, Dutch, with a
string of fats rolling down on you,
eh?'
However, Chris stuck for his request.
He wouldn't take no for an answer.
Next day he tired Shockley out.
''Well, for Gods sake let up, Chris, "
said the yardmaster at last. 'Pll come
down awhile after % comes in. Get
back early after supper, and we'll
make up 90 and let the rest CO."
1t was pretty night; pretty enough
n. 4 IL