The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1906-02-23
81 II = = i = = 81 II Il - II Il II
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEED

told Pat Barlie to put in as much more
as the cap held, and he did so.
"There, Chris; go home. | don't like
you," added Shockley insolently, turn
ing on Reynolds. 'You don't know
what fun 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 kneeling before the dog of
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
way to make man prick hot all over.
Eyes, that's ShockIey. WhyT' asked
Callahan, with dash Of acid.
Nothing, only he's valuable man.
He's wanted, Shockley is,' smiled AL
fabet Smith, but his smile would freeze
tears.
Callahan took it up short. Look
here, Alfabet. Keep off Shockley."
"Why?"
''Why? Because you and I will
touch, head on, il you don't"
Smith said nothing. He was used to
that sort The next time Bucks was
up his assistant told him of the Incl
dent.
eff he bothers shockley," Bucks said,
"we'll get his scalp, that's all. He'd
better look after his conductors and
leave our men alone"
81 notice Shockley isn't keeping his
frogs blocked continued Bucks, re-
yerting to other matters 'That won't
do. 1 want every frog in the yard
blocked, and kept blocked, and tell him
I said so.'
But the frog blocking was not what
worried Shockley. His push was to
keep the yard clean, for the month Of
December brought more stuff twice
over than was ever poured into the
front end yard before. Chris, though,
had developed into a great switchman,
and the two never let the work get
ahead.
So it came that Little Russia honored
Chris and his big pay check above
most men. Shockley stood first in
Little Russia then the car, then Chris,
then Callahan. Queen Victoria and
Bismarck might have admirers, but
they We're not in it under the bench.
When the Russian holidays came,
down below, Chris concluded that the
celebration would be merely hollow
without Shockley, for was not the very
existence of Little Russia due to him?
All 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
STA, 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?" demanded Shockley lazily 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 Chrsmus 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
ahoes?''
"Dollar sefenty-vife."
"Where?'
"Rubedo"
"And don't you know switchman
0ughtn't to put his feet In fatboats?
Don't you know some day you'll get
your foot stuck in tongue or guard?
Then where'll you be, Dutch, with
string of flats rolling down on you.
eh2''
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. "I'll come
down awhile after % comes In. Get
back early after supper, and We'll
make I'D IS and let the rest go"