The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-09-13


he'll throw bigger chunks than ,ba
Argentine town marshall at US"
By this time the train was slowi,y
into Carbonate, and few min,,tas
after the stop at the crowded platforrn
they We're making their way IN Tho
single busting street of the town ~
the courthouse.
Ever see so many tin-horns ard
bunco people punched in all yonr
round-ups?" said Biggin as they 81.
bowed through the uneasy, shifting
groups in front of the hotel.
Not often,' Winton admitted. "Rr,
it's the luck of the big camps: tbav
are the dumping grounds of the world
while the high pressure is on"
The ex-range rider turned on the
courthouse steps to look the sidewa,s
loungers over with narrowing eyes
There's Sheeny Mike and Big Otto
and half dozen others right there
in front o. the buckingham that
couldn't stay to breathe twice in Ar
gentine. And this towns got a DO
lice!" the comment with lip-curlins
scorn
ut also has county court which
is probably waiting for u.s." said Win
ton; whereupon they went in to APP
pease the offended majesty of the law.
n
swer to the court summons was
mere formality. On parting with his
chief at the Argentine station plat
form, Adams first care had been to
wire news OF the arrest to the Utah
headquarters. Hence Winton found
the company's attorney waiting for
MIN in Judge Whitcomb's courtroom,
and his release on an appearance bond
was only a matter of moments
The legal affair dismissed, there en-
sued a weary interval of time-killing
There was no train back to Argentine
until nearly five o'clock in the after
noon, and the hours dragged heavily
for the two, who had nothing to do
but wait. Biggin endured his part OF
it manfully till the midday dinner had
been discussed then he drifted off
| with one of Winton's cigars between
his teeth, saying that he should "take
| poison and shoot up the town IL he
| could not find some more peaceful
| means OF keeping his blood in circula-
| ton.
| 1t was a little after three O'Clock,
| and Wintoa was sitting at the writ
| ing table in the lobby of the hotel
celebrating his hasty notebook data
! of the mornings inspection, when 4
| boy came in with a telegram. The
crossed in his work as to be deaf to
| the colloquy
Mr. John Winton? Yes, he is here
somewhere" said the clerk in answer
to the boys question; and after an
identifying glance, There he is-over
at the writing table,
WintOn turned in his chair and saw
the boy coming towards him; also ne
saw the ruflian pointed out by Biggin
from the courthouse steps and labeled
"Sheeny Mike" lounging up to the
clerks desk for whispered word with
the bediamonded gentleman behind it.
What followed was cataclysmal in
! It's way. The lounger took three stag
gering lurches towards Winton,
| brushed the messenger boy aside, and
| burst out in storm Of maudlin in
vective
Sign yerself 'Winton' now, do we.
| ye low-down, turkey-trodden-"
One minute said Winton, CURLY,
taking the telegram from the boy and
signing for it.
III give We moren We can carry
away in less'n half that time-see?"
was the nlinatory retort; and tho
threat was made good by an awkward
buffet which would have knocked the
| engineer out of his chair if he had
remained in it.
Now Winton's eyes were gray and
S,eadiast, but his hair was of that
shade of brown which takes the tint
OF nuIl copper in certain lights, and
ne mad temper which went with the
red IN his hair rather than with the
gray in his eyes. Wherefore his at
Tempt 10 placate his assailant was
something less than diplomatic.
You drunken scoundrel," he
snapped, If you don't go about your
business and let me alone, I'll turn
you over TO the police with a broken
bone or two..'
The bullys answer was a blow de-
! IlVeFed straight from the shoulder
| 100 straight to harmonic with the fic-
| non OF drunkenness. Winton saw tho
/ sober purpose in it and went battle
mad, as hasty man will Being a
/ SklIl1uI boXer-which his ANTAGONIST
was not-he did what he had to do
neatly and with commendable dis
! patch. Down, up; down, up; down a
thlrd time, and then the. bystanders
! lnterfered.
/ Hold on!"
''ThatIl dol"
Don't You see he's drunk?"
Enough'S as good as feast-let