The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-19

drenched wet and tough I know.
looked so tough that the brakeman
gra bbed me the minute I opened the
front door and tried to kick me out.
I turned snarling then, crazy as a wolf
all in a second. and somehow backed
the brakemen against the water cooler
with his windpipe twisted in my bony
fingers ike a corkscrew- The train
was moving out 1 had been cuffed
and kicked till I would rather kill
somebody than not, this seemed a fair
chance for a homicide. When the poor
fellows wind went Off--he wasn't
much of a scrapper. I fancy-he
whipped around the aisle like a dying
there behind him in the doorway stood
Dave. lantern in hand. looking on with
new face This time he was smiling.
Dawes smile meant just the parting of
his lips over row of glistening teeth.
perfectly even teeth and under his
black mustache whittier than ivory It
appeared to amuse him to see me kill
ing the brakeman. The instant I saw
Dave I let go, and he watched the
crestfallen trainman pull himself to-
gether
Guess you'll let him alone now.
won't you % said Dave pleasantly to
my ratified assailant "Sit down" he
growled harshly at me. stringing his
lantern on his arm He walked un-
cOnCernedly down the aisle and I
dropped exhausted into the front seat
facing the Baker heater. It was heav-
enly hot; red hot. I have loved a car
heater ever since. and Baker 10 me is
hardly lower than the angels. NY togs
began to steam, my blood began to
flow the train boy gave me a wormy
apple an Irishman with a bottle of
rank whisky gave me a stfnger, and I
wanted to live again.
] curled up in the seat and in five
minutes I was rOasting-oh. such a
4 IN 7 ord
what a heavenly doze-before that
Baker heater. All night the forward
truck beat and pounded under me All
night 1 woke and slept in the steaming,
sinking air of the hot car. And when
ever I opened my eyes I saw always
the same thing-a topping tall con-
ductor looming in the aisle. his green
hooded lamp like a semaphore under
his arm And above in the gloom a
bush of black beard and q pair of
deep set. shining eyes back under a
peaked cap. Dave often comes back
as ] saw him. walking and dreaming,
that night in the smoker of No 1.
It was breaking day when he bent
We're getting into the Bend" he
said grufIiy. Got any money for
brea kfast -
7 haven't a cent on Gods earth
He put his hand in his pocket and
pulling out a handful Of loose bills,
showed one into ny fingers
I'll take it from you. and gladly,
l said. sitting up. But I'm not
begger or a tramp
on track2'
Yes, I'm going to enlist" His
teeth flashed That's worse than rail
roading amt it2" Something came
into nv head like a rocket
If I could get started railroading.
Get started easy enough
That's how happened to show him
my Victoria He gave me a card TO
the trainmaster. and next day I went
to braking for Allbers, who, by the
way, was the biggest liar ever knew.
But the morning I got into Medicine
Bend that first time on No. l. I had
another scare. went into the lunch
room for coffee and sandwiches and
threw my bill at the boy. He
opened it, looked at it and looked at
me.
Well I growled. for was impu-
dent with luck and a hot stomach,
Good. amt it
Smallest you got2"
/ nodded as If I had pocketful. He
hustled around and came back with
handful OF money 1 said nothing, but
when he spread il out before me 7
sat paralyzed. had Just assumed that
] Dave had given me a dollar Sinkers
deducting the price of two coffees and
I SIX sandwiches from the bill counted
+ out $3.50 for me
that change kept me running for
month; and after my first pay day I
hunted up Dave to pay him back. I
round him in the evening. He was sit
ing alone on the eating house porch,
his feet up against the rail. looking at