Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-26

what Dad thought no one could find
out. | wanted TO tell the old growler
what thought of him. but Foley said
1t wouldn't do any good and might do
harm, so held my peace.
One might have thought that the in
justice and brutality Of the thing would
have reused him, but men who have re-
pressed themselves till they are gray
headed don't rise in hurry to resent
wrong. Dad kept as mute as the
sphinx. When McNeal was ready to
so out the old fireman had the pa shin
Ing, but If the pale face Of his engineer
had any effect on him he kept 1t to
himself.
AS they ratified down the line with a
long stock train that night neither Of
them referred to the break In their
run. Coming back next night, the
same silence hung over the cab. The
only words that passed over the boiler
head were ''strickly business" as Dad
would say.
At Oxford they were laid out by a
Pullman special. 1t was o'clock in
the morning and raining hard. I'm
der such circumstances an hour seems
all night. At last Dad himself broke
the unsupportable silence.
He'd have waited a good bit longer
If lie had waitcl for me to talk" said
the boy. telling Foley afte-ward.
Heard you got licked" growled Dad
after tinkerlng with the fire for the
twentieth time.
81 didn't get licked" retorted Geor-
gle: II got dubbed. I never had a
chance to f.cht."
"Thes, fellows hate to see q boy
come out and take Il mans job. Can't
blame 'em much neither"
Whose job did tske?" demanded
George angrily "Was any one Of
those towards that jumped on me in
the dark looking for work OIL this en-
girc:"
There was nothing to say to that
Dad kept still.
"You talk about men," continued the
youn% fellow. "If am not more Of n
man than to slug fellow from be-
hind, the way they slugged ne. I'll
get off this engine and stay off. II
that's what you call men out here,
don't want to be a man. III go back
to Pennsylvania"
"why didn't you stay thcre?" growl.
ed Dad.
"Why didn't you?"
Without attempting to return the
shot Dad pulled nervously at the chain
"Tf hadn't been fool enough to go
out OH q strike, might have been run
ming there yet" continued George.
"Ought to have kept away from the
postoaice," grumbled Dad after a
pause.
81 get a letter twice n week that
think more Of than | do of this whole
road. and propose to so to the post
office and get 1t without asking any
bodys permission"
They'll pound you again."
George looked out into the storm
"Well why SHOULDN'T they? I've got no
friends"
"Got n girl back in Pennsylvania
"Yes, I've got girl there" replied
the boy as the rain tore at the cab win.
dow. "I've had girl there a good
while. She's gray headed and sixty
years old-that's my glrl-and If she
can write letters to me can get them
out of the postoiiice without a guard
IAN"
"There she comes," said Dad as the
headlight OF the Pullman special shone
faint ahead through the mist.
"I'm mighty glad Of It," said Geor
gle. looking at his watch. "Give me
steam now, Dad, and I'll get you home
In time for nap before breakfast"
A minute later the special shot over
the switch. and the young runner.
c-owd.rg the p.stons bit. started on
the siding. When Dad. looking back
for the hind enI brakeman to lock the