The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-26
TheSpOilers.
~ REX 3. BRAcH
Copyright teck By Rsx u Beach.


| perforce the motto of its grimy crew,
| who lived near by. Tonight they We're
just retiring when stayed by a sum-
| mons at their door. The engineer
opened 1t 10 admit what appeared to
his astonshed eyes to be a Krupp can
non propelled by a man In yellow oiled
clothes and white cotton mask. This
| weapon assumed the proportions of a
| great one eyed monster which stared
| with baleful fixlty at his vltals. giving
him cold and empty feeling. Away
back beyond this Cyclops of the Sight
less Orb were two other strangers like
wise equipped.
The fireman arose from his chair
dropping al. empty shoe with thump:
but. being of the west. without cavil
or waste of wind he stretched his
hands above his head. balancing on
one foot TO keep his pnshod member
| from the damp floor. He had unbuc-
kled his belt and now, loosened by the
movement. his overalls seemed bent on
sinking FORWARD in an ecstasy OF
| abashment at the intrusion. whereupon
with convulsive grip he Rugged them
to their duty. one hand and foot stin
elevated as hough in the grand haillng
sign of some secret order. The other
man was new TO the ways of the north
so backed TO the limit of his quarters,
laid both hands protectlngly upon his
middle and doubled up. remarking fer
wildly:
Don't point hat damned thing at
my stomach"
"Ha. ha,' laughed the fireman, wit
unnatural loudness. Have your jollc.
boys"
This amt no Joke" said the fore
most figure, its breath bellying out the
mask nj its mouth.
"Sure II is" insisted the shoeless one.
Must be. We amt got anything
worth stealing"
Get into your clothes and come
along. We won't hurt you" The two
obeyed ard were taken TO the sleeping
engine and there instructed TO produce
full head of steam in thirty minutes
or suffer premature taking of AID
prompt ellsion from the realms OF an
piled mechanics. As stimulus 10 their
efforts two Of the men stood over them
till the engine began TO sob and sigh
reluctantly. Through the gloom that
curtained the cab they saw other dim
forms Undertaking. and climbing ST.
lently on TO the cars behind. Then. as
the steam gauge touched the mark.
the word was given. and the train
rumbled out from its shelter, its shrill
plant at curb aud crossing whipped
away and drowned in the storm.
Slapjack remained ID the cab. gun in
Hap. while Dextry. climbed back TO
Glenister. He found the young man In
good spirits, despite the discomfort OF
his exposed position. and striving TO
light his pipe behind the shelter of his
coat.
as the dynamite aboard?' the old
man questioned
"Sure. Enough to ballast a battle
ship"
As the train crept out of the camp
and across the river bridge. its only
light or glimmer the sparks that were
snatched and harried by She blast. the
partners seated themselves on the pow
der cases and conversed guar,ledly.
while about them sounded the low
murmur of the men who risked their
all upon this cry to duty, who staked
their lives and futures upon this haz-
ard OF the hills, because they thought
II right.
We've made a good fight. whether
we win or lose tonight" said Dextry.
Roy replied, MY fight is made and
won"
what does that mean"
my hardest battle had nothing to
do with the Midas or the mines of An
vii. fought and conquered myself"
Awful wet night for philosophy"
the first remarked. Its apt to sour on
you like milk I'm a thunderstorm.
Spose you put overalls an gum boots
on some OF them Boston ideas an lead
'em out where can look 'em over an
find out what they're up to-"
II mean that | was a savage till !
met Helen Chester and she made a
man of me. 1t took sixty days but |
think she did a good job. l love the
wild things just as much as ever, but
I've learned that there are duties fell
low owes to himself and to other PEG
pie, If he'll only stop and think them
out. I've found out, too. that the right
thing is usually the hardest to do. Oh,
I've improved lot"
Gee, but you're popular with your
self. / don't see as II helps your looks
any. You're as homely as ever-an
what good does 1t do you. after all?
She'll marry that big guy"
81 know. That's what rankles, for
he's no more worthy of her than / am.
She'll do what's right, however, you
may depend upon that and perhaps
she'll change him the way she did me.
Why, she worked miracle in my at
titude toward llfe-my manner
ooh, your manners are good enough
rs they Law" interrupted the other.
"You never did eat with your knife"
"I don't believe In harakirt" Glen
lister laughed.
mo, when II comes TO intimacies
with decorum. you're right on the job
along with any of them fasteners. !
watched you close at them Frisco
hotels last winter. and. say, you know
as much as a horse. Why, you was