The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-23
THE
INITIATIVE
OF
POKES
By WALT MAKEE


Copyright. by J. B. Lippincott Coz
III wasn't afraid o. losin' me
job" the boy began sullenly as he
faced the conductor with clenched
fists.
Garvin Of No. had brought him
into the baggage car by the ear-an
organ that had been at once soundly
cuffed. But the little tralnboy was as
game as he dared to be.
I'm mindin' me business all right,
he ended lamely.
Shut up! No impudence from you,
you curly-headed alley-brat!" Garvin
lowered over him, lingeringly, as
though to give him time to interpret
his narrow, threatening look. 81 got
a cussed good notion to kick you of
at Rawlings and let you sleep on a
station bench for the rest of the
night. That's what you deserve. It's
the likes o. you that's always keeping
US in hot water. Just you give me an
other scare like that"
Briggs, the baggageman, looked up
from a trunk check he had pretended
to read, with the face of a man who
had passed through an ordeal, grimly
holding his emotions in subjection. He
hurled a half whispered oath at the
rear door, threw down the trunk be-
fore him, and sat upon It, For a mo-
ment he looked at the sturdy young
ster as he stood in the middle of the
car swaying to the roll of it. The
jaunty blue uniform, the peaked cap
tilted slightly backward, the lowered
brows, the set expression, the curly
blonde head the face flushed by con-
tact with the winter winds, the legs
apart, the determined little fists rest
ing upon the hips-the whole com.
manding attitude recalled sea-going
days to Briggs. Why, Pokes might
have been Captain Corson in minia.
ture, scorning the rails of a gale-swept
bridge! He was very proud of Pokes. |
He liked him for his courage; he
liked him because he dared to be him
self. They had all been proud of
him. except Garvin, ever since the
night of the incident that gave Pokes |
his name; the night the begoggled !
spiaster-looking person had bitingly
objected to having "unpurchasable .
products pcked into her lap" and the !
youngster had returned her insult
with kindness, looking to her every
comfort in an unobtrusive way for the
rest of the run, bringing ice water to
her, moving her luggage, and showing
the hundred and one little attentions
that an unescorted woman needs in
travelling. And he had crowned his
victory by politely refusing to accept
her generous tip when he had carried
her two heavy grips from the car at
Cleveland and placed them in a cab.
But something had come over
Pokes He wasn't like his old self.
Briggs had noticed it, and Briggs
would admit himself a none too OBJ.
serving man. Pokes was losing his
nerve, and to Briggs, nerve was the
greater part of true manhood
I'm a bit ashamed of you, Pokes,"
Briggs said at last What was the
matter anyway"
Steps was icy. | knew that I'd
"a been all right if he hadn't yelled
his lungs out didn't understand
what he yelled and | turned to find
out. My feet went under But | had
a grip on the guards all right. He
makes me sore"
81 was only waitin' for you to give
the cue and I'd "a landed him one he
wouldn't forget quick"
"And we'd a. been laid off"
Briggs stared at him as though he
had heard Alright. What do you care
for that? There's always a place in
the world for the fellow what's got his
nerve with him. l guess l worked a
few before | ever thought of rail
roadin, and guess I'll work till the
horn blows, railroadin' or no rail-
roadin'. You might think, to hear you
talk, that the only chance you was
ever goin' to have was to sell sticky
stuff to suckers. Amt you got no am
bition about ye? You don't suppose
you're goin' to be trainboy all your
life, do ye? Where's yer nerve, any
way?"
It's takin' more O. my nerve to hold
this Job down, JUS now. than 1t would
take to lose it."
Briggs turned to his waybills but in
doing so he saw how empty the cor
ner was where Pokes kept his wares. s
His curiosity was aroused. s
why ye're sold out, amt ye?" he /
asked. t
Pokes affirmed with a nod 1
well, what are ye jumpin' off at a
he stations for, then?" a
I'm lookin for telegram, for one a
hing" t
Telegram" obviously. Nov who's il