Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.

carrying his years. which showed only
in the CRAVING mustache and chin beard,
and his hundred and eighty pounds OF
well set-up bone and muscle jauntiIy
Now, as always, he was the beau ideal
OF the industrial field officer; handsome
In a clean-cut masculine way, a type of
NIsor-Dut also, II the signs Of the full
race ana the eager eyes We're to be re-
garded. or the elemental passions
angelic rumor limited that he was
periodic drunkard; he was both more and
less than that Like many another man,
henry Gridley lived a double life: or.
perhaps 1t would be nearer the truth to
say That there were two Henry Cridleys
L.ogerwood. the Dawsons. the little world
or Angels at large, knew the yiriIe. ac-
complished mechanical engineer and mas
ter or men, which was his normal per
sonality. What time the other personal
ltY. the elemental barbarian, yawned
stretched itself and came awake, the IN
speakabie dens OF the Copah lower quar-
ter 1nSulfed him until the nether-man
mad gorged himself on degradation
10 MS men tiridley was q tyrant. ex-
actlns but just: ruling them. as the men
the mailed fist. Yet there was a. human
hand inside of the steel gauntlet, as all
men knew Having once beaten a bully
ing gang-hoss into the hospital at Den
W, ~, Hdd promptly charged himself
with the support of the mans family
other generous roughnesses were re-
corded of him. and if the attitude of the
men was somewhat tempered by whole
some fear. it was none the less loyal
Hence, when he entered the roundhOuse
Industrious silence supplanted the dis
cuSSlOn of the superintendent's case
iianc1ng at the group of enginemen, and
swapping out a curt criticism of Broad
bents slOwness on the valve seats he
Dock0ne6 he
charged engineer had followed him
across the turntable. he faced about and
said. not too crsply, so your sins have
found you out one more time, have they,
John?'
Judson nodded.
What is it this time, thirty days?"
Judson shook his head gioomily. NO.
l m down and out
"Iidgerwood made it final, did he?
Well, you can't blame him.
you hain't heard me sayin' anything,
nave you?' was the surly rejoinder.
No. but it isn't in human nature to
forget these little things Then. sud-
denly: Where were you day before yes
terday between noon and l o'clock-about
the time you should have been taking
your train out?"
Judson had needlelike mind when the
alcohol was out of it, and the sudden
query made him dissemble
About 10 O'Clock / was playin' pool in
Raferty's place with the butt end of the
cue. After that things got kind O. hazy.'
We'll. L want you to buckle down and
think hard. Don't you remember 6oing
over to Cat Biggs' about noon, and sit
ting down at one of the empty card
tables to drink yourself stiff"
Judson could not have told. under the
thumb screws. why he was prompted to
tell Gridley plain lie. But he did it,
Il can't remember" he denied. Then
the needle-pointed brain got in it's word,
and he added, 'Why?"
to dinner. You called me in to tell me
what you were going to do to Lidger-
wood II he slated you for getting drunk.
Don't you remember it?''
Judson was looking the master-me-
chanic fairly In the eyes when he said,
No, 1 don't remember a thing about
that"
TRY again. said Gridley, and now
the shreWd gray eyes under the brim of
the soft-rolled felt hat held the engineer
helpless.
Il guess-I do-remember it-now" said
Judson. slowly. trying. still Intellectually.
to break Gridley's masterful eyehold
upon him.
II thought you would" said the mas
ter-mechanic, without releasing him.
and you probably remember. also that
1 took you out into the street and started
you home
Yes" said Judson. this time without
hesitation.
well. keep on remembering it; you
went home to Maggie and she put you to
bed. That is what you are to keep in
mind
Judson had broken the curious eye-grip
at last, and again he said "Why?"
Gridley hooked his finger absenty in
the engineers buttonhole.
Because, II you don't. a man named
Rufford says he'll start a lead mine in
you. l heard him say 1t last night-over-
heard him. / should say. That's all
The master-mechanic passed on. going
out by the great door which opened for
the locomotive entering-track. Judson
hung upon his heel for moment. and
then went slowly out through the tool
room and across the yard tracks to the
Crows Nest.
He found McCloskey in his office above
stairs, mounting and grimacing over the
string board of the new time table.
"Well?" growled the trainmaster when
he saw who had opened and closed the
door. Come back to tell me you've
sworn off? That won't go down with Mr..
Lidgerwood. When he fires he means
it,"
You wait till l ask you for my job
back again. won't you. Jim McCloskey?"
asked it yet; and what's more, I'm
sober"
Sure you are" muttered McCloskey.
You'd be better natured with a drink or
two in you. What's doing?"
That's what l came over here to find
out said Judson. steadily. What is the
boss going to do about this fiare-up with
Bart Rufford?'
The trainmaster shrugged.
You've got just as many guesses as
anybody, John. What you can bet on is
that he will do something different"
Judson had slouched to the window
When he spoke it was without turning
his head.
You said something yesterday morning
about me feeling for the boss throat
along with that gang up town that's try
ing TO drink itself up to the point of hit
ting him back. 1t don't strike me that
way, Mac
How does it strike your"
Judson turned slowly. crossed the room
and sat down in the only vacant chair.
You know what's due to happen. Mac.
Rufford won't try it on again the way
he tried it night before last. l heard up
town that he has posted his defi-Mr.
Lidgerwood shoots him on sight or he
shoots Mr.. Lidgerwood sight. You
can figure that out. can't your?
Not knowing Mr.. Lidgerwood much
better than you do, John, I'm not sure
that 1 can
well, it's easy. Bartll walk up to the
boss in broad daylight drop him and
then fill him full O. lead after he's down.
I've seen him-saw him do it to Bixby
Mr.. Brewsters foreman at the Copper
ette.''
Say the rest of, it, commanded Nc
Closkey.
I've been thinking. While I'm laying
round with nothing much to do. believe
\ &c.. st