Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
Copyright. 1910. by Charles Scribner's sons.)

would do something different: he did it,
bright and early this morning: went to
Jake Schleisinger. who had to try twice
before he could remember that he was a
justice of the peace. and swore out a
warrant for Ruffords arrest. on a charge
of assault with intent to kill
Sure said Judson, that's what any
man would do in q civilized country,
amt it?'
Yes. but not here, Jofn-not in the
redcolored desert. with Bart Rufford S
name in the body of the warrant
Il don't know why not insisted the
engineer. stubbornly. But go on with
the story; it amt any fairy tale so far"
when he'd got the warrant. Schlei-
| singer protesting all the while that Bart
d kill him for issuing it. Mr. Lidgerwood
took 1T to Hepburn and told him to serve
it. Jack backed down so fast that he
fell over his feet. Said to ask him any
thing else under Gods heavens and he'd
do it-anything but that
''Huh"' said Judson. IF I'd took an
oath to serve warrants I'd serve EN- IL it
did make me sick at my stomach" Then
he got up and shuff1ed away to the win
dow again. and when next he spoke his
voice was the voice of a broken man.
Il lied to you a minute ago. Mac.
did want my job back. / came over here
hopin that you and Mr.. Lidgerwood
might be seem things little different
by this time. I've quit the whisky"
McCIoskey wagged his shaggy head.
$50 you've said before, John, and not
once or twice either
II know. but every man gets to the
bottom some time I've hit bed rock, and
I've Just barely got sense enough to know
it. Let me tell you, Mac, I've pulled
trains mighty near every railroad in
| this country-and then some. The Red
Butte is my last ditch. With my record
I couldn't get All engine anywhere else
in the United States. Can't you see what
! I'm up against"
| The trainmaster nodded. He was hui
man.
well. it's Maggie and the babies now"
| Judson went on. They don't starve,
Mac. not while I'm on top of earth.
Don't YOU reckon you could make some
sort of play for me with the boss, Jim?
He's got bowels.
| ity of the Christian name. neither did
he hold out any hope of reinstatement
NO, John. One or two things I've
learned about Mr.. Lidgerwood-he doesn't
! take back anything he says in cold blood
| I'm afraid you've cooked your last
| goose"
Let me go in and see him. He amt
| half as hard-hearted as you are, jim"
| The trainmaster shook his head. NO
! it won't do any good / heard him tell
Hallock not to let anybody in on him
! this morning.
him keep that Judson broke off alb
| ruptly. pulled his hat over his eyes, and
| said. .'Reckon It's worth while to shove
me over to the other side, Jim Nc
| Closkey?"
What other sde?" demanded Nc
Closkey.
Judson scoffed openly you amt max
ing out like you don't know, are you?
Who was behind that break Of Rufford's
last night?'
There didn't need to be anybody be-
| hind it. Bart thinks he has a kick COM
ing because his brother was discharged"
Tell me. Mac. did you ever see me too
drunk to read my orders and take my
signals?"
mo. don't know as 1 have"
"Well, I never was. And / don't often
get too drunk to. hear straight, either,
even If 1 do look and act like the big
gest fool God ever let live. l was in Cat
Biggs' day before yesterday noon, when
ought to have been down here taking
POP east. There were two men in the
back room putting their heads together.
don't know whether they knew l was
on the other side of the partition or not.
| If they did they probably didn't pay any
attention to a drivelin' idiot that couldn't
wrap his tongue around an order for
more whisky"
60 on snapped McCloskey. almost
viciOusly.
They were talking about fixing the
boss. One of 'em was for the slow and
safe way-small bets and good many OF
em. The other was for pulling a straight
l said no, that things were moving along
all right. and it wasn't worth while to
rush Then something was said about
woman I didn't catch her name. or
Just what the hurry man said about her,
only it was something about Mr.. Lidger-
woods bein' in shape to mix up In It,
that No. 1 Topped over. Pull it off
whenever you like! says he. savagelike.
McCloskey sprang from his chair and
lowered over the smaller man.
"One of those men was Bart Rufford;
who was the other one Judson?'
Judson was apparently unmoved
you're forgettin that | was plum fool
drunk. Jim l didn't see either one OF
en-.
But you heard?''
Yes, one of em was Rufford, as you
saw. and up to a little bit ago I'd a been
ready to swear to the voice OF the one
you haven't guessed. But now can {.
.'Why can't you do it now?'
(To be continued tomorrow
Shock and the Hair