The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-25

HNTI llllO kllC llNLNiNi Nil n
80 ness OF carly night. On
EE E.ssss::::;:..:::::.71 ~ one side Of him line
after line of freight cars
in the railroad yards stretched away inter
m;nably, with here and there switch
engine putting ndustriously at its work OF
tearing down and making up trains.
The car by which Martin stood was an
empty refrigerator bound to California for
fruit. He knew this for the switchman had
told him so. 1t was important to Martins
purpose that car which would leave Rock;
port Immediately upon a far journey, should
be over here on this most distant track at
the most unirequcnted spot in the yards,
where there was easy approach by an unfrc-
quented road lying on the outskirts of the
city.
Martin an n Of large stature. From
time to time he bent a listening ear in the
direction OF the highway. At last his vigil
was rewarded with the honk OF an auto
mobile horn. Ii was not bosterous honk,
but tremulous and inquiring. John an
swered with a shriil whistle which burst out
OF the night like a whip-poor-will song.
There came bolder, answering honk, and
then the muilled cylinders family pulsng
out there in the night were hushed entirely.
Three minutes later the watcher made out
the forms of two men approaching across
the gullies and cinder heaps from the road.
They advanced with abored, stumbling
strides as il they carried 4 burden. Pres
entity they reached the tracks and deposited
in the ditch beside them the sensclcss body
n man.
He weighs a ton, puffed one Of them.
Two by goly.' affirmed the other.
Martin struck a match and held it over
the face. A flushed, hard countenance it
was, and unshaven, with straggly nous
tache and two or three yellow teeth that
appeared between tobacCo-stained lips. The
clothes were rough. The hands were large
and tool marked Before the mouth the
,netch flickercd and went suddenly out.
How many?" asked John.
cone more, , replied one Of the men.
i'Well, get him over here quick, urged
the big man, with a voice Of authority
"This scab is heayiern the other, by
trInder, declared one, as they dumped the
Sc ,oEd body unccrcmonioS5Y upon top of
the lrs- il Ia. Iitl1 gc.,er AZ The end Of
ths ties.
Heavy &c lad, @GL.aod his conrade,
solemnly.
A yard engine rumbcd slowly down upon
them and stopped at the end OF the string
which was three or four car lengths away.
A switchman swung off the foot-board and
sauntered up, lantern in hand. He chuckled
as he flashed his light above the limp forms
in the gutter.
"How'd you get en- out 50 nice2" he
asked.
"Ground floors a quart Of whiskcy,"
pended one Of the bearers. "Put in 4
few little ingrcjnts beside and you've got
dope enough 10 knock q dozen of EN- into
dreamland for two days. We only got a
couple tonight, but the scheme worked.
The girls are onto the game proper now, and
VIC II get You a carload tomorrow night"
"Say, but you fellows are all right, amt
yol?" observed the switchman, surveying
IN three with look of hearty admiration.
lie had pulled the car door back, and now
deposited his lantern upon the ties Each
OF the four men seized a hand or a leg, and
with a " "Heave-o-heave,' sent first one and
then the other OF the inert forms humping
in upon the hard car floor Each grunted
sIeepily for a moment as the unsensing
limbs and torsos relaxed in their chanceposi-
tions, and then their deep and stertorous
breathing began again
The switchman trundled the door shut
but did not iasten it.
"Wherc'll they be when they wake up3 ~
asked Martin.
"Oh, somewhere's out in Kansas ol
Nebrasky," ehortled the switchman, sig
mailing with his lantern, and then swinging
onto the car as it began TO move.
John Martin clapped an approving hanC
on the shoulder of each OF his two helpers
but uttered no word as he took the leaC
in the direction of the motor car. WheI
they reached it two women were shiverinj
in the tonneau.
ooh, Lord Mr.. Martin, but we're gla'
TO see you,n exclaimed one of them.
"WeI" calculated Martin, honestly
"Pm glad to see you. You've done goo
work tonight"
The lady was Miss Annie Riley, Secre
tary Of the Laundry Workers Union.
"My friend, Miss Eberhart, Presiden
OF the Regalia Makers Local. she saif
introducing her companion.
Both ladies were chewing gum
c"Was it very hard?" queried Martin.
",Shucks, no." answered Miss Eberhar
"Them guys fell for us in minute. W
just bumped up against 'em on Fort Stree