The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-10-11


a half hobo that travels with his bed
ding and is %'rlstocratic In his predilec-
tions for box cars instead Of riding q
brake beam. Likewise he cavils at
the blind baggage. Well. I'm Jest get
ting fixed 10 count my money when
we pull into n siding in the foothills
and stop. l hear a voice outside.
whoa, Balaam!'
81 see the head Of a burro looking In
the car door. inquiring and sleepy.
Somehow | allus want to laugh when
look a burro In the face. he's that
simple and unassuming and Have
you-used-P lum's-soap' looking. but l
don't do II. because | know he's got
me sized up proper and has OWNED
all my weaknesses and secret faults
and IS criticising me from my No. II
feet to my No. 6 hat.
This IN is carrying a pack, and
there's a man with him. The Teller
yanks Off the pack saddle. throws II I'm
the car. then h'ists Mr.. BALKAN In and
Chambers aboard himself. When | get
a square look nj him | r~eco'nize my
old friend MoJave Mike Buffers, the
foot racer. He's sure a baleful and
horrible sight. all poverty stricken and
destitute, but / don't say nothing, just
hitch back into the gloom and snore,
while he puts his blankets In the
other end OF the car. leads the animal
over and sets down. I'm holding out
on him a-purpose.
"We're I'm a big. empty furniture
car with both side and end doors. Ex-
celsior is all over the floor, which
proves a godsend TO Balaam, for he
thinks he's struck some kind OF blond
bunch grass. BY and by the brake
man comes projecting through and
sees Mike In his corner. with the jack
gorging himself. all contented and
pastural.
GLOW far you goingg' a y he.
END OF the division. Mike an
swers.
1.-TWO dollars apiece says he. We
charge full fare for mules
1.-TWO dollars apiecep says Mojaye.
Il don't like your classihcations, for
Balaam amt a mule nor | amt a
burro.'
"All right. Call him a hooking bird,
only give me $4.'
81 amt got it,
"'What! Well, get out OF this car.
G'wan. now, before | throw you out.
What you mean anyhow, crawling in
here broker
"Mr. Brakeman is some wrathy, but
Mike don't move, only TO reach cut
and get Balaam by the halter. The
brute is still eating s%ucculent punches
OF excelsior, dreamy and aminble,
while peace and friendship look out of
his brown eyes, and his tail swishes
with content. All is sunshine for
BALKAN.
Tout you so, you blamed hobo!
says the railroad man, making for
Mike.
"Look out! There amt going to be
doors enough In this car for your says
Mike. Aud, giving Balaam's halter a
twist, he says, Hist, boy!
"Balaam h'isted. He throwed down
his mouse colored head, and the whole
back end OF him come loose. lie sure
severed his connections and cut his
home ties. His little hoofs hit the
brakeman IN the stummick so that the
'whoofP like the squawk OF an auto
mobile horn. The gentleman riz w,
laid both hands upon Balaam's tracks
and sat down hard in the other cor
ner, then doubled up like he had only
one joint I'm his back, wrapped his
arms around himself three times and
began TO kick like a hen with It's head
cut of, while he made little gasping
noises like wind leaking into an old
pump. Mike scratched Balaam, and
the little Teller waggled his ears saga
cious, wlnking at me. meanwhile chew
ing the juice out OF another batch OF
shavings tina growed near by.
"'You sound like you was ripe
enough TO pick said Mike to the rail
roader. Il don't like 'em when they
20 "pank."'
ut seemed like the man couldn't
reach no amicable settlement with his
breath whatever, and II was ten min
nAtN btANiN hN AAAAhkNa % 100
tory working basis with IL. Then he
crawled out. h~iccoughing cuss words
and threats all hashed up like n beef
stew. In mebbe half an hour he come
back with his %pardner, but Mike was
iBtrenched behind BALKAN. The men
had sticks and tried 10 storm him, but
that donkey's buttress was plump inn
%pregnable. Compared TO him Port Ar
thur was as easy OF access as a polit-
ical meeting, and Gibraltar had signs
OF Welcome all over II. | never see
no real kicking before nor since. The
air growed congested and thick with
Il, and there was enough hoof in the
atmosphere at any minute to run n
glue factory for a year. Mike was
acting guuner's mate. finding the
ranges and aiming him like n pivot
gun. while the little Teller hitch kicked.
drop kicked. place kicked. punted and
] IfgIwAI -.AN g.. - nAIA H. 80.