Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-05
THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
BY VAUGHAN KESTER
Copyright, 1912, The Bobbs Merrill Company

Ldngham glanced out into the
gloom, where swollen by the recent
rains the stream spashed and whirled
between its Steep banks.
Yes, way up!" he answered.
AS he spoke ne stepped close to
Montgomery side and raised his
voice.
stop d bit" said Joe halting. Il
shan't need this now and he drew
the piece of gaspipe from his trousers
pocket I'D have hammered the life
out of Andy tiilmore.'' he said, as he
tossed the ugly bludgeon from him.
you haven't told me where YOU
have been" said Lansham, and once
more he pressed close TO Montgomery,
so close their elbows touched.
The handy-man moved little to
one side.
Where amt l been, you better ask,
boss" he said. II seen more rotten
cities and more rotten towns and
more rotten country than you can
shake a stick at; God Almighty knows
what's the God If it'll dunno!
Everybody ] seen was strangers to
me. never a face | knowed anywhere;
Chicago, Kansas city, St. Louis,
Denver-to hell with 'em all, boss:
old Mount Hopes good enough for
mel" And the handy-man shrugged
his huge slanting shoulders.
Don't go so fast, Joel" Langham
cautioned. and his eyes searched the
darkness ahead of them.
ITS a risky business for you,
boss" said the handy You
amt used to this bridge like me-
do you always come this way?"
asked Langham.
shapes, drunk or sober, winter or
summer" said the handy man.
Zone wouldn't have much chance if
he slipped off here tonight" said
Langham with shudder.
Mighty little.'' agreed Montgom-
cry Say, step over, boss-we want
to keep in the middle! There-thats
better; l was clean outside the rail. :"
Can you swim % asked Langham.
Never swum a stroke. The dirt's
good enough for me. / got notion
that these here people who are always
dippin' themselves are just naturally
filthy Look at me, handy man,
doing all kinds of odd jobs, who's got
a better right to get dirty-but leave
1t alone and it wears off. I'm blame
certain you won't find many people
that fool away less money on soap
than lust met said Joe with evident
satisfaction. 1.-THE old woman's up"
he cried, as he caught the glimmer Of
IL. IL.
Perhaps unconsciously. he quick
ened his pace.
Not so fast. joel" gasped Lang
ham,
. ooh. all right, boss!' responded
Montgomery.
Langham turned to him quickly,
but as he did so his foot struck the
cinder ballast of the roadbed.
Good night, bossl" said Joe, his
eyes fixed on the distant light.
watt" said Langham imperiously.
What for?" demanded Mont
gomery.
",rhe water made such a noise I
couldn't talk to you out on the
bridge" began Langham.
"Well, 1 can't stop now, boss" said
the handy-man, turning impatiently
from him.
Eyes, damn you-you can-and
wilI!' and Langham raised his voice
to give weight to his words.
Montgomery rounded up his shout
ders.
Don't you try that, boss! Andy
Gilmore could shout me down and
cuss me out, but you can't; and I'll
peel the face off you If you lay hands
on mel" He thrust out a grimy fist
and menaced Langham with it. There
was a brief silence, and the handy
man swung about on his heel.
Good night, bossl" he said over
his shoulder as he moved off.
Langham made no answer but long
after Joe's shuffiing feet had died
away In the distance he was still
standing there irresolute and un-
decided, staring fixedly off into the
darkness that had swallowed up the
haIiag- mans hullSlng figure.
M3ariiaontgomery, muttering some
wh3 is adj wagging his head. con-
and yo,