The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-17

we have the big
gest an han soonest baby on the plocA'
an that's no lie, says he.
"Im Worried about Norah, though
she amt bit we'll" Mike continued
the happy look of the proud father
giving way to the troubled one Of the
husband and provider.
81 don't like the way the docther
looks at her." he said. She's not
sthrong, poor gyur-rl. l had bit o
money saved up for this, but Katy got
diphtheria an that tuck it all, so now
haven't a clint; an I'm OWN gooo
bit around, too.
"Ah, WE'LL" he continued philosophlc-
ally, as he picked up the heavy sllce-
bar and tackled the first of his dirty
fires. its good have stiddy job
After the fires were cleaned and the
f1re-room washed down, Mike re-
marked to his mate:
81 amt had wink O. sleep these
two nights; Pm filter ter be home IN
bed today than afore these b'ilers.
with this rotten coal; but ! dassent
lose no time now for a spell
The conversation was interrupted by
the opening of the engine-room door
a bare crack. A hand and the griz-
zled beard of old Ferguson, the Chief
protruded for a brief instant.
Hey, ketch this!" he called in
stage whisper, as he flung his pipe into
the yawning emptiness of the hre-
room with a fatalistic confidence that
was inspiring.
| 1t seemed as if the entire plant al
ways ran with clock-like smoothness
and precision until the very minute
the superintendent entered on his in
spection tour; then the most unex-
pected things would happen, giving
that fiery-tempered official occasion TO
berate all concerned. Now, Mike could
hear his high-pitched voice, reading
the riot act to the chief inside.
After half an hour, the tumult with
in having subsidized, it was believed
His Nibs" had gone without bother
ing their department, an always hoped
for, but seldom realized, experience.
Mike threw his brass-cleaning equip
| ment in a corner and leaned against
the wall. He was completely worn out
The fire-room was warm and the air
heavy with evaporation from the wet
floor. Almost Immediately he dozed
of, standing upright as he was
Suddenly the engine-room door was
flung wide open. A tall, bony, stoop-
shouldered man, his face nearly hidden
by q fiery red broom of beard, stood
squarely in the doorway, both hands
in his overcoat pockets, glaring saw
agely into the fire-room.
The super's eyes at once nailed the
sleeping man. Not facial culver be-
trayed his intentions. Slowly, deliber-
ately, he entered the fire-room and
traversed it's length, scanning every
detail with a quick, comprehensive
glance.
A long, bony fingefl shot out from
the superintendent's side and bored
hole between Mikes ribs. The big
fireman's eyes came open slowly, and
to a disinterested spectator, the trans
formation that passed over his feat
ures would have appeared comical.
Hey, how long have you been
here?"
SORT" asked bewildered Mike.
How long have you worked here?'
y
What time do you get relieved!
"At twilve o'clock, SOFT"
"All right; when you go out, yor
stay out, do you hear?"
"Yis, SOFT"
AS the superintendent fitted away
to deal to Darby and the coal-passel
their respective doses of venom i
suddenly dawned upon Mike that M
was discharged. The spirit of murdel
welled up in his heart, but he re
s strained it. Nobody had ever accom-
plished anything by an appeal to Hi
- Nibs, except to add to that amlaDl'
. gentleman's gratification-but Nike
need was desperate.
For the sake of Norah and the baby
he would humble himself. Choking
back the desire to kill, he feigned hu
mility and approached the tyrant.
CAV ye phase, s-o-r-r, Mr.
Get out-get out don't want an,
talk from you; your steam is tw
pounds low now"
But, SORT. I on'y wanted ter a
ye-"
shut up-shut up, l tell ye-ge
away from me; you're drunk.
Having thus glibly pronounced tn
-~ doom of a family, His Nibs hastene
to the office of the chief lineman, hi
appetite for blood merely whetted.
As Mike packed up the traps tina
had accumulated in his closet durin
his more than seven years incun
bency, he kept muttering to himself
al AN me wild on'y wan days pa
e Armed"
u When the relief came in at moo
- Billy Doyle slapped him on the shou
h. der.
lc. Hello, Mike, what We lookin' so blu
en- about? Have His Nibs been troo?"