The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-09-18

btHf0nE, poor SyuI-T-l. hau W.
money saved up for this, but Katy got
diphtheria an that tuck it all, so now
haven't clint; an I'm OWN a good
bit around, too.
"Ah, well, he continued philosophic-
ally, as he picked up the heavy slice
bar and tackled the first OF his dirty
fires. ITS good have a stiddy job.
After the fires were cleaned and the
fire.room washed down, Mike re-
marked to his mate:
81 amt had a wink O. sleep these
two nights; I'm filter ter be home In
bed today than afore these bilers.
with this rotten coal; but ] dsssent
lose no time now for spell"
The conversation was interrupted By
the opening of the engineFoom door
a bare crack. A hand and the griz-
zled beard OF old Ferguson, the chlet'
-prctruded for a brief instant.
Hey, ketch this!" he called In
stage whisper, as he flung his pipe Anto
the yawning emptiness OF the hre-
room with fatalistic confidence that
was inspiring. -
It 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 fery-tempered official occasion 10
berate all concerned. Now. Nike couio
hear his pitched voice, reading
the riot act to the chief inside
After half an hour, the tumult with
in having subsided, it was believed
"His Nibs" had gone without bother
ing their department an always hopeo
for. but seldom realized experience.
Mike threw his brass-cleaning equip
ment in q 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 dozeo
or, standing upright as he was.
Suddenly the engine-room door was
flung wide open. A tail, bony, stoop--
shouidered man, his face nearly hidden
by e. fiery red broom of q, beard, stood
suuarely In the doorway. both hands
in his overcoat pockets, glaring saw
egely into the fire-rOom.
The super's eyes at once nailed the
sloeping man. Not facial culver be-
trayed his intentions. Slowly, deliber-
ately, he entered the fire-room ana
traversed its length, scanning every
detail with quick, comprehensive
| glance.
A long, bony finger shot out from
the superintendents side and bored q
hole betweea Mikes ribs. The big
freman's eyes came open slowly. and.
to a disinterrsted spectator the trans
formation that passed over HIS feat-
ures would have appeared comi 'aI.
"Hey, how long have you been
here?"
"S-o-r-r?" asked bewildered Nike.
How long have you worked hereE'
Coin on eight years, SOFT.
What time do you get rslieVehE
at twilve o'clock, SOFT.
IAN right; when you go out, you
stay out, do you heaIg'
"Yis, orr
AS the superintendent titted away
to deal to Darby and the coai-passer
their respective doses OF venom. II
suddenly dawncd upon Mike that ne
was discharged. The spirit OF murder
welled up in his heart, but he re-
strained IL. Nobody had ever accom-
plished anything BY an appeal to HIS
Nibs. except TO add to that amiaDie
gentIeman's eratlfication-but Mixes
need was desperate.
For the sake OF Norah and the baby.
he would humble himself. Choking
back the desire to kill, he feigned hui
mility and approached the tyrant.
"Av ye plass. E-o-r-r, Mr.
Get out-get out don't want any
talk from you; your steam is two
pounds low now"
But. s-o-r-r. on'y wanted ter Al
ye-''
shut up-shut up, | tell ye--ge'
away from me; you're drunk"
Having thus glibly pronounced the
doom OF family. His Nibs hastenec
TO the office of the chief lineman, his
appetite for blood merely whetted.
AS Mike packed up the traps thai
had accumulated ih his closet during
his more than seven years incum
bency, he kept muttering to himself
AN me wild on'y wan days pa!
ARMED"
When the relief came in at noon
Billy Doyle slapped him on the shoL