Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-03
Copyright. .a,a by Louis Joseph Vance

He repented quite promptly Mr
Barcus jumped for his throat with a
below of rage. The brakeman leaped
for his shovel and brandished it threat
eningly. Mr.. Barcus made nothing Of
that: he closed in without hesitation
and got the fireman by the throat, pro-
ceeding to shake the breath out of his
body with the greatest good will and
dispatch. In the course of this enter
tainment the fireman slipped on the
cab platform, trod on nothing, and
went over backwards. taking Mr.. Bar
Gus with him to the ballast.
At almost the same moment Mr..
Law, attempting to restrain the engi-
neer from going to the assistance of
his fellow-worker, dueked in under
vicious swing for his chin. grappled
with his foe. tripped him up-and went
with him to the ground on the oppo-
site side of the locomotive from that
occupied by Mr.. Barcus and the fire.
man.
For the next several seconds he was
very busy indeed keeping his face out
of the ballast. The engineer was
heavy man, but active and Infatuated.
He fought like a demon unclaimed. 1t
was all very exciting. Mr. Law was
even beginning to enjoy it when he
heard woman shrek. At the same
instant revolvers began to pop.
Mr.. Law released his foe almost as
quickly as he was released Both rose
as one man, to find Judith Urine be-
side them, little smile of excitement
playing round her lips as she looked
up the track and watched the special
SLOW down to a stop-several persons
on the back platform plying busy trig-
ger-fngers ali the while.
AS these last threw open the plat
form gates and dropped to the ballast,
sun perforating the air with many bull
let's, Mr.. Law, Miss Judith Urine. and
That late belligerent, the engineer.
turned simultaneously and sought the
rear Of the tender.
On the opposite side they found
Rose Urine and Mr.. Parcus standing
uncertainty above tie body of the fire.
man, who. it appeared, had stunned
himself in falling and remained in
sensible.
Inc appearance of Law and Judith
from behind the tender, closely pur-
sued by the engineer, who was in turn
closely pursued by gentlemen with re-
volVers, stirred Barcus and Rose to ac-
ton. Alan passed him at a round
pace, pausing only long enough to seize
Rose and drag her with him toward
the special. Judith fiung him phrase
OF well-meant advice in passing:
Come along, you simpleton-unless
you want to be shot down where you
stand!"
Mr.. Barcus acted on that advice, as
Immediately as resentfully. Judith
Trine was little before him at the
steps Of the Pullman: Mr. Law had al
ready assisted Rose aboard. Mr.. Bar
Gus ungraciously gave place to the
lady: his ingrained chivalry sorely
strained by bullets that kicked
among the ballast round his feet
mir. Barcus heaved a heartfelt sigh,
sat down heavily on a camp chair, and
mopped his heated brow, watching the
lights Of the locomotive drop swiftly
back into the cleaning.
IF any of those guys" he assured Mr..
Law presently, could hit barn door
with gatling gun at twenty naces-
well, ] wouldn't be proving myself the
giddy ass / am by sticking to your III
starred fortunes. There wouldn't be
any to stick to, because you'd have
been snuffed out long, long ago-with
all the chances they've had to blow
your fool head of, point blank"