The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-29
CHAPTER Xxx.

Who looks a mustang in the eyez
Changety. chang. chang Bash! Crash!
Bang!
So sang Bibbs, his musical gayeties
inaudible TO his fellow workmen be
cause Of the noise of the machinery
He had discovered long ago that the
uprOar was rhythmical, and il had
been intolerable; but, now, on the aft
ernoon of the fourth day OF his return.
he was accompanying the swing and
clash Of the metals with jubilant va
quero fragments, mingling imprOvfsa-
tions of his own among them, and
hooking the zine eaters crash with
vocal limitations:
Fearless and bold.
Chang! Bashl Behold
With a leap from the ground
To the saddle in a bound.
And away-and away!
Hi-yay.
The long room was ceaselessIy thun-
dering with metallic sound; the air
was thick with the smell of oil: the
floor trembled perpetually; everything
was implacabIy in motiOn-nowhere
was there a rest for the dizzied eye.
The first time he had entered the place
Bibbs had become dizzy instantly, and
six months OF it had only added in
creasing nausea to faintneSs- But he
felt neither now "Ail day long I'll
send my thoughts to you. You must
keep remembering that your friend
stands beside you" He saw her there
beside him, and the greasy. roaring
place became suffused with radiance
The poet was happy in his machine
shop; he was still a poet there. And
he fed his old zinc eater. and sang:
Away-aRd away!
Hi-yayi
Crash. bash. crash bash. chang!
Wild are his eyes.
Fiercely he diesi
Hi-yayi
Crash. bash. bang Bash. changi
Ready 10 fling
Our gloves in the ring
81 like the machine" said Bibbs
ave made a friend of it. serenade
it and talk to 1t. and then it talks back
TO me-"
Indeed. indeed? What does it say?'
what l want to. hear
He was unaware of a sensation that
passed along the lines Of wOrkmen-
Their great master had come among
them. and they grinned to see him
standing with Doctor Quincy behind
the unconscious Bibbs. Sheridan nod
ded to those nearest him-he had per
sonaI acquaintance with nearly all Of
them-but he kept his attention upon
his son. Bibbs worked steadily, never
turning from his machine. Now and
then he varied his musical program
with remarks addressed to the zinc
eater
Go on. you old crash-basher! Chew
it up It's good for you, if you don't
| try TO bolt your vittles. Fletcherize.
you pig! That's right-you'n never
get lump in your gizzard- Want some
more? Here's a nice, shiny one"
The words were indistinguishable. but
| Sheridan inclined his head TO Quincy
ear and shouted fiercely: ''TaIkin' to
himselfI By George
Quincy laughed reassuringly. and
shook his head.
Bibbs returned to song.
Chang. Chang. bash. chang! It's I!
Who looks a mustang in the eyeE
| Fearless and DO
His father grasped him by the arm
"Herep' he shouted. Let me show
you how TO run a strip through there
The foreman says you're some better n
you used to be. but that's no way to
handle Get out the way and let me
show you once"
Better be careful Bibbs warned
him. stepping to one side
/ s.C,-of,,i9 Rob'P Sheridan Seized
strip OF zine from the box What
you taIkin' to yourself about? Tryin'
to make yourself think you're so
abused you're goin' wrong in the
headT"
".Abused?' Nor shouted Bibbs. 81
| was singing-because like it! 1 told
You I'd come back and like il