The evening world., 1916-06-05
CHAPTER ".
Larry pdVs His Score.

Larry rays HtS Score.
"1 lGifT In the mountains In the
I'M fall comes early. and 1t was al
ready dusk when. after reach
ing Angel and seeing the young
italian boy In hospital. where he
learned to his relief that Tommaso's
injuries were not serious. Larry re-
traced his steps down the main street
or tho little mountain town which
housed the divisional headquarters:
and. reaching the railroad station.
entered. and made his way upstairs,
heading for the paymaster's Office
that he shared with Mason.
lie pushed the door open and en-
tered the room. Tho oil lamp in tho
wall bracket was already lighted.
Lyall. the trainsmaster. and Ma
Glynn. one OF the despatchcrs. were
lounging in chairs, their feet up on
the window sill Mason was placing
some packages OF banknotes In the
safe.
1t was Mason who spoke.
''llello!" hs drawled ironically. 80
you're back. eh? heard you'd gone
up to the hospital for repairs?"
Lyall and MacGlynn screwed around
their heads, grlnned a little. and as
sumed u discreet stare out OF the
window.
Nothing TO say for yourself. eh?
Well. don't wonder!" continued Ma
son. affecting "A sharp, caustic official
tone for the benefit Of his visitors.
you've gone a little too far this
time. my man-so far that, though
you're in my department. you've gone
over my head. The super wants to see
you In the morning"
Larry made no reply. II was
paper kept dancing before his eyes.
and he had to keep reading over the
sentences he was writing to make
sure they made sense.
Il daro say you're. rather taken
with yourself over II at that!" re-
sumcd Mason. his thumbs seeking
their accustomed resting place in the
armholcS of his vest. Single handed,
Larry Lannigan beats up a gang OF
thirty mon-or something like that.
Ell? That's very nice! Marvellous! But
we've had "a fun report from Beaver
m-and what about the compGny's
property, eh? What about that?
what about the fire loss-the shanty
and the bunk house that the fire
spread 10 and that the crew OF the
work train couldn't save--what about
that? Some hcroics, all right"
The pen handle snapped like O.
toOthpock in Larrys fingers
You call yourself a railroad man.
snortcd Mason, Down where I come
from they'd call you just plain
damned nuisance! What I can't un-
dcrstand is"--he turned ingratiatingly
to the tra!nmastcr and MacGlynn-
"how YOU fellows out here have stood
for II az long as you have! What?
] thought the Wild and wooliy bad
man Of the West was only kept now
In cages at Coney Island and places
like that"
From tho railroad shops over
across the yards and tracks tho six
o'clock whistle doomed out raucously.
Lyall heaved up from his chair. fol-
lowed by the dispatcher.
II amt butting in on this, Mason"
said Lyall, "A litNe gruffly. When you
come to talkingNibout down East and
out hcre-I dunno! | like 1t pretty
good our hero mySclf-Or | wouldn't
stay. As for Larry there, him and me
aln't had any trouble 80 far, and nab
be- he's got his own story To tell the
super. | amt butting in. And, any
way, there's the whistle gone"
The two men crossed the room
threw Il good night" to Larry as they
passed his desk. and went out of the
UiflCe.
Larry did not answer them, did not
hear thcm-he was watching Mason
now with hungry, narrowed eyes.
with n disdainful grunt, Mason took
his hat from It's peg on the wall, put II
on. stepped to his desk. slammed down
the roll"r-top, reached out TO close tho
door OF the safe-and then Larry
spoke,
"Wat'" he said hoarseIy you're
not going home Yet. | want few
minutes with you, Mason"
Mason turned and srowled
You can say anything you've got to
say b the super-in the morning" he
snccrci.
II said" said Larry in a sort OF
deadly quiet, that | wanted a few
minutes with YOU" With the letter
that he had been writing in his han,
he roso from his desk. walked dellb-
oratcly across 10 ths door, turned the
key IN the lock. and slipped the ky
into his pocket,
Mason's face paled suddenly.
What do you mean by that" he
clustered, Put that key back in the
lock at unce-and open that door"
For answer Larry stepping quickly
toward tho other, laid the letter on the
top OF Mason's desk.
'Thrrr's my rcSignation!" - his
voice getting out Of control now. ITS
what you've been wantlnS--and now
you've got II, And now, you dirty
coyote, you're going to get something
else that you've been asking fort"
Mason's face from pale grew pasty
and he edged back until no bumped
against the wall.
What do you mean" he said
again, and wet his lips nervously
with the tip OF his tongue.
White-faced. quivering with a pas
sion that was rocking him 10 the soul,
Larry followed step for step.
A. a.