The Lamar register., 1919-06-04
731e
Roundup
M
tCopyright.)
BY ROBERT w. cREEL

anu, as such. lie Travelled by no schedule
whatever. To ordinarily find him at
any given time. you might inquire on
any railway division in America with
equal chance of success.
IT, reminded you of that Insect
afhiable disposition and atten-
uated appearance have won for 1t the
sobriquet of grand nd-daddy-longlegs."
Hence. Browns own nickname. Not
withstanding his fragile proportions.
however. when occasion arose lie could
WELD his huge fists with force sutii-
cient TO fracture Jaw-bone or drive
4 mans ear into the side of his head-
fact that had been demonstrated to
the sorrow OF more than one belliger-
ent hobo.
As the long train of HAT cars wrlthed
In and out among the sand hills,
Brown. stationed a short distance
ahead OF the caboose. was the only per-
son visible.
AT the last stop. Murphy. the CON
ductor, had received "A telegram warn
ing him to be prepared for an attack
when they entered Sandville. A large
number OF hoboes were gathered there
and had taken possession of the town.
explaining TO the unhappy citizens the
necessity of majority rule, If the re
publican form Of government was To he
maintained in the land.
Previous experience similar to this
had detracted from the novelty OF the
situation for the few inhabitants of
Sandville: but the hnboes We're becom-
Ing bolder. and spoke Of capturing the
next train that came thither for the
purpose Of making their escape.
Whereupon the station agent had
grown alarmed and sent the telegram.
Among his other characteristics.
Brown was intensely loyal TO the road
that CHANGED to employ him. Any ac-
tion such as that contemplated by the
hoboes was resented as n personal af-
front. Furthermore. at this particular
time he knew that the president OF the
road was but Il few hours behind in
his special. and Brown deemed II his
duty TO do all In his power to prevent
any unpleassntness when the great
man should arrive.
Therefore as they drew near the
little hamlet he returned to the ca
boose and conferred with the condue-
tor.
'-They's no use runnin' clear In.
Jim. You better stop ON the edge of
this here metropolis while | go In an
reconnoiter the force Of the enemy, as
they say In the army"
II wouldn't advise you to go alone,
Legs. You can't tell what those boes'll
do II they're drunk"
why, Jim. you know them fellers re
like sheep. The only reason can see
for 'em actin like this Is because they
got a leader. II that's the case, all |
got TO Is to sling him around like he
didn't cost much. an that'll take the
fight right out OF 'em. Besides. II a
bunch of us go In. they'll Eit ready for
trouble"
'All right. you can go while We stop
for water ThatTl give you time to
see what they're up to-"
So II was that. on foot and unaccom-
panied. Legs Brown ambled into the
captured town. He had no doubt as
to the location Of the triumphant ho-
boes. for. though IL was now almost
dark. the only place that showed
light was the saloon. and to this he di-
rected his steps.
At the bar stood u swarthy, well-set
fellow. whose curly hair and high
cheek-bones. together with the pecu.
liar formation of his head. marked him
as Il native Of Poland. This worthy
was the most boisterous of the lot, but
Brown thought 1t hardly likely that
he was the leader. giving him scant
attention, therefore, AS he strobe for
ward and ordered drink.
Here, ye rube, We better ask me fer
what ye want, r I'll break ye In two"
said the tramp aggresslvely. pausing
in the act OF raising a glass to his lips.
Brown. reaching for his own drink.
seemed not to hear the words. but his
prodigious foot. as II released from a
spring. suddenly swept up, and. strili-
ing the others hand threw the glass.
with Its contents, into his scowling
face.
A storm OF laughter arose from the
onlookers, who swore. with mighty
caths that 1t was the funniest thing
they had ever seen. The victim, how
ever, laughed not at all. but beloved
with rage and pain as the fiery liquid
scared his eyes. and repeatedly yelled
for Brown to come near.
Not desrous of being mastcated.