The Owosso times., 1920-11-19

stopping half an hour later, and when
II came to a painting pause he was at
the bottom. Of ladder, ready to drop.
A few yards out on the sage-brush
covered plain he lay fiat, watching the
lanterns that told of the search for
| him.
Again the train started, and he went
along, this time catching the rods un-
der an empty cattle car.
riding the rods" as a rule, is not
distasteful to the seasoned hobo, but
Red had proper respect for the con-
tents Of the bottle he carried.
Larkin had been on the watch and
/ had marked the car under which he
had swung.
Ten minutes later new note in the
metallic clamOr around him aroused
Red to action, and he worked his way
back over the rods until near the
swinging brake-beam.
! Stretching forth knotted fist, he
obtained a grip upon an iron brace.
foot below his body the roadbed fled
by.
A lurch that would tear him from
his hold meant death; but by dis
play Of strength almost incredible he
pulled himself across the gap from the
rods to the beam.
There, crOuching on the thick tim
ber, he strained his eyes, squinted to
avoid the dust, striving to pierce the
gloom i'm which that humping, whirl-
ing. pounding menace approached ever
| closer.
| "Set q drag for me-damn him J!
His voice was hoarse in its hate. I'll
get him I'll get him! !" he snarled.
Larllin had tied coupling-pin to
the end of length of wire and low
cred it beneath the cars. The heavy
piece of metal, rebOunding from the
ties. banged against the rods and floor
ing above with shattering force.
Had Red remained on the rods he
inevitably must have been knocked
from his hold, to fall under the greedy
wheels.
Slowly Larkin let out the wire to It's
extreme length and as slowly drew it
| back.
Then he hurled the drag from the
train and settled himself for a long
| ride, cursng the rule that prohibited
smoking on duty.
Under the car Frisco Red barred his
teeth in cOrnered-dog smile as the
flying pin approached within foot Of
his perch and then receded.
"Not enough wire Damn him! !" he
said "But I'll get him for thati"
While the train rumbled across the
Kansas prairie, Larkin sat with his
heels dangling over the edge Of car
roof and longed for cigarette, while
Frisco Red, clinging to the brake
beam, strove to protect his face from
stinglng bits Of ballast and nursed
lurid thoughts Of revenge.
The freight stopped after run Of
thirty miles, but Larkin did not even
| trouble to investigate whether the
man still was under the. car. He did
not think it WAS necessary. - ..
| When the train again was in motion
he had started toward the engine to
swap yarns with the cab crew, when
a bulky figure scrambled up from the
| bumpers and barred his path.
1t was Frisco Red
The railroad man did not hesitate.
| He did not need to be told what the
others intentions were. The attitude
of the squat, thick-set form was in It.
self warning.
AS Larkin paused the fireman
opened the engine furnace door, and
the glare that flashed down the length
of the train cleaned on weapon.
It was too late for Larkin to flee,
even had 1t been In his nature to do
so. The vengeful yeggman was hard
ly dozen steps away.
To run merely would invite bullet
in the back, and the brakeman was Of
the sort who prefer their wounds be
from the front!
He jumped forward, and the weapon
spoke.
A sudden lurch of the car sent the
bullet wide, but the gun again spat fire
in Larkn's face, and he felt sting in
his shoulder.
The yeggman was firing rapidly, the
spurts Of flame from his weapons
muzzle seemingly scorching the others
clothing. He was too close to miss.
Larlin knew he had been hit. hit
badly. perhaps fatally; but such was
his tremendous vitality, his brute cour-
age, that he kept advancing.
They now were but few PAGES
apart. Frisco Red, his pistol empty,
threw 1t in the others face and they
clinched.
Back and forth across the heaving
car top they struggled-two vicious
anipals gonenmad with rage!
Half the length Of the car they
rolled, twisting, g,"straining. heavy fists
battering,H and thick fingers clawing,
gouging. 90 The brakeman volleyed
curses. ~ Cad
The yeggman fought In silence, like
q man With fixed purpose-to slay
Larkin was the better wrestler. One
Of his long arms crept across the 9TH
er's back and caught wrist. In an