The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-11-25
For a
Dollar Bill
BY ALEX S. .BRiSCOE
tCopyright.J


coat looked with dlsfavor upon the
unkempt figure that slouched into the
Acme lunchroom, and, as he waddled
over TO take the order, flip of a rat
hand shot cracker-bowl out of reach
or the newcomers grimy fingers.
1t. was not that he objected to the
soiled garb and unwashed person of
the new customer-railroad freight
train crews on their runs were his
principal patrons-but there was -S
something repellent about the thick
bulk of the man studying the bill of
fare painted on the wall.
I Fried eggs" the man growled in a
I voice that matched his suriy coun-
! tenance.
"How?" was the brief query of the
iunchroom man.
sunny side up-slnkers-cof
Out of the corner of his eye he kept
wary watch on the other patron.
1t had happened In the past that
persons had eaten his food. then de-
parted hastily into the night, forget
ting the formallty of paying.
He summed up his estimate in the
one word-'yegg."
The three railroad men had finished
their meal and were matching coins to
see who should pay. Larkin, the front
brakeman, lost and swore fiuently as
he banged down a silver dollar.
That's my last bean until pay day."
AVnI
these days. Haven't got red in
three nights. Nothing doing since the
yokels quit trying to beat their way
back from the harvest fields with all
their wages. Only hoboes riding now.
and they'll pound ballast before they'll
dig up jitney."
The yegg-for the lunchroom man
mad correctly appraised him-stuffed
his paper napkin In his pocket and
fumbled in a pocket. From an old TO-
bacco pouch he drew forth a dollar
bill and two dimes. The coins he laid
on the counter.
Cut O. plug" he said.
AS his yellowed teeth, fanglike In
ueir length, worried generous sec
tion from the square of black tobacco
the man flashed glance at Larkin.
Ihe look from under his sullen
bfows was that Of vicious dog dis
turbed gnewing a bone He had over
heard the railroad mans remark about
huboes.
Frisco Red" hobo, yeggman. hater
OF work for mere wages, and wanted
by the police of many cities, a few
minutes later sat in the shadow of a
water tank. waiting for the two short
blasts of the locomotives whistle that
would give warning No. o was about
to pull out.
Across the sky to tne west cut the
white lance of the head i;ht of the
fast mail, for the passing q which the
freight had been laid out ON the siding.
There came crunch of gravel. the
waverlng CLEAN of lantern, and the
yeggman shrank behind the tank. rec
ognizlng the shadow-exaggerated bulk
OF Larkln passing.
The fast train roared through and
Red stood erect.
Red darted across the narrow space
and caught the ladder of a box car.
lie had no inclination to take TO the
rods, Tor In coat pocket. carefully
wrapped In many thicknesses of pa
per, was bottle of thick, oily, vel.
iowish ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, the
"soup" of the safe-bower.
A few days before In Kansas Citv
when funds were low and "Pete.n the
lodglng-house keeper. had begun to
look upon him with unkindly eye. he
had received dingy scrawl from his
"sidekick," one Happy" Carmody.
reputed among his kind as the most
dependable, nerviest "outside man" in
the profession.
The letter had told of an easy lob
in Syracuse.
And so Red, gladdened by the news.
had swung a blind at Holiday. inst
outside the city. and was on his way
to met his partner.
The long train clattered and pound
ed over the frogs TO the main line, and
Red cautiously thrust his head over
the top OF the car.
A light flashed in his eyes and n
harsh voice greeted him.
On top Of the swaying car Larkin
thrust lantern into his face. There
always is something dlsconcerting
about n light held close to ones eyes
Red blinked.
Thought &C." said the brakeman.
with satisfaction. snow pony up with
that dollar bill II you want to ride
with me-"
The others face was stolid.
Broke, pal" he said.
Forget the stall !" came the savage
snarl OF Larkin. II saw Won flash n
In the lunchroom. Kick in" His
voice was a menace.
With quick movement Red reached
the brake-wheel, a strategic position
as 1t would afford hand-hold In case
of fight on the narrow roof.
Nothing doingl" he said fatty.