The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-09-15
For a
Dollar Bill
BY ALEX s. BRISCOE
(Copyright-)

The night man in the soiled white
coat looked with disfavor upon the
unkempt figure that sIouched into the
Acme lunchro0m, and, as he waddled
over to take the order, a flip of a rat
hand shot a cracker-bowl out of reach
of the newcomers grimy fingers.
1t was not that he objected to the
sofled garb and unwashed person of
the new customer-railroad freight
train crews on their runs were his
principal patrons-but there was -@<
something repellent about the thick
bulk of the man studying the bill of
fare painted on the wall.
"Fried eggs" the man growled in
voice that matched his surly coun-
tenance
"How?" was the brief query Of the
lunchroom man.
Sunny side up-sinkers-coffee."
Out of the corner of his eye he kept
wary watch on the other patron.
It had happened in the past that
persons had eaten his food. then de-
PeAA eSo AoSliy AAtO LAIS hight, AOIkCl-
ting the formality 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 fuently as
he banged down a silver dollar.
That's my last bean until pay day."
he said. And there's no pickings
| these days. Haven't got a 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 a jitney."
The yegg-for the lunchroom man
had correctly appraised him-stuffed
his paper napkin in his pocket and
fumbled in 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
their length. worried a generous Sec
ton from the square of black tobacco
the man flashed a glance at Larkin.
The look from under his sullen
browsi was that of vicious dog dis.
turbed gnawing a bone. He had over
heard the railroad mans remark about
hoboes.
Frisco Red" hobo. yeggman, hatel
of work for mere wages, and wanted
by the police of many cities, a few
minutes later sat in the shadow of
water tank. waiting for the two shor
blasts of the locomotives whistle tina
would give warning No was abou
to pull out.
Across the sky to the west cut tn,
white lance of the headlight of ths
fast mail. for the passing of which tn,
freight had been laid out on the siding
There came a crunch of gravel, tn,
wavering CLEAN of lantern, and tn,
yeggman shrank behind the tank, rec
ognizing the shadow-exaggerat bull
of Larkin passing.
The fast train roared through an,
Red stood erect.
Red darted across the narrow spac
and caught the ladder of a box cal
He had no inclination to take to tn
rods, for in coat pocket, CAREFUL
wrapped in many thicknesses of pa
per, was bottle of thick. oily, vel
lowish liquid-nitroglycerin, tn
soup" of the safe-blower.
A few days before in Kansas CITY
when funds were low and "Pete," tn
lodging-house keeper. had begun t
look upon him with unkindly eye, h
had received a dingy scrawl from hi
"sidekick." one Happy" Carmod.
reputed among his kind as the mos
dependable. nerviest outside man" /
the profession.
The letter had told of an easy jo
in Syracuse.
!. And so Red. giaddened by the new
had swung blind at Holiday. jus
outside the city. and was on his wa
to met his partner.
. The long train clattered and p0un,
ed over the frogs to the main line, an
Red cautiously thrust his head ov,
the top of the car.
A light flashed in his eyes and
: harsh voice greeted him.
On top of the swaying car Lark
! thrust lantern into his face. The
{ always is something disconcertir
! about light held close to ones eye
4 Red blinked
e Thought so," said the brakema
? with satisfaction. "Now pony up Wi
. that dollar bill if you want to ri,
e with me-"
+ The others face was stolid.
q Broke, pal" he said.
d Forget the STALL" came the sava,
a snarl of Larkin. II saw you fash
e in the lunchroom. Kick i'm. q
e voice was menace.
8 With quick movement Red reach,
r the brake-wheel. strategic positio
d as 1t would afford hand-hold in ca
r Of a fight ON the narrow roof.
n Nothing doing!" he said fatty.
|. Larkin ragged, but forebore to q
s tack.