The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-01-24
CHAPTER t..

Tom Davenport's curiosity wcrcame
his discretion. He jumped from the
cab of the giant Atlantic-type iocomo-
live and ran over toward the disuscd
freight shed beside the Lordsburg sta
ton Five minutes before he had bem
m irrcproachnh'e. well-polacd ralrbad
passenger engineer; but the suspicious
oftrepeatcd trips of a diminutlve.
sepla-colored man carrying miik he
tween the station restaurant and the
old shed excited him 20 pitch where
rules. regulations and even dcmerits
counted for nothing.
There was something peculiarly fur
tive aud wary about the little brown
mans steaIthy look arounda mysteri-
GUS. unexplained air Of wnichfulncss---
MS II guarding some secret. the nature
Of which Davenport could not Imagine.
"why should that sneaky-looking
little devil he carrying milk Into that
shedg" Tom asked himself az the first
trip "why don't he drink II In the
restaurant II he's so Sll-frcd fond Of
Il, or 20 back In the diner and guxzle
IL down until he busts---if that's his
gamer
The second Journey between the two
points was even more mystifying TO
the engineer. AS the door to the ram
shackle structure closed behind che
milk bearer Tom itched to follow him.
"Ill bet n 'dobe dollar 10 n ccntavo
he amt drinking IL himself" ne grunt-
cd. sliding from his seat 10 the roomy
gnngway between the boiler and the
tender "But somebody's drinking u
that's a cinch. He aln't buying milk
down In this desert country 10 spill II
around promiscuous like. But II he
amt drinking II himself. who is7 And
II somebody else IL drinking ~. why
is he hiding out In that old shnckf'
The stoical figure was padding back
ngain toward the restaurant. evident.
ly intent on procuring still more lac
teal fluid. Then II was that Tom
dropped 90 the ground and shot over 20
the disused building.
He popped his head into the open
door and withdrew II with n celebrity
which would have made his train on n
stralghtaway two-per-cent down-grade
resemble handcar climbing q hill pro-
PEELED by lone section hand.
His fireman. Patrick Mahoney. from
the opposite side Of the great machine
observed Davenport's action with pro-
found amnzement. II was not only
against the rules--it was unprecedent-
ed. unheard-of.
whats mntterf" demanded Ma.
honey. as his obese chief climbed back
into the cab with speed as marvel
Gus as unwonted.
Davenport swung TO his seat without
deigning reply. His face was very
pale. He did not look toward his run
ming mate-instead. his horrified gnxe
might be said 10 have been frozen 10
the door Of the old freight shack. al
lowing. Of course. for the intervening
distance.
He intently watched the return of
the brown.sklnned atom of humanity
with something between apprehension
and awe and studied him inientiy as
he again entered the tumble down
building for the third time.
The conductor emerged from the
Telegraph office. clutchIne n train or
der simultaneously with the reappear.
pnce Of the sepia-eoIored gentleman
From the former freight house. Tom
paw that he was now carrying small.
pound, covered basket OF odd shape.
Not until then did the engineer seem
20 rouse from the fascination which
The little brown man had thrown over
l'lm. and even as he waited the start
ing signal he leaned from the cab win
How 80 far, as he followed the stranger
with his eyes. that Mahoney feared he |
would fall out.
As he turned 10 look across the cab |
~ the fireman Davenport did not have |
lhe appearance Of a man who is still |
possessed Of curiosity; but what he |
bud seen he evidently had no intention
Df revealing.
Give her the gun, Paddy" said he
N a harsh. unnatural voice. "we're
fifteen minutes late now, and II We
ion't want to be dancing on the carpet
a the super's Office In Ei Paso we've
got 20 make up that time II we burn
'ut d crown sheet TO do IT,"
Mahoney nodded a. he reached for
he fring-valve and shot another pow
erful Jet Of oil against the sides Of
he 'wrinkle-beily" frebox. while he
'pened the blower to It's fullest capac-
ty. He was debating what had come
'yer his phIegmatic superior.
The thick, black smoke r0ared out
'f The short stack as Tom leaned again
rom the window, wondering why he
lid not get the starting signal. The
'onouctor was standing expectantly on
he platform fidgefing with his watch.
impatiently the engineer was reach
'ng Tor his detention card 10 note the
new Toss Of time as a partial measure
of selfprotectlon, when a tall, 1.-THE.
ilhlctIc young man rushed across the
la nrm and leaped up the steps OF
la uliman. simultaneously the air
! hf. IA oarpJo1 as.I fno.,, ,,arIrol HE