The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-11-25

| eneu speed WuTneu heu tht tfHln Whh
stopping half an hour later, and when
II came TO painting pause hG was at
the bottom Of ladder, ready to drop.
A few yards out on the snge-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.
'Rlding 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.
LarlSln 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 a knotted fist, he
obtained grip upon an iron brace. A
foot below his body the roadbed fled
! by.
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
Der, he strained his eyes, squinted to
| avoid the dust. striving to pierce the
gloom in which that humping, whlrl-
| ing. pounding menace approached ever
| closer.
| "Set drag for me-damn him u
| His voice was hoarse in its hate. III
get him I'll get himi" he snarled.
Larkln had tied a coupling-pin to
the end of length of wire and low
cred II beneath the cars. The heavy
piece of metal, reboundlng 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.
SLOW y l. rkin let out the wire to its
extreme length and as slowly drew 1t
back.
Then he hurled the drag from the
train and settled himself for long
ride, curslng the rule that prohibited
smoking on duty.
Under the car Frisco Red barred his
teeth in a cornered-dog smile as the
flying pin approached within a foot of
his perch and then receded.
mot enough wirel Damn him y he
said. "But I'll get him for thatw
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
singing 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 IVES under the car. He did
not think 1t 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. le attitude
of the squat. thick-set form was in IT.
self q 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.
II was too late for Larkin to fee,
even had II been in his nature to do
so. The vengeful yeggman was hard
ly dozen steps away.
To run merely would invite a 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 vide, but the gun again spat fire
in Larkin's face, and he felt sting I'm
his shoulder.
The yeggman was flring rapidly. the
'Pui 70 VI iiOiii lllo NtuIOu
muzzle seemingly scorching the others
clothing. He was too close to miss.
Larkin 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 heavlng
car top they struggled-two vicious
animals gone mad with rage!
Half the length OF the car they
rolled. twisting, strainlng. heavy fists
battering, and thick fingers clawIng,
gouging. The brakeman volleyed
curses.
The yeggman fought in silence, like