Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-09-10
For a
Dollar Bill
BY ALEX S. BRISCOE
(Copyright.)

| over TO take the Oruef, mp OF raj
hand shot a crackerbowl out of reach
of 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 -,
something repellent about the thick
bulk of the man studying the bill of
fare painted on the wall.
Fried eggs" the man growled in a
voice that matched his surly .coun-
| tenance.
How was the brief query of the
| lunchroom man.
Sunny side sinkers-c coffee"
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 formaity 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 irving 10 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-stufred
his paper napkin in his pocket and
fumbled in pocket. From an old to-
hacco pouch he drew forth dollar
bill and two dimes. The coins he laid
on the counter.
Cut o plus" he said.
AS his yellowed teeth, fanglike in
their length, worried 4 generous sec
ton from the square Of black tobacco
the man flashed a glance ut Larkin
The look from under his sullen
broWs was that of a vicious dog dis
turbed gnaWing a bone. He had over
heard the railroad mans remark about
hObOeS.
Frisco Red" hobo. yeggman. hater
OF work for mere wages, and wanted
bv the police of many cities. a few
minutes later sat in the shadow of a
wafer tank, waiting for the two short
blasts of the locomotives whistle that
would give warning No. 8 was about
10 pull or.
Across the sky to the west cut the
white lance of the headlight of the
fast mail, for the passing of which the
freight had been laid out on the siding.
There came a crunch of gravel the
wavering CLEAN Of lantern, and the
ycggman shrank behind the tank. rec
OgniZing the shadow-eXaggerated bulk
of Larkin passing.
The fast train roared through and
Red stood erect.
Red darted across the narrow space
and caught the ladder of a box car
He had no inclination to take to the
rods, for in a coat pocket carefully
wrapped in many thicknesses of pa
per, was bottle of thick. oily, vel
lowish liquid-nitroglycerin the
soup" of the safe-blower.
A few days before in Kansas City.
when funds were low and Pete" the
clearinghouse keeper, had begun to
look upon him with unkindly eye, he
bad 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 job
in Syracuse.
And so Red, gladdened by the news.
had swung a blind at Holiday. just
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
harsh voice greeted him.
On top of the Swaying car Larkin
thrust a lantern into his face. There
always is something disconcerting
about a light held close to ones eyes.
Red hlinked
Thought So" said the brakeman,
with satisfaction. Now pony up with
that dollar bill if you want to ride
with me-"
The others face was stOlid.
Broke. pal" he said
Forget the stall! !" came the savage
snarl of Larkin. ~ saw you flash 1t
in the lunchroom. Kick in" His
| voice was a menace.
With a quick movement Red reached
the brake-wheel, a strategic position,
as it would afford hand-hold in case
of fight on the narrow roof.
Nothing doing!" he said fatty.
Larkin ragged, but forebore to at
tack.
For a moment he studied the face
of the other. balancing himself easily.
his body swaying with the movement
of the car; but there was no sign of
yielding in Reds face.
Tough customer. are you?" he