The Press., 1921-01-20


 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 jitney."
 The yegg-for the lunchroom man had correctly appraised hlm-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.
 Gut O plug" he said.
 As his yellowed teeth, fanglike in their length, worried a generous sec tiOn from the square of black tobacco the man flashed a glance at Larkin.
 The look from under his sullen brOws was that of vicious dog dis turbed gnawing bone. He had over heard the railroad mans remark about hOboes.
 Frisco Red,", hobo, yeggman, hater of work for mere wages. and wanted by the police of many cities, few minutes later sat in the shadow of d water tank, waiting for the two short blasts of the locomotives whistle that would give warning No was about to pull out.
 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 crunch of gravel. the wavering gleam of a lantern. and the yeggman shrank behind the tank. rec. ognizing the shadow exaggerated bulk of LarlSin passing.
 The fast train roared through and Red stood erect.
 Red darted across the narrow space and caught the ladder Of box car He had no inclination 10 take to the rods. for in a coat pocket, carefully wrapped in many thicknesses of pa per, was bottle of thick. oily. vel Jewish --nitroglycerin, the "soup" of the safe-bIower.
 A few days before in Kansas. City, when funds were low and "Pete," the lodging-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 job in Syracuse.
 And so Red, gladdened by the news, had swung 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 a harsh voice greeted him.
 On top of the swaying car Larkin thrust lantern into his face. There always is something disconcerting about a light held close to ones eyes. Red blinked.
 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 p came the savage snarl of Larkin. ''1 saw you flash 1t in the lunchrOOm. Kick in!" His voice was 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 hatly.
 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
 Trough customer. are you?" he jeered. Well. Bill. you1l get off and walk at the next tank town" and he turned away. striding forward toward the engine.
 The sQuealing of protesting brake shoes and the jOltin@ as the cars slack ened speed warned Red the train was stopping half an hour later, and when 1t came to a panting pause he was at the bottom of g. ladder, ready to drop.
 A few yards out on the sage-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.
 Riding 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. Larkin 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.
 A lurch that would tear him from his hold meant death; but by a dis play of strength almost incredible he