The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-18

| crew CldInuefluS dDodlu.
| "Wonder what's doin'T said Hicks.
'Them dagoes seem to be excited"
| While they were taking water the
head brakeman came running up. fol-
lowed by the station-agent.
1--WE got orders to pick up them
/ three cars, Snub. an that bunch Of
dagoes say they're goin' to stay on
till they get to Ardmore. Whatl we
do about it?" questioned the brake
| man.
Reckon we could put 'em OFF,
"Nope. There's too many Of 'em.
| All got knives"
"Think it'd be all right to leave that
car here?" queried Hicks, turning to
the agent.
"You might" returned the other;
II guess there won't be any trouble
about it,"
Uncoupling the engine, they switched
| back to the rear of the train, which
they pushed ahead for some distance,
| leaving a clear track for their ma
neuyers. The car chosen by the 1tal-
ians was in front Of the other two;
| therefore Hicks deemed it best to
approach them from the rear.
| 1t was the work of but few min
utes to haul them out on the main
line: then, with suddenly accelerated
speed, to shunt the fiat car back On
the siding, and, while the Italians were
yet trying to stop it, put the two box
cars triumphantly toward the waiting
| train.
These moves had been watched with
keen delight by young Walworth, who
so far forgot his dignity as to wave
a grimy hand at the disgruntled labor
ers as they passed. No sooner was
the gesture made than he heard
noise different from that ordinarily
made by the engine. whereupon HICKS
cursed loudly and closed the throttle.
"We're stuck for a few minutes,
kid" he said, with an apprehensive
glance at the Italians, who. seeing MS
predicament, were swarming along In
| pursuit. like angry bees. "You try to
stand 'em off till see If I can get 'er
tinkered up"
It was a nervous fireman that
watched the leaders off the rabble gain
on the slowly moving engine. Yet IN
his bearing there was nothing OF rear.
It was rather the excitement OF the
thoroughbred before going into action.
Yelling to his followers, the foremost
attacker mounted the first step; then,
stopping the full swing of Adrian's
heavy shoe with his chin, he bit on
word together with portion OF MS
tongue and plunged over backward SO
precipitately that it must have sur
prised even himself.
After breaking the force of his fall
with the back Of his head, he expert
enced no difficulty in alighting, and
lay quiet thereafter, as II satisned
| with the days work.
n the meantime, his companions
pressed onward in such numbers that
the fireman, using feet and shovel
alternately, found it no easy task to
keep the narrow gangway clear. HICKS
working madly, shouted encourage
ment:
sThat's the dope. You got EN- fud-
died, Percy. Keep after EN-"
e"Take that. you beggar! grunted
Adrian, striking valiantly at man
who had slashed the leg of his over
alls.
"Look out! There's one comm
over the tankp cried Hicks.
When the newcomer, stumbling and
. sliding on the COAL lurched toward
him, Adrian shifted the shovel to his
left hand and drove his gloved right
/ into the mans stomach. At that mo
ment Hicks. having completed his
work and opened the throttle, turned
his attention to the fight.
One of the Italians had taken advan.
; tage OF the momentary diversion to
gain a foothold on the gangway. and
/ was aiming a blow at the fireman's
back with his stiletto. Seeing this
the engineer made haste to smite him
on the head with his trusty wrench
performing the feat in much the same
way one would drive nail.
i, The man crumpled down in heap
thus ending the struggle, the Others
| being already left behind by the swift
~ moving engine.
Il Safely out of danger. the engineer
, and his fireman stood looking calml,
, at each other.
, If their faces were expressive Of
their thoughts, 1t was evident tina
each felt himself guilty Of misjudgini
) the other.
II owe you something for that. and
believe me, am sincerely grateful
Mr.. Hicks" said the young man. witt
respectful admiration in his voice.
"Don't mention it. You're the goods
an I'm glad to have you on the en-
: CINE, Mr.. Walworth," replied the oldel
, man warmly.
II Here's my hand" said Walworth.