The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-02-17
For a
Dollar Bill
BY ALEX S BRIscoE


] AaAfAAit AbAtt tAtAl HtNAA4tNA INTO Attt
! Acme lunchroom and. as be waddled
over 20 take the order. dip Of a rat
hand shot a cracker-boal out OF reach
Of the newcomers grimy fingers
II was not that he objected 10 the
soiled garb and unwashed person of
the new ustomer-rallroad freight
/ train crews on their runs were his
principal patrons-but there was ~
something repellent about the thick
bulk OF the man studying the bin Of
/ fare painted on the wall
"F'ried eggs" the man groWied 10
voice thai matched his surly couB
tenance.
"HowY" was the brief query Of the
lunchroom man.
sunny side up sinkers coffee.
Out OF the corner Of his eye he kept
wary watch on the other patron
IL had happened in the past that
persons had eaten his food. then de-
parted hastily into the night forget
ting the formaIity Of paying.
He summed up his estimate ia the
one word-"yegg.
The three railroad men had finished
/ their meal and were matching coins TO
see who should pay. Larkln, the trout
brakeman. lost and swore fluently 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 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 a jItney"
The yegg-for the lunehrOom man
had correctly appraised him-stuffed
his paper napkin IN his pocket and
fumbled In a pocket From an old to
haeco pouch he drew forth a dollar
bin and two dimes The coins he laid
on the counter.
"Cut o. plug" he snid.
AS his yellowed teeth fanglike in
their length, worried generous sec
ton from the square Of black tobacco
the man flashed glance at Larkin.
The look from under his sullen
hrows was that OF a vicious dog dis
turbed gnaVing a bone. He had over.
heard the railroad mans remark about
hoboes
Frisco Red" hobo. yeegman. Halter
OF work for mere wages. and wanted
by the police OF many cities. a few
minutes later sat in the shadow Of a
water tank, waiting for the two short
blasts Of the locomotives whistle that
would give warning No. o was about
TO pull out.
Across the sky 10 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
wayering CLEAN Of lantern. and the
ycggman shrank behind the tank. rec
ognizlng the shadow exaggerated bulk
Of Larkin passing
The fast train rnared through and
Red stood erect.
Red darted across the narrow space
and caught the ladder Of box car.
He had no inclination TO take to the
rods. for In n coat pocket. carefully
wrapped in many thicknesses OF pa
per, was bottle Of thick, oily, yell
lowish ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. the
''soup" OF the safe-blower.
A few days before in Kansas City.
when funds were low and pete" the
lodging-house keeper. had begun TO
look upon him with unklndly eye, he
had received a dingy scrawl from his
"sldekick." 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. giaddened by the news.
had swung a Hind at Holiday. Just
outside the city. and was on his way
10 met his mariner.
The long train clattered and pound
ed over the frogs 20 rhe main line. and
Red cautiously thrust his head over
ne top ~ the car.
A light flashed IN bis eyes and
harsh voice greeted him.
on top Of the swaying car LarkIn
thrust q lantern into his face. There
always Is something disconcerting
about n light held close 70 ones eyes
Red hllnked
Thought So said the brakeman.
with satisfaction. "Now pony up with
that dollar bill " you want to ride
/ with me"
The others face was stOlld.
"Boke. pat be said.
~Forgei the stall e. came the savage
snhrl 0f Iarkin. n saw you fash II
IN the iuuchroom Kick I'M" His
voice was menace
with o quick movement Red reached
The rakewheei strategic position
+ IS Sc would aaord q hand bold u case
{ - f-hf 81 tic uarraw roof
Nothing doing BE- saf aafly
IarEin rueal. hgi fsrrbore 70 e.
tack.
I Far moment he Studied me face