Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-01-18
CHAPTER II

his world. set upon, treated unfair
ly, finding his firmest trust be
trayed, mad to his marrow, step
off a train into a strange town anC
Is hit In the mouth by a stranger
certain events are bound to follow
For n thing, the pressure of TEN
per within him finds relief.
II was easy enough for young
John Belknap to come to a decision
as to what to do; easy enough tC
decide that the Midwest h%eadquar
tiers, up In the wilderness. was as
good a place as any for a young
mar going out on his w to pre-
sent himself and ask for a chance
Easy, simplel
But not so easy to summon that
rage which would wipe out the hurt
He had had his fondest hopes be-
trayed by the n human being he
had trusted above all others. II cut
and s%courged, made him drive him
self into a furious temper.
He had boarded a late train.
pack-sack over his shoulder, OBJ
livi0us to the stares of people in
the station. telling himself that he
had been double-crossed. abused to
a point which was ~intolerable.
Through the remaining hours of the
night he had tossed in his berth. let
ing that rage eat up the disappoint-
ment and heartache. Today. on a
less comfortable train, his ire
mounted and as the cars rocked
and bounced on northward over in
creasingly rough steel, he sat for
long intervals without moving a
muscle. the fire in his eyes grow
ing, the darkness in his heart deep
ening.
Snow fell. Now and again some
of it sifted down from the ventila-
tors to the greasy rattan seats of
the smoker. The brakeman came In
and lighted oil lamps as waning
afternoon brought wintry darkness.
One more change now, and he
would be on the Kampfest line.
-. But he was not going to stop
at Kampfest
He moved with a start, then, and
his jaw muscles bulged. This was
the route he had planned so long
to take. but the destination was no
longer what it had been in those
years of planning. On through
Kampfest, rather, on for the bet
ter part Of another hundred miles
to Mid West headquarters.
You're out of luck" the conduc-
tor said; getting into Kampfest
tonight. They got three cars off on
a culyert and it may take 'em I'M
til zoe TO get their line open. Tell
you what; the Junction boarding
houses a fright. You could go on
to Shoestring where there's a good
place to stay and come back In the
morning In time to get the east
bound"
"Shoestrlng? Never heard of it."
"Spry little town" The conduc.
tor smiled grimly as he adjusted
the wick of his lantern. IF the
branch hadn't been blocked this
afternoon, you might've seen some
big times there tonight.
John did not heed this. He said.
"Much obliged" and settled back
In the corne of his seat with his
wrath.
Soon the brakeman rose and sung
out: "Shoestringl
B~uttoning his Mackinaw, Singing
his packsack to one shoulder. John
stood in the end of the car as they
Jolted to a stop. He was the only
passenger disembarking, and wher
he pulled the door open snow
swirled about him. Moving figures
showed against the glow of depot
lights.
A voice sung out sharply:
"That's him !"
He dropped to shin-deep snow or
the platform, and a bulking figure
moved to confront him.
you'd better git back on tht
train" the man said. "You ain't
welcome here !"
"Check him through !" some one
called hoarsely.
whats the big idea?" JohI
snapped. "Who are you to-"
1--WE amt here to argue, Jack
You git back aboard that car ant
keep your feet out Of Shoestrlnl
and you'll be better OFF,
The big mar grasped his arm
determinedly, and as John twisted
to free himself he slipped. He flunl
out a hand to catch his balance
and. on the gesture. a stinging blow
caught him full in the mouth.
An instant before, and despit,
his black mood, he would have ar
gued; but that fist on his lips
dropped a red curtain before
his eyes, %coagulated all the anger
which had kept him hot for two
days and a night stripped reason
from him. he c%rouched; he rushed
He was going to let no gang pur
him back on any trainl He bored
into them, through them, until HI
had distance between himself anC
the car and then Strengthened
catching one a stiff blow on tn,
neck that spun him about. I'll.