Evening star., 1933-10-14

- HORTENED days of the Fall have
seen an increasing shortneSs OF
temper among most of the c. c.
~ C.'s enrolled in the work camps
of the United States. Continued
close association and too intimate ia
miliarity have made every member wary
Of the other. Pent-up feelings heio
over months Of work have let loose, anu
the air is freer, friendships closer ana
general atmosphere happier Tor tnese
outbreaks which have added q piquant
note to the latter days of the camps.
There is the case Of Johnny, who was
very strong and kept much to h1mseu.
He had once talked about an ancestor.
The ancestor was the strongest man IN
the world, Johnny said. Scof1ed at ana
ieered, he refused even to comment now
on the weather. However, he hao on
his side a small group of friends, VINO
counted for more to him than the en-,
tire camp Most of the men were aIraio
of Johnny No one man would try TO
stand up to him. They badgered MIN
like hound dogs on big bear. but they
never ventured too close. With II an,
Johnny remained unrufhed, Laughing
softly. but with q cold gleam now ana
then in slate-gray eyes that betokeneo
leashed temper.
Caught by Johnny.
One morning Johnny's bunk was up
set and his bedding in the company
street soiled. For several mornings
when he came back after breakfast II
was the same story. Then, one day,
Johnny came back early. There were
two boys dumping his things into the
soft dust. Johnny caught one OF them
by the arm. He was tall, 1.-the lad OF
Johnny's age, taller than Johnny, ana
strong, too.
He struck a glancing blow at john
ny's head. His companion ran, put was
back in a few moments with most OF
the camp. They gathered about. Ihe
tall boy struck again at Johnny. ms
time Johnny wound his fists into hard
knots and they stood, toe to toe, slug
gine for few minutes. It was no go.
Tall Boy backed of and leaped in at
intervals. lashing with lightning blows:
Johnny accepted all blows with noo
and kept boring in, his fists sW1ngmg
almost pendulum-h Then Tall Boy
got in the way. He went down ano
over on his side, groanlng. The Dlow
had struck him full in the face and
Tall Boy was convinced.
Five Attack at Once.
Then, like a pack of wolves, half a
dozen tormentors, who had been tame
cats after shaggy dog, leaped toward
Johnny, five of them attacking him at
once. They struck at him, jumped on
his back and pummeled his ribs.
Johnny was still phlegmatic. He con-
tinued throwing them out into the
grass Suddenly it was all over. Sev,
eral of the older boys in the camp had
arrived and each of them grabbing one
of the tormentors, they tossed them
into the sawdust and rubbed the tor
mentors heads in the earth. Johnny
stood by, waiting.
The air cleared, and the tormentors
were targets of many jokes Tor weeks.
Johnny won many friends and admirers
from his mornings work. It had lasted
about IS minutes, but had been ter
ror IN that time.
Several of the men working In the
forests with the tormentors would all
grab one, of the others, holding him
tightly, and then call Johnny's late
mass antagonists to hit the fellow they
were all holding lRidicule is a pretty
deepgouging weapon.
Cyclone Pat
Patrick is big and ugly. He has a
sweet, soft voice and is one OF the best
liked men in the G. c. G.. He Is IN
charge of recreation tent. One night
there was more commotion than usual.
Several men were breaking benches as
they tussled in good-natured rivalry
about the place. Pat told them to
stop. Finally they quieted. A few min
utes later it was 10 O'Clock, and closing
time. Pat said: "All out"
Most of the men still in the tent
went out quietly. halting for a moment
outside to smoke before turning IN.
Loud voices drew their attention.
Get cut, I said" Pat was telling
rough, hard-boiled customer.
Put me out If you don't like it."
It was like nothing so much as a
sudden cyclone. Pats temper cracked:
He was mubling as he fought. "All
day and all night I have to listen to
that blamed stuff
At last Pat had the grip he wanted.
The recalcitrant library hound sailed
through the door and landed abruptly
on his nose in large pile of rocks and
dust He was bleeding from the nose.
There we're bruises on his face. He was
terrifically chagrined.
Pat laughed softly.
"Now. you spalveens, remember that
when I tell you out that's what It
means"
He started locking up for the night.