Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 infact. In those thirty days he got ! acquainted with the folks -e Pelham town—to which he had but shortly come. And, best of all, he met black-eyed Ina, daughter of Duncan, the miller. The more he met Ina the more Andy became convinced that this Belham job was just the thing for him. And, as the days passed, Ina came to agree with him. So, by the fime Summer had gone and early Fall had come, things between them were pretty well settled. “There’s Lane’s little bungalow,” he said one evening. ‘“‘It’ll be empty the first of November.” ‘“Well-—” she hesitated, coloring prettily. “Set the day,” he insisted. ‘“‘Well—yes, all right!” She placed her hand on his arm. “Just give me a day or two to. decide, Andy,” she said—just like a woman. i A BUT the very next afternoon Super- intendent Carrick dropped off a ~~ slowly moving freight as it passed Belham depot. He tried the waiting-room door; it was unlocked, and he entered. He tried the office door; it was locked. He rattled the knob of the office door vigorously. No response. He peered in through the glass of theclosed ticket window. No one in sight. He went outside and peered through the front office window, where he had a complete view of the interior. No person was within. “Ah, ha!’ said Carrick and went back into the silent waiting-room and seated himself. A half-hour passed. No agent. Forty- five minutes. Still no agent. The super- intendent rose, stumped out of the building and started to walk down the track. On a short siding just west of the station stood six camp-cars, the quarters of the members of the steel gang, at present laying steel rail near Belham, and all colored— brought from the South during the past Summer. _ As Carrick was passing one of the cars, he heard voices speaking behind its closed door. He paused. ‘“T don’ know, Mistuh Agent,’ said one speaker. ‘‘ ‘Steamboat,’ he say——”’ “Don’t you listen to Steamboat,” cut in the unmistakable voice of Agent Andy Peck. “You listen to me. I’m i you the truth.” Carrick waited for no more. He shoved Adventure that door open with a bang. Seated on — the edge of a wooden bunk were two colored men—one with a bandaged foot, the other — with a wrapped-up hand. On a soap-box opposite them sat Andy. 2 oI “Is this where you spend your time now?” asked Carrick grimly. — | The agent looked a little dismayed. “T can explain—” he began. . “Come out here,” interrupted the super-— intendent. “I’ve something to say to you,” The agent descended from the car and © followed Carrick. Out of earshot of the _ big-eyed colored men the superintendent — stopped and faced Peck. “You remember what I told you last Spring,” he said firmly to the agent. *“You’ve been absent from your office for at least forty-five minutes this afternoon, I know, because I was at the station waiting. — You’re done—fired.” “But you ought to let me explain,” remonstrated Andy. “I was working for the interests of the R. S. & T. when I was in that cam just now.” , “Likely!” scoffed Carrick. \: a Peck flushed. “Yes, sir,”’ be affirmed steadily. “These — steel gang boys are threatening to quit and go back South. They’re worrying about © the coming Winter up North here—afraid, ‘ if they stay, they’ll freeze. One of the gang 4 is egging the others to go—a fellow they — call Steamboat Jackson. I’ve been trying : nade them to stay; that’s why I was talking to those two men when you came.” Carrick listened incredulously until Andy an abt ie tae “Bosh!” he : “Tt’s the truth,”’ declared Andy. He kept his mind fixed on Ina and thus was able to choke back the hot words that surged to his lips. . ‘No matter,” said Carrick shortly. “T don’t bélieve they'll leave—and, even if they should, it’s none of your affair. Your — business was to stay in your office and take _ care of thi there. Anyhow, you're — done. I'll have a man here in.a og days to relieve you.” ys to queer his efforts and