Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

JERRY THE SPIRITED, You can go into the waiting-room and keep warm.” Curry grinned appreciatively. “ Anybody that’s a friend of yours is a friend of mine,” he said, “I'll stick to him closer than a brother.” “ Bartholomew,” Jerry said gravely, “Miss McBride’s mother died to-night. She may need a man up there to help out. Will you go up?” “I’m right sorry,” Bartholomew said. “ Sure Ill go up there.” He started at once, and Jerry and Curry took McBride to the waiting-room. Just before they went inside Jerry said to Curry: “You don’t happen to throw a pretty good fist, do you?” ‘You mean with a pen? Well, rather. I can make a writin’ professor’s copy-book look like a hen had walked over it an’ left muddy tracks. Why?” “T’ve got to have a pass,” Jerry said. “T’ve got to flag No. 8 here and get on board her. She’s got to stop to let me off at Harpersville.”’ “Tf I’m arrested for forgery, you won’t testify against me, will you, Jerry?” “After to-night,” said Jerry, ‘ this rail- road will owe us things. I expect that the president of the road will want that pass so he can have it framed.” “You get me paper and pen and ink and leave it to me,” Curry said. They stepped into the waiting-room, and Jerry told the operator about the death of Mamie’s mother. The operator had been dozing in his chair. He expressed his sym- pathy, said he was in good shape to work, and went back to sleep again. There was pen and ink and paper on the window-ledge, and Jerry carried them over to Curry. Curry made out a pass for Jerry in the name of the division superintendent, filling in the telegraphic signals properly under Jerry’s guidance. “That fast train is due in ten minutes,” Curry said. ‘“ You’ve got to swipe that operator’s lantern.” : Jerry restored the writing material to the window-ledge and stood looking in at the sleeping operator. On the floor near the door there was a lighted, red lantern. Jerry walked to the door and found it open. The oll operator was not so cautious about keeping it closed as Mamie had to be. Slowly and carefully Jerry pushed the door ajar. He reached in and picked up the lantern. The operator did not stir, With a wave of_his hand to Curry, who was sitting beside McBride on one of the benches, Jerry went out on the platform. He held the lantern so that the operator could not see it if he should suddenly waken, and went to the end of the platform. He stood there till he heard the whistle of the fast train. Then he stepped down on the track and began to swing the lantern at his knees. The engine whistle screeched a reply and Jerry set the lantern on the platform and stepped up beside it. The train slid to a stop and Jerry clambered on board. The operator awoke with a start and peered from the window. The conductor came running, saw Jerry climbing up, and swung his lantern at the engineer. The train pulled out. ‘“What’re you stopping us in this snow for, Donovan?” the conductor asked. “We'll be late getting in as it is.” ‘I give it up,” Jerry answered cheerfally. ‘‘ All I know is that they called me just as I was going to bed and told me to hustle over to Harpersville.” This fast train received no Orders except when it was running late, and the conductor had no means of knowing whether wires were down or not. “Wires down, I suppose,” he said. ‘You'll have a nice job on your hands. Your pass is not good on this train. What you got in the way of credentials?” Jerry handed him the forged pass. He just glanced at it and strolled back along the aisle. | Jerry had a seat to himself, and he took out his gun and examined it and made sure his box of ammunition was in his pocket. Then he leaned his head on the plush back of the seat, closed his eyes, and went to sleep. The conductor would be sure he was awake and ready to hop down before they got to Harpersville. His sleep was profound. He thought he had just closed his eyes when he was roused by some one shaking his shoulder. He JOO COMMUC S (C@ ¥