Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Sus ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ductor was the first to come back to his job, for the responsibility of the train rest- ed heavily on him. He sent a brakeman back to flag and one ahead to the station less than a mile away to report the wreck and call the “big hook.” Hours passed, hours intensely interesting to Zeb who remained with the wreck till the last car was lifted and dumped off the right of way. Finally the track was cleared and he joined the others in the shanty car when the wrecking crew pulled back toward the terminal, towing the crippled 125 and her tender behind them. It was well past midnight when the yards’ were reached and in the meantime, Zeb had told the fireman his story briefly—of the Struggle of his family to get the bare neces- sities of life, of most of the corn they raised finding its way to the still, of his ‘ trifling, no account pap,” and his work-worn moth- er, a pitiful tale that could be duplicated in-a thousand cases with the mountain folk, isolated from civilization for generations and civilization, full born, being thrust upon them. “Come on over and stay with me to- night,” the fireman suggested when at last the wrecker stopped at her place beside the “np track.” Zeb readily assented since he saw noth- ing strange in the invitation. ‘“ Come and spend the night with me,” was a common phrase to him. Mountain hospitality goes far back before the days of modern ho- tels when the traveler in the sparsely set- tled hill country was a welcomed bringer of news and gossip. Zeb was embarrassed and nervous when they entered the rallroad boarding house and went up to Jim’s room. But the fire- man was so genuinely thankful that Zeb’s mind soon became at ease. He was tired, the excitement of the day had died down and the other noticed his sleep heavy eyes. He was glad to hear the words, “ Well, let’s hit the hay!” Once in bed, a few mumbled words and he was asleep. It seemed but an hour till he awakened. It was morning, for the sun was bright out- side. Jim was dressing and Zeb got up, Started to pull on his clothes. His new found friend looked at him for a second, then broke out: “Say, kid, I got a sdit here, just fit you. Try it on.” He dived down into a drawer, pulled out a shirt, socks, underclothes, and unheeding Zeb’s protests, said: “All right, kid. I aimed to give ’em to the Salvation Army soon anyway. Use these till your trunk gets here.” “ But I hain’t got no trunk. These yere is the best clothes I hey.” Qh, hell! Don’t tell all you know, kid! Wear those. Put ’em on, put ’em on! Get a curve on you and let’s go down and feed. That’s my second best suit. Keep it till you get a pay day.” Zeb glanced at himself in the dresser mirror and was startled at the change the clothes made in his appearance. Together they went down stairs and Zeb listened as the fireman rang the call office. “Nick, this is Jim Brown. No, I’m not hurt, Just scratched up a bit. Yeh, he sure did. Ill say it was lucky for me! Say, Nick, mark me off for a day or two. I’m sick of that ‘ jerk-along run.’ ” Then as ne hung up the receiver, he turned to Zeb. “ Let’s eat. We'll go down to Ring’s and throw in a feed, some real coffee and ham and eggs. What gay?” CHAPTER ITI. “ RAILROADIN’ ” OGETHER Zeb and Jim went up Depot Street toward Ring’s Café with its tattered cloth sign over the door, “‘ The Railroad Men’s Headquarters.” As they passed in front of the depot where stood a group of men, a half dozen dressed in overalls, carrying lanterns in their hands, one called out: ‘Oh, Jim! Come over here and let’s have a look at the guy who heaved you clear!” Zeb was terribly embarrassed when Jim introduced him around. Soon, however, his self consciousness left him and in a short time he was telling them about the Local’s smashup. When he had finished, a chorus of “ Atta boy!” “ You're all right, kid!” and “Come out with me when -you learn the road!” greeted him. COnniEaoo () SS Co