Page:Weird Tales volume 38 number 03 CAN.djvu/92

 told Jack, "sure Larue, we can use a reliable old codger around here. We just lost two men from the watchman detail."

That night Larue went again to Pete's lodgings to break the good news. Instead of Nevers, he found the aged conductor, Philpot.

"Haven't seen him," said the old em- [sic]

"Haven's [sic] seen him," said the old employee. "You know, Larue, he spends more and more time down at the yards just sitting.... Funny, ain't it? Yup, sitting in the empty el cars."

Larue scratched his head: "Well, what are you doing over here?"

"Ohhh," the old conductor laughed, "I've kinda moved in here with Pete. You know the el ain't so high these days, boy. Not much money, and looks like even that was going to end when they start gouging and cutting and pulling us all to pieces."

Larue leaned against the door as Philpot began reminiscing.

"Yup, the iron horse on stilts they used to call us. Those were the days when the el was the way to go places. Not all your fancy damn underground trains and busses and all that. You took the el, mister, or you didn't go."

"Yeah," said Jack, "Yeah, but don't waste time worrying about that, Mr. Philpot. You fellows got to get out and get something new."

"Mebbe, mebbe not," said the conductor. "I don't mind working, mind you. I never been one too look off center at work, but Pete, young fella, he worries me. This is getting him down. Since I moved in here—it's been a few days now—he hasn't et a thing." He paused, and then cackled as a thought occurred to him.

"I think he's living on that same juice as he sucks up into his train. He gets his nourishment sitting there at the throttle. No, sir, haven't seen him et a thing. 'Course he never was the kind of fella who brought the stuff in his pockets and munched away on the job. I never seen him do that in all the years I've worked with him. But a man can't live on nothing, mister. Maybe it's like I say. It's the el power that keeps him going."

Philpot waved his hand under Larue's face, and Jack noticed the worn blue uniform coat.

"No siree, you can tell me about your other jobs and I'll say thank you and perhaps I'll take 'em and perhaps I won't, but tain't no use with Pete. He won't take anything else."

"But what'll he do?" persisted Jack. "I think I can work something over at the foundry. Watchman job. Pretty good pay."

Philpot leaned close. "Don't worry about him, mister. He'll get along all right. You know he swears he'll stay with the el."

"Aw, that's silly," said Jack. "What's the use of bucking the facts. The el's going to be blasted and pulled down. The paper knows it, I know it, you know it. You fellas will have to get something else or you'll starve."

Old Philpot cackled. "Don't worry, young fella. Pete lives without eating, and anyway, he says he's staving with the el."

Jack turned to go.

"Now don't get uppity, Larue. I calculated you might tell me a bit more about the job."

"Well, I'd really thought about Pete," said Jack from the door, "and it doesn't look like he's coming in."

"Never can tell," said the conductor. "He might be here most any time. Watchman, did you say?"

"Yeah," said Jack, thinking by now that the other man was probably a bit touched.

"That's fine," said Philpot, "I could do something like that."

Jack set his jaw loyally. "I'm telling you, Mr. Philpot, I was thinking of Pete."

"No, young fellow," said the conductor, then lowered his voice. "Here, let me show you something."