“Ye’re th’ new man on Twenty-one, ain’t you?” he asked, after a moment’s fierce examination of Allan’s face. “Yes, I went to work yesterday,” said Allan. “Well, y’ want t’ quit th’ job mighty quick, d’ y’ see? I’m Dan Nolan, an’ it’s my job y’ve got. I’d ’a’ got took back if ye hadn’t come along. So ye’re got t’ git out, d’ y’ hear?” “Yes, I hear,” answered Allan, quietly, reddening a little; and his heart began to beat faster at the prospect of trouble ahead. “If y’ know what’s good fer y’, y’ll git out!” said Nolan, savagely, clenching his fists. “When’ll y’ quit?” “As soon as Mr. Welsh discharges me,” answered Allan, still more quietly. Nolan glared at him for a moment, seemingly unable to speak. “D’ y’ mean t’ say y’ won’t git out when I tells you to? I’ll show y’!” And he struck suddenly and viciously at the boy’s face. But Allan had been expecting the onslaught, and sprang quickly to one side. Before Nolan could recover himself, he had ducked under one of the freight-cars and come up on the other side. Nolan ran around the end of the car, but the boy was well out of reach. “I’ll ketch y’!” he cried after him, shaking his fists. “An’ when I do ketch y’—” He stopped abruptly and dived back among the cars, for he had caught sight of Jack Welsh coming across the yards. Allan saw him, too, and waited for him. “Wasn’t that Dan Nolan?” he asked, as he came up. “Yes, it was Nolan,” answered Allan. “Was he threatenin’ you?” [Illustration: “HE STRUCK SUDDENLY AND VICIOUSLY AT THE BOY’S FACE”] “Yes; he told me to get out or he’d lay for me.” “He did, eh?” and Jack’s lips tightened ominously. “What did y’ tell him?” “I told him I’d get out when you discharged me.” “Y’ did?” and Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “Good fer you! Let me git my hands on him once, an’ he’ll lave ye alone! But y’ want t’ look out fer him, m’ boy. If he’d fight fair, y’ could lick him; but he’s a big, overgrown brute, an’ ’ll try t’ hit y’ from behind sometime, mebbe. That’s his style, fer he’s a coward.” “I’ll look out for him,” said Allan; and walked on with beating heart to the section shanty. Here, while Jack told the story of the encounter with Nolan, Allan donned his new garments and laid his other ones aside. The new ones were not beautiful, but at least they were comfortable, and could defy even the wear and tear of work on section.