Headin’ up to Bend one winter, a guy tried to take my boots while they’s still on my feet. I was in a boxcar with these two guys. Never run into either one of ‘em b’fore. Got into the car with’em in K. Falls. Caught it jus’ as it was comin’ outta the Burlin’ton yards. They was already in the car, ‘n I sez, “Mind if I ride with yas?”  The one jus’ shook his head.  Didn’t say nothin’.

None of us said much. The train was movin’, ‘n we settled in fer the ride. I stretched out on top a my sleepin’ bag, ‘n those two were sittin’ right ‘cross from me with their back to the wall.  Halfway to Bend I fell asleep, ‘n after some time passed I felt this tuggin’ on my foot. I thought I was dreamin’ er somethin’, ‘n it kept tuggin’, ‘n woke me up. I opened my eyes jus’ a crack to see what was goin’ on, n’ here was this one guy pullin’ on my boot. He had the laces undone, n’ was tryin’ to git it off my foot. I leggo a kick square in his face. Kicked him so hard he fell back against the wall ‘n blood come spurtin’ outta his nose. Broke it, prob’ly. He sat there holdin’ his hand over his face. Sat right where he fell till we pulled into Bend.

I warned his partner not to make a move, ‘n he said he hardly knew the guy, jus’ teamed up with him in the K. Falls yards. Couldn’t be sure he was tellin’ me the truth, so I sez, “Don’t neither one a yas come near me.” I rolled up my bag ‘n didn’t take my eyes off either one of ‘em till the train stopped.

Dunno what that guy was thinkin’ ‘bout when he did that. He was damn lucky he got off the way he did. I should’ve thrown him outta the car right then ‘n there. Most guys would’ve.

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