McGraw, followed by Glover, climbed back under the canvas from the
gangway. Their clothing, moist with the steam of the cab, had
stiffened the instant the wind struck it. McGraw hastening to the
furnace seized the chain, jerked open the door and motioned to Glover
to come to the fire, but Glover shook his head behind McGraw, his hands
on the little man's shoulders, and forced him down in front of the
fearful blaze to thaw the gloves from his aching fingers.
All the horror of the storm they were facing had passed Gertrude unfelt
until she saw the silent writhing of the crouching man. This was three
minutes of the wind that Glover had asked her not to tempt; this was
the wind she had tempted. She was glad that Glover, bending over the
engineer, holding one hand to the fire as he gazed into it, did not
look toward her. From cap to boots he was frozen in snow and ice. The
two men, without speaking, left the cab again. They were gone longer.
Gertrude felt chills running over her.
"This is a terrible night," she said to the fireman.
"Yes, ma'am, it's pretty bad. I don't know why they'd send white men
out into this. I wouldn't send a coyote out."
"They are staying out so long this time," she murmured. "Could they
possibly freeze while they are out, do you think?"
"Sure, they could; but them boys know too much for that. Mr. Glover
stays out a week at a time in this kind; he don't care. That man Paddy
McGraw is his head engineer in the bucking gang; he don't care--them
fellows don't care. But I've got a wife at the Cat and two babies,
that's my fix. I never cared neither when I was single, but if I'm
carried home now it's seven hundred and fifty relief and a thousand
dollars in the A. O. U. W., and that's the end of it for the woman.
That's why I don't like to freeze to death, ma'am. But what can you do
if you're ordered out? Suppose your woman is a-hangin' to your neck
like mine hung to me to-night and cryin'--whatever can you do? You've
got to go or lose your job; and if you lose your job who'll feed your
kids then?"
McGraw's head appeared under the canvas doorway. Glover did not follow
him and Gertrude grew alarmed: but when the canvas rattled and she saw
his cap she was waiting for him at the doorway and she put her hands
happily on his frozen sleeve: "I'm so glad."
He looked at her with humor in his big eyes.
"I was afraid without you," she added, confusedly.
He laughed. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Oh, you are so cold. Come to the fire."