The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-01-11

: Say, bs whispered. breathlessly, the N
J men, he reached Charise's side, wha.d y,
, DO 10 MIKE Ahearn and Greasy Jos'
J Threw out their stieks, aid charli
briefly.
Well, you 70 % TO Hi,chcock's oifiee ca
and you stay lthers TILL II tcbcock com
back. They're sunning for 700, ,ho'
two.
| Charlie felt shiyrr ~ . vision Of u
srcat-hsted Irishmsn and OF the oily cre'
" known ~ doe, who might havs bee
Of almost any nationality. came vlvidly b
re him Looking for him, were they
Cunning" Ben bad said. The impuls
10 iun away for the moment almost over
powered him.
Where are they be Asksd.
Up at the shauty, replied his friend
slsucing about with unmistakable I ar
| You've got to run. Joe swears 10 shoot y
N sight. He's drunk. But Mike, be,
bteak your had, anyway; maybe kill yo'
.ish them hands o. bis
Charlie turned and looked over toward
the rsmshackle temporary structure bull
"a the open fat for the men. He felt ,
. range tremo. 10 his knees. And ther
suddenly the thought that this was fear
Ieowardice---csme like stab, and sent th,
blood in hot, ,ingliDE food all over hi'
boby.
lie looked at Ben, IL can't, he said.
His voice sounded strange to himtelf, ,bui
he sound OF It seemed also TO briog hin
back to some conception Of realities. He
turned and walked deliberately up to the
shack.
Ahearn was there. So WAS Greasy Joe.
Ahearn WAS sitting on q bench, telling
a me story toa group OF camp men who
ere idling about. When Charlie walked
10 at the open door, the Irishmsn stopped
short and stared at him. Every man In tn
place turned to look, and then stared also,
s'most ~ II he had been some strange sp-
partition.
He walked forward slowly. They all
seemed too much astoLished to move.
Nike, said Charlie, lquietly, and he found
oimself listeDingSto his own voice TO Judge
whether or not It shook, hear you're look
for me. Are vouS Did you think I'D let
hat haul Of sticks pass because you loaned
me fifty doIlsrsi Did you intend to brlbe
ne, Mikel
He paused an instant, and then, as no one
moved, he continued:
| wanted that fifty for my mother, and
sent II to her. don't know how you
found out l needed 1t at all, but when &C
cepted 1t from you, It was because you
"sme to me and offered It voluntarily, like
= friend, and thought you were man, and
'ked you for It. I'm still ready to look at
It 10 the same way II you only say 80. !
hall pay 1t back when Mr.. Hitchcock gets
in. Al to the sticks--thsy haven't any
hing to do with the money. You know
hey weren't up to grade. and couldn't
take 'tm. Now what + want to know 10
shether you're the man took you for or
not.
Ahesrn's big gray eyes we're wide open,
gazing astonished at the boys face. The
men about him were as still as he, and for
I long minute no one spoke. Then sudden
y cultural oath came from Greasy Joe's
ps, and be rose slowly from bis seat With
. wicked smile about his mouth.
In an instant Mike Jumped to his feet.
9ev, you he snarled in sharp command
quit that! II you touch that kid l'il
,reak you over one Of your own bum
, lcka. Turning to Charlie, he stared aD
nstant longer, and then suddenly broke In
20 roaring laugh.
Kid, he cried, you're the coolest young
Ver ever saw In this country! There
lint man In this camp thst'd ha' dared TO
ay what you just said to me, and I'd ha'
Iilled any Of 'em that tried to. Yes, told
Joe to ssnd ye them sticks. l--but you
ay, skld, you're oil right, You've got
you're made Of nerve. and you
Ire friend Of mine from now.
To say that Mr.. Hitchcock showed sur.
rise when be heard the story would not
,e strictly true. hr. Hitchcock rarelv |
howed surprise at anything. Still, he Bit |
lie lip to conceal something when Charlie
made simple and rather apologetic report
4 the matter.
You'd better pay Mike his fifty dollars,
'sysoD, he remarked, and a. he put tn, |
money into the boys hand he added,
hought you showed sense about not car
yibg gun, young man. noticed common
ense uiually has nerve back Of II.
There wasn't 90 much nerve about II,
aid Charlie, humbly. didn't believe
hey d dare to shoot me.
Mr.. Hitchcock smiled grinly. HIN! he
aid. Well, guess it's kind Of nerve the
ompspy'll appreciate.