The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25

1Ot me. t1dS 10 De a 0Oie III d SIlHuStOAS
for me to see through" said Joe.
Accompanying the orders concerning the
works was well defined suggestion that
Dave and Joe might feel inclined TO pay
the East their long anticipated visit. The
writer would be able to devote consider
able attention to them, and all things
considered, the opportunity seemed more
favorable than might occur again.
Whats that mean?" demanded Joe.
Means he wants US to come-them's
our orders-couldn't be no palmer" re-
piled Dave. with gruff good nature.
What do you reckon he wants us back
there for? We can't do him no good"
Dunno. Maybe he wants to get us
away from here. seein' as how there amt
much of anything for us to do jest now
except to get into trouble or talk too
much-which ain't no ways unlikely
Guess you're right said Joe, after
thinking 1T over for while. That's jest
his way of putin it-mighty perlite,
pears to me-"
He's too perlite to say what he thinks
maybe it wouldn't sound so we'll to US,
neither. A hints good as a kick from
some folks
"Goin'?' queried Joe.
"Sure-nothin else to do. Orders are
orders"
mo use buttin' agin that" Joe solemnly
conceded.
The following morning when Dave ap
peared at the office somewhat later than
was his custom he was In no very amiable
frame of mind-strictly speaking, he was
mad.
II lowed Mister Bill knew what he was
about when he wanted to get US away
from here he growled. "All settled down
below that we're dead ones. It's the hard
est work I've done in many a day to keep
from runnin' foul of some of them chaps
that seem to know SO much about our
business, and are kind of dirty about it.
jest cause they think we're done for.
Strange how some folks get so much
courage all at once when they think a
feller has lost his grip"
Don't mean nothin-not worth bother
in our heads about. Let 'em carry on
for spell-our turn'n come afore long"
Joe philosophically observed. evidently
thinking it desirable to maintain an equi-
librium of tempers.
Daylight is jest achin' to get into some
of their hides. But that don't happen to
be part of this ere game. as L understand
it" said Dave, more calmly.
mot as l know of. This ere is a gen.
tlemans game. and we amt supposed
to do any mixin'. We're jest perlitely
asked to do the heavy lookin' on, and I
reckon we'd better try our level best
TO do 1t, even If it does go agin the
grain" said Joe.
Reckon we had. I low Mister Bill
has trouble enough without loadin' him
up with any of our maxim Dave
agreed.
Better tell him his invite is taken
up, and we'll take the trail soon as
we can round UP our traps He's done
the handsome askin' a couple of rough
chaps like US to go back there-like
enough we'll put the kerbosh on him
to the limit" Joe seriously opined.
Some liberties were taken with
Dawes dictation, but as given to the
stenographer, it would have read about
as follows:
"Old Consolidated is limpin' along on
half time 'cording TO orders. It's took
like the itch-no discountin' that. There's s
plenty to say / told you so-theyre
allus on hand. Some are afeared may
be you've been caught in trap. Kinder
looks that way to chap up tree, SO
you can't blame 'em so much. They
sort of agree that We're brolSe-plumb
worked out-and we amt sayin' no diff
ferent Folks are beginning to Won
der what has become of you, and there's
some the same as say you were feared
to stay and face the music and lit out
but they amt sayin IL very hard. The
chap as started that yarn must have
took TO the woods. leastwise he amt
takfn no trouble to make himself
known.
Joe and me don't so much like the
idee of diggin' out jest this time, as it
kinder looks like we might be runnin
away from somethin' we re afeared of,
but we're obeyin' orders, and amt ask
in no questions. Well break camp
tomorrow night, and you can figger out
about the time we're likely to strike
old New York Maybe you'd best be
on the watch for US seein' as how we'll
be the worst kind of tenderfeet. So
long
II amt sayin' so much as I might,
but that's enough to give him an idee
what's goin on Dave explained, when
he had finished his dictation.
"More'n likely he knows IL now-all
he cares to know. Them cusses have
been usin' the wires afore now and
tellin' the crowd back there what's go
in on. Mister Bill is watchin' EN- sharp
enough to know whether they've bit or
not-he ain't waitin for Uncle Sam to
tell him about that said Joe.
II reckon. Don't make much differ
ence what we do so long as we keep
our mouths shut and our fingers out
of the dough"
About this time another letter relat
tive to the same general subject was
speeding on It's way 10 the same oeSli-
nation:
Dear Mister Bill: Your letter was
entirely like a man. Why do men who
are really deserving Of serious consid-
Grafton persist in living so entirely
within themselves? They make a grave
mistake. No human being is or can
be SO entirely self-sufficient that he
can afford to exclude from his life
those who are honestly Interested in
him and his work--he is simply defyiag
a law that is greater than himself. On
the particular subject which interests
me the most, you hardly say a word.
don't think 1t quite fair. How
ever, refuse to consider my
self personally affronted. and for
the present shall attribute your
apparent lack OF confidence in me to the
misfortune-from mans standpoint-of
my birth. Yet this is not altogether a
satisfactory explanation, as I had some
time since conceded myself the right of
being judged by my own Individual worth
mess, rather than by the standard of sex
But, alas Do as she may, a woman
never seems able to disassociate herself
from the incontrovertible fact that she is
a woman. and must suffer the eternal
consequences.
VERY well, sir, as you refuse to meet
me half way, l shall take the middle