The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-11

i=.g=-;= i fore the section boss recover
SSsz-=zz.j ed appreciably from his long
sulk What d y s'pose Lounsbury
reckoned could happen t my gaIs?'
he demanded of David Bond.
The evangelist shook the reins at
Shadrach. "A storm, cold, want" he
replied. There are many evils that
might befall two young women alone
In shanty on the prairie"
WAL, nothin' s ever happened t
'em before" declared Lancaster But
he whistled to stay change in good
fortune and raped the wood of the
wagon box with his bare knuckles.
David Bond busted himself with
urging on his horse. God will watch
over them" he said devoutly. BE
hold, he that keepeth Israel shall nei-
Their slumber nor sleep"
The section boss shifted. Sure of the
safe trend Of his affairs, he was in
mood to scott at any religious allusion.
Reverence with him was entirely
matter of urgent physical need He
had called to his Maker but twice In
his life-once when an ugly tempered
peon threatened him with a spade
again when, falling from his swiftly
moving fat car, he felt the heavy
wheels grinding him flesh and bone.
storm KANT tech tn shack" he
said proudly. She's built like ship,
t stan any win She's warm, too,
an thet Injun he brings us plenty of
wood. An they s grub 'nough t
las"
The evangelist was politely atten-
tive.
'0They S jes' one man tibet might
come botherin' EN-" Lancaster went
on. but faint likely he'll see these
parts before spring. An All dom
blieye he'll come then"
David Bond set his brows together.
The previous night an unshaped
thought had made him pause a second
before leaving Dallas. Now that
thought became a suspicion-a sus-
picion Of the real truth. "a MANI" he
said questionmgly. "a MANI"
Being thus prompted on the subject
of the claim, Lancaster was willing to
proceed, for he had no feeling that he
was obeying Dallas. "Ahm speakin'
of a man tibet fled on my section in
July" he said. His six months is up
t'day. SO All reckon he'll hev t. work
new piece of track. For All inten' t.
hang on t thet quarter-it's goin' t
be worth pile"
The evangelist threw him a swift
glance. what is the name of that
man?" he asked.
''Ah dunno. All clean gone an f'got
1t. All ought t. wrote it DOWN
Would you know it if you heard
it,"
wy, yes-'twas some ornery name"
WAS twas it Matthews?"
Complete bewilderment spoke from
Lancaster's wide open eyes and mouth.
He whirled about upon the evangelist
and seized the reins. Shadrach came
to a squatting stop, his ears turning
round to catch command. "Thet's 1t,
Thets it," cried the section boss. AN
how d you know?"
The two men looked at each other in
silence. Lancaster's face was dark
with distrust; David Bonds pale with
alarm.
Howe" exclaimed the latter, when
his tongue at last answered his will.
How? Because Matthews came north
with me yesterday"
II Shadrach possessed the sense his
master claimed for him he must have
concluded then and there that the hui
man beings in the pung had gone
stark mad. For after some excited
shouting. the one TO the other, they
| brought him square about and sent
him scurrying back toward Brannon
They did not retTace their way. bu
steered due south, thus saving the few
miles that could take them again
through Clark's Shadrach approved
the change in direction, which pointed
10 q snug corner beside the friendly
bull calf. and fairly SKINNED the hard
snow. He had already gone forty long
miles since morning. Yet. undaunted,
he took up the return with good Zest,
holding q smart pace unwearily. He
hreathed deep, and his long Roman
nose-thrust out on a line with his
/ rocking back-smoked like an eager
j chargers.
/ In the first half hour that followed
+ the evangeliSt's disquieting admission
/ he listened 10 wild. profane TRADE
+ against himself for having failed to
I speak Of Matthews. against Dallas for
/ being in such q tarnal hurry, against
Lounsbury on general principles. The
section boss found only one person
wholly exempt from blame-himself
So he cursed. threatened, he wrung
his hands. he grabbed crutch and
leaning forward. poked the straiRing
tanks Of the white horse.
Gentle. gentle" admonished David
Bond He goes fastest who goes
steadily. have driven Shadrach nine
y miles in twenty-five hours. And If
we are patient with him now he will
get US home by reveille."
But Lancaster only groaned IN