Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-11

less, for lifetime of rough servic
 belied his Celtic blood, his brain re mained clear, his step steady and hi
 eye unbleared. Thus it happened tha
 when, cut off from grazing, it wa
 necessary for the Shanty Town team
 to be returned at once to Clark's olt
 Michael was on hand and in condition
 to take them and by so doing wipe ou
 his drinking account.
 As he came opposite the shacl
 Marylyn was still running about 1T
 the snow, while Dallas was sweeping
 out some long, narrow drifts that haC
 sifted in through window and dOol
 cracks. Squinting across at them, ht | recalled all at once a heated COnver
 satiOn that had taken place at Shant. Town the afternoon of the southwarC departure of a Dodge City courier And he shook his head sorrOwfully.
 "Yell have yer hans fule before long, he advised aloud, Tor it's me that's not good at guessin'." An( lifting the front of his cap, he sym. pathetically blew the purple bump that served him for nose till it rang through the crisp air like throaty 1 bugle.
 Farther on as he sat ponderine deeply and letting the leaders choose their course a hOrseman came canter- ing toward him and drew rein beside his wheel. It was Lounsbury, buried to his ears in buffalo coat.
 Sure, it's sOmethin' important John, that's a-bringin ye out t'day," cried old Michael roguishly, his brogue disclosing his identity. "It's ayther kilograms or l-a-a-ydies. The stOrekeeper cOlored under his visor. It's nayther," he mocked laughingly
 None O yer shillyshallin', warn ed the ferryman, giving the other a playful whack with his gad. "Oi kin rade ye loike a buke'
 You cant read a book" declared Lounsbury. But I'll tell you. I'm going to the Lancasters."
 Old Michael nodded with sly wink through the portholes of his mask "Oi knowed it. he said Then, after fishing out tobacco bag from under his many coats and lighting the corn cob in the protecting bowl of his palms, Tn that case, man, Oi got sOmethin' t say t ye."
 He leaned over the wheel confiden- tially, and Lounsbury bent toward him, so that the smoke of the pipe fed the storekeeper's nostris. They talked for half an hour, the one re- lating his story, the other putting in quick questions. At the end of their conversation Lounsbury held out his hand.
 If their letter brings him, Mike he said, don't you fail to let me know"
 Aye, aye" promised the pilot ear nestly.
 They parted. Old Michael continu- ed his way with an easy mind, but Lounsbury was troubled. Instead of carrying, as on his former visit, good news to the little family on the bent he must now be the bearer of evil.
 And when, having stalled his horse with Ben and Betty, he entered the COttOnWOow shack his heart smote him still more, for secretly he had hoped that he was to tell them what they already knew, but it seemed precisely the reverse. There was nothing in the appearance and ac-I tions of the LanCasters that suggested anxiety. The section boss. though his manner was not without a cer- tain reserve las if he half believed something was about to be wOrmed out of him(, greeted Lounsbury good naturedly enough. Marylyn hurried up in timid tlutter 10 take his cap and coat, while facing him from tn hcartside, her hair coiled upon he head like a crown, her gray eye. bright. her cheeks glowing, was a | new Dallas.
 Well how've you all been?" askeC i LOunsbury. accepting a bench.
 oh. spright 'nough." answered 1 the section boss, but it's cold: it's cold. Keeps me tremblin' like a gull ty nigger"
 "You'll get over that" assured the other. rubbing the blood into his hands. It's natural for you 10 be soft as chalk rock the first winter. You've been living south
 An reckon agreed Lancaster. He sat down beside the younger man. ewing him closely. How'd V colnc git away from business?" he que-ied
 Well. you sec Lounsbury ans wered, I've got m Al man in my Bismarck store. and at Clark's there's nothing 10 do weekdays hardly. so ! just took some tobacco to Skinncv'e where the boys could get at if. and nped down here" Then playfullE . But I don't see much happening in hese parts" He stretched towar, , window The town of Lancaster ,in't growing very fast
 Dallas. seated on a bench with Narylyn. looked across at him smil- ng,y. I'm glad of it." she declared We aiH't used to towns
 You folks 've never lived in one"
 .No. We never even been in one"
 He puckrrcd his forehead. Pun III. he said. Somehow. I always hink of vou two as town girls |
 -Aw. shUcks'" exclaimed Lancas- CT sowing Il
 Hut Dallas was leaning forward. interested That's on account of sTr teachers she said There was srhUuihnuse up the track. in Texas. md we went tn it on fhe hand car. !, Every year ws had a different teach IT, and an uf -em came from big .astern plaoas like New Orleans or st LDHfs- S1-sg- you see. we kfnds -g- tOwny from CUT schooIma' ans
 One had a gold tooth. put ir Marvin Her eyes. wide with recol-