Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-30
XVIII.
The Morning After.

Ford was awake for all day. and was
colioguing with Frisbie about the carry
ing out Of the sumptuary order for the
forcible camp cleaning. when Penfield
came with the request that the chief re-
port at once to the president in the
Nadia.
Tell him I'll be there presently" was
the answer: and when Penfield went to
do it the interrupted colloquy was re-
sumed
You say the camp has already gone
dry?" said Ford. incredulously.
Frisbie nodded. 'Everybody's on the
water wagon: here and at all the camps
above and below-bars not only closed.
but apparently wiped out of existence. I
went for old Brian last night as soon as
reached here. He looked at me reproach-
fully ard said: It's you to be always
naggin' me about thin whisky dives
that I'm forever thryin to run out and
can't. Go and thry it yourself. Misther
Frisbie. an I'll stand at your back till
you're black in the face But when /
went through the camp everything was
quiet and orderly. and Jack Batters' bar
was not only closed-it was gone; van
ished without leaving so much as bad
smell behind it,
"And them" said Ford.
Then l got out my horse and rode up
the. creek and through some of the camps
on the Copah detour. The Star-eyed god
dess of reform had evidently landed on
that coast. too Donahue's Hungarians
were singing war songs around their
camp fire. as usual. and Contadinis Tus-
cans were, out. in full force. guying the
night-shift track layers. But there was
no bad blood and no whisky to breed 1t.
You're done up again. Stuart.
II don't see that" said Ford. who. be-
sides being short on sleep, was rejoicing
in the thought that Alicia and the other
women of the private-car party would not
have to be blind and deaf.
Don't you? You've been protesting to
beat the band about the lawlessness and
dissipation of the Marlborough camps.
Accordingly Mr.. Colbrith comes over
here to see for himself-and what will he
see? Decency on monument smiling re-
proachfully at her unprincipled traducer.
Marlborough will rub 1t into you good
and hard. Cant you feel the Sunday
school atmosphere right here in the head
quarters this morning? Look down yon-
der at the Nadia-wouldn't that soothe
you. now?
Ford looked and the scowl which was
coming to be a habit transformed itself
into a cynical smile. A hundred or more
of the marlborough laborers. has off and
standing at respectful attention were
clustered about the rear platform of the
private car and Mr.. .Colbrith was ad-
dressing them: giving them the presiden-
tial benediction as Frisbie put ii irrev-
erently.
Don't you see how you are going to be
hoisted with your own ammunltion? the
little man went on, spitefully. What be-
comes of all your complaints Of drunk
enness and crime. when Mr.. Colbrith can
see with his own eyes what truly good
people the MacMorroghs are? And what
conclusion will he arrive at? There's only
one and it's a long-armed one so far as
your reputation is concerned-you are SO
desperately bent on having your own way
that you haven't scrupled to tell lies
about these angelic contractors"
Let up Dick" said Ford. gruff1y. I've
got about all can carry till 1 catch up
on sleep little. But you're right; this
is the place where the fireworks come in.
/ think III go and light the fuses while
I'm keyed up to it.
The crowd of laborers he'd dispersed by
the time Ford reached the Nadia, and
the president. benign from the reaction
airy effect of his own early morning elo-
uuence was waiting for him.
"Ah we did reach the front safely after
all. didn't we. Mr.. Ford?' was Mr.. Col
BIRTHS mildly sarcastic greeting. And
then: "Come aboard. sir; we are waiting
breakfast for you"
Ford would have declined promptly IL
the invitation had been anything less than
a command He had met none of the
members of the private-car party save
Miss Alicia. and he did not want to meet
them, having the true captain of indus