The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-12-01

conversation from him. Besides, 1
want to talk to you myself"
DO you always get what you want?'
inquired the girl.
Orde laughed.
Amy one can get anything he wants
If only he wants it bad enough" he
asserted.
Some people," she amended. "How-
ever, forgive you. will even fat
ter you by saying am glad you came
You look to have reached the age of
discretion. venture to say that these
boys idea of a lively evening is TIC
throw bread about the table"
Orde flushed a little. The last time
he had supped at Jane Hubbard's that
was exactly what they did do.
.'They are young. of course" he said.
Nov. tell me. what do you do?"
"What do 1 do?" asked Orde. puz-
zled.
Eyes. Everybody does something
out west here"
"I'm river driver just now
"a river drivery" she repeated
''Why, I've just been hearing great
deal about you from Mrs. Bags"
"Ohy' said Orde. '"Then you know
what drunken. swearing. worthless
lot Of toughs we are, don't your"
"There is Hell's Half Mile" she re-
minded him.
"Oh, yes" said Orde bitterly. there's
Hell's Half Mile! Whose fault is that?
My rivermen's-my boys? Look here!
suppose you couldn't understand 1t If
you tried month. But suppose you
were working out in the woods nine
months Of the year. Suppose you slept
in rough blankets on the ground or in
hunks. ate rough food, never saw a
woman or book. undertook work to
scare your city men up tree. risked
your life dozen times a week in a
tangle of logs. with the big river roar
ing behind just waiting to swallow
you; saw nothing but woods and river.
were cold and hungry and wet and so
tired you couldn't wiggle. And then
suppose you hit town, where there
were all the things you hadn't had.
and the first thing you struck was
Hell's Half Mile. Say, you've seen wa
ter behind jam, haven't you? Water
powers good thing in a mill course,
where 1t has wheels to turn, but be-
hind jam 1t just rips things. Oh,
what's the use talking? A girl doesn't
know what It means. She couldn't un.
derstand."
II think I begin to understand a lit
tle," said she softly. But they are q
heartless class in spite of all their
courage aren't they?''
"Heartless! exploded Orde. .'There's
no kinder lot of men on earth. There
isn't man on that river who doesn',
chip In five or ten dollars when mar
is hurt or killed. and that means three
or four days hard work for him. AND
he may not know or like the injured
man at all. Why
whats all the excitementY' drawl
ed Jane Hubbard behind them. Can
| you make 1t a to be continued in, on
next2 We're most starved"
yes. indeed!' chimed the Incubus
The company trooped out to the din
ing room, where the table. spread wit
all the good things. awaited them.
i TO Orde's relief no one threw an,
bread, although the whole hearted full
grew boisterous enough before tn,
close of the meal.
In spite Of her half scornful refer
ences to dread throwing Miss Bisho
joined with evident pleasure In tn
badinage.
After the meal was finished Orde
with determination, made his way t
Miss Bishops side. She turned t
the piano, struck a few chords, an
then, her long hands wandering idl
and softly up and down the keys. sh
smiled at them over her shoulder.
Song followed song, at first quickly
then at longer intervals. The girl sti
. sat at the piano. her head throw
back idly. her hands wandering softl
e in and out Of melodies and moduls
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