Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-07

puluiuS SuuuueTeO unQ ulSSeO
~ to the straning toll Of the ma
chimes and the gasping breath Of the
furnaces. As the darkness gathered
he had gone out upon the dock TO look
regretfully toward the twinkling lights
on the Grande Dame. then turned dog
gedly backlo his labOrs He would have
sent Mildred word. but he had not a
single man to spare.
At 10 o'clock the next morning be
staggered into his quarters more dead
than alive. In his heart was great
thankfulness that Big George had not
found him wanting The last defective
machine was mended, the last weak.
ness strengthened. and the plant had
reached its fullest stride. The fish
might come now in any quantity; the
rest was but matter of coal and iron
and human endurance. Meanwhile he
would sleep.
He met "Fingerless" Fraser emerg-
ing. decked royalty in all the splendor
Of new clothes and spotless linen.
where are you going?" Boyd asked
him.
I'm going out into society,""
"Clyde is taking you to the yacht.
eh?"
"No. He's afraid Of my work. so
Pm going out on my own. He told
me all about the swell quilts at Marsh's
place. so l thought I'd lam up there
and look them over. may cop an
heiress.r He winked wisely. "If see
one that looks gentle I'm liable to grab
me some bride. He says there amt
one that's got less than couple Of
millions in her kick"
Boyd was too weary to do more than
wish him success. but 1t seemed that
fortune favored Fraser. for before he
had gone far he saw u young woman
seated in patch of wild flowers.
plucking the blooms with careless hand
while she drank in the beauty Of the
bright arctic morning She was sim
ply dressed. yet Looked SO prosperous
that Fraser Instantly decided:
"Thats her. III spread my checks
with this one. Good morning." he be-
gan.
The girl gave him an Indifferent
glance from two fearless eyes and
nodded slightly.
"If you don't mind. I'll rest min
ute. I'm out for my morning walk.
It's nice day. isn't IT." AS she did
not answer he ran on glibly: My
name is De Benvile. I'm one of the
New Orleans branch. That's my can
merry down yonder." He pointed in the
direction from which he had just come.
II thought that was Mr.. Emerson's
cannery." she said.
"Oh. the idea. He only runs 1t for
me. put up the money. You know
him. eh:"'
The girl nodded. "Yes. know Mr..
Clyde also"
"Who- Atom" he queried with re-
assuring warmth. "Why. you and l
have got mutual friends. Alton and
me is pals" He shook his head SOL
emnly. "Ain't he scourse"
81 beg your pardon"
81 say. amt he an awful thing? He
amt anything like Emerson. There's
ring tailed swallow all right. all
right! like him"
"Are you very intimate with him?"
"Am L? I'm closer to him than a
porous plaster. When Boyd amt
around I'm him. that's all. Is that
your yacht?"
mo. My father and l are merely
passengers.
$50 you trailed the old skeezicks
along with you? Well. that's right.
Make the most Of your father while
you've got him. II I'd paid more at
tention to mine Id have been better
off now. But was wild" Fraser
wlnked in a manner to inform his lis
tener that all worldly wisdom was his.
II wanted to be jockey. and the old
party cut me of. What I've got now
l made all by myself. but II Id stayed
In Bloomington ] might have been
president of the bank by this time"
Bloomington. understood you to
say New Orleans"
"My old man had a whole string OF
banks" Fraser averred hastily.
.'Tell me-is Mr. Emerson ill?" asked
the girl.
"Ill enough to lick den Of wild
cats"
"He intended coming out to the
yacht last night but he disappointed
u.s."
Hes as busy as an ant hill. met
him turning in just as l came out for
my constitutional"
"Where had he been all night?" Her
voice betrayed an interest that Fraser
was quick to detect. He answered
cannily:
"You can search me! don't keep
cases on him. AS long as he does his
work l don't care where he goes at
quitting time" He resolved that this
girl should learn nothing from him.
There seem to be very few white
women in this place." she said after
n pause.
"Only one. till you people came.
Maybe you've crossed her trail?"
"Mr. Emerson told me about her.
He seems quite fond of her."
"I've always said they'd make q
swell looking pair"
zone can hardly blame her for trying
10 catch him."
"Oh, you can make book that she
didn't start no lovemaking. She amt
the ki,,d to curl up in mans eur and
whisper. She don't have to. All she
needs to do is look natural. The men
will fall like ripe perslmmons."
"They have been together a great
deal. suppose"
Every hour Of the day, and the days
are long," said Fraser cheerfully. "But
he amt crippled. He could have walk
ed away II he'd wanted to. It's good
thing he didn't. though, because she's
done more to win this bet for US than