Evening star., 1913-12-14


"Now," he said briskly, a shall see to it
that your deeds are forthcomin' at once, and
in the time it takes to get EN- ready you
shall have my receipt.
"Oh, never mind that, Mr.. Jones, we trust
YOU The Colonels introduction is enough
for me- stoutly asserted Tommy, and into
this chorus joined Pick and Little Billy;
while Kirby began to feel like an outsider,
but was still too cautious to venture.
Burmah observed the thin, drawn scowl
of Kirby's eyebrows, and decided that this
young man might give trouble, and began
placing mental sentinels on guard. Pri-
vately he had learned that Kirby was the
wealthiest Of the young men from Chat
tanooga, hence he rather resented it that
Kirby did not chip into this jackpot that he
was arranging; but not SO much as quIver
of an eyelash betrayed this distrust.
EVERYTHING has to have a head to it,
- he observed leaning back and feeling
the crinkle of seven thousand dollars worth
of drafts and checks in his pocket. 4It's
only right that you young men should get in
with me now, and boostin's what makes the
globe whirl. If there wasn't somethin' to
keep it rollin, it might drop out through
space, and become as dead as the moon; so,
as I'm the one that's doin' all the hirin',
under the Colonel's suggestions, I'm goin'
to say somethin' more. Therel be no law
business in Port Hatch for sometime; but
we need a lawyer up there.
The quartet agreed on this
Suppose, then, that we have Kirby
Smith go up there and attend to that.
Well have an office built for him right away,
somewhere close to the offices of the Port
Hatch Land Company
Kirby thought mis- was very fine; but the
others looked glum.
"He can make his expenses from his eli
ents," suavely said Burmah, and Kirby, al
ready compromised by acceptance, had to
accept or appear greedy.
"Did hear you say one day that you had
edited paper at college?" politely queried
Burmah of Pick. 49,
The latter proudly asserted that this was
true.
"Then, seein' as we have to start paper
right away observed Burmah, making in
dustrious memoranda with lead pencil,
1--WE must buy printin' plant, and have Mr..
Pickett open the semiweekly newspaper.
Well talk about its name later"
Pick, while not entirely satisfied, nodded,
and not even this Slight show of reluctance
escaped the sharp eyes that watched him.
"The owner of the first newspaper in Port
Hatch,' observed Burmah as if to himself,
"has a big responsibility. An editor that's
any good is the heaviest force any COM
munity ever gets. Think of Horace Greeley,
and Charley Dana, and Colonel Blethen,'
he said, "and of all they've done! Are you
sure you can fill the bill?" he demanded an
xiously of Pick.
Thus put on his mettle, Pick was certain
that he could. And SO Burmah had adroitly
arranged to divert Kirby, who had not
bought lots, and Pickett, who had been the
last to come forward with cash, to scenes
other than those which might be too active
well, assented he, as if reluctant, "that
shall be your chance
HE thoughtfully whirled in his new chair
: and looked down the street, as if coming
to some nonentous decision. Below him the
totem pole in Pioneer Square loomed up.
ancient and ugly. In that long, open space
street cars whirled, and turned, and clamored
with loud warning bells. 1t fascinated him,
in spite of his efforts at concentration; but
he brought his responsive mind back to his
business. Here were three young men, at
least, who believed in him, three young men
staring out in life, who trusted to his general
ship. For a full minute he struggled with
half-defined desire to return them their
money and tell them to walk out, advising
them that it was all but huge joke. Then,