Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

Who wants it? Name your own price How much
I offered?"
The crowd swayed, some of its members angrily,
others accepting the grim jest and others eager get
back their homes shops where they could think
One excited man crowded toward the Colonel and
shreked, You knew it all the time! You wanted our
money you old hypocrite!7
The hurt look had not had time to cloud the Colones
eyes before Burmah Jones sprang at this complainant
like catapult.
you le! he shouted as he struck, and the went
topping backward and would have fallen had not the
crowd been too dense.
1t was the Colonel who caught Burmah's just as
he about to strike again. and restrained him.
"Bur1nah! BurInah!7 he entreated @Don't! This
isn't the time for us to lose temper
Burmah shook him off and crowded forward, gestcu-
ating and shouting at the top of his voice ANY
that says that Colonel Hatch tried to get his money
by dishonesty is har And any that stops and
thinks will know it! If anyones to be blamed, stick it
I'm the you want to talk to- Mel Burmah
Jones!'
TITLE BILLY broke through the crowd with Pick at
his heels, and Hubbard following and together they
forced the Kansan away from the dock, angrily de-
nouncng anyone who had even harsh thought against
the Colonel. They fairly dragged him along to the
Offices of the Port Hatch Land Company, where they
led him to his private office. He gave sudden gasp
and then dropped into the depths of the leather chair
his head dropped over his breast and his ruled silk
hat fell to the floor unheeded. Disheveed with his
watch chain broken and dangling, and blood dripping
from cut his knuckles, he seemed gasping for
breath
Brandy! Get some brandy Quick!- ordered Little
Billy and Pick out of the room, to return moment
later with flask Little Billy, big and powerful with
the socitude of affection, put his arm behind Burmahs
back and held the flask to his purple lips Burmah
gulped the fiery draft and sat up, at first weakly then
resolutely.
Thanks he said quietly he pulled his handker-
chief from his pocket and trembngly wiped the stain
from his hand. He frowned at his watch chain and
slipped the broken ends into his pocket absentmnded
and reached for his hat which Hubbard had rescued from
the floor He roned it with his coat sleeve and put
on his head.
Feeling all right now Bur1nah?" inquired Pick and
Burnah twisted his face into wry semblance of
smile.
@Fit as fiddle he said. And then, II guess made
a cussed fool of myself but, Boys, you know what
said was true The Colonel God bless him. never turned
a crooked card in his life! Send anyone that's got kick
to me-" There certain grim resouteness In his
voice as he added, pulling himself together an tell
EN- who's to blame!'
The Colonel came hu11ying into the and rushed
to him. "Burmah! Burnah!' he exclaimed, and his
voice was filled with boundless affection.
Colonel" cautioned Little Billy, pluckng at the
Colonels sleeve, and then leaning and whispering
in the Colonels ear "Pease don't bother him. He's
had something almost like stroke He'll be all right in
little while
But the Colonel came over and laid his arm across
the bowed shoulders Of Burah Jones' and his eyes
moist and his voice soft he said @Dont mind it, old
friend Well beat them all yet! It's Port Hatch! We
made it. Burah, you and l. She goes if everything
else in the world stops She's ours Ingratitudes the
failing of weak souls. Big forgive it. 1 don't
mind what they said to me down there on the wharf.
They don't know, they don't understand; but do!
We keep right going!'
And every word that he uttered burned as with hot