The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-12-09

had been ready in the hands OF a
thin, gray man who leaned from the
steamers rail to exchange few curt
words.
Ma Daily cornered him In the ktch'
en- late in the night as he finished
his careful rounds Of the camp.
Son" she said gently, "they's q
hard knock comm to you an l want
to give you warnin', though ! know
you'll take 1t standin', Johnny, as yer
daddy took all O. his, an I've seen
him take some corkers.
Il know what you've always thought
o. S'letz, son, sence she was teensy
chap-Ive watched her quiet ways
open yer heart an seen her walk H.
an I've hoped myself some day IT'D
all work out, fer she's always turned
to you in trouble. It's instinct. But
son-son, haven't you seen nothin'
sence Sandry come among US? Haint
ye read the signs?" The foreman mad
stopped at the sink and lifted TN
dipper of water for drink. AT the
last words he put the vessel slowly
down untouched and turned an amazed
face toward the old lady. His blue
eyes were wide, and the mother glo-
ried like a gil In the good man
strength of him-the broad shoulders,
the muscled arms, bare to the elbow,
the shapely back and the straight hips
of the hill-climber.
What you talkin' of, MAJ" he asked.
"Jest this. SIetz laid out her heart
fer all to see when they brought Sandry
home an that-that Jezebel woman
shamed her before US all. She said,
on the heels O. tn child's cry OF love,
that she was Sandry's promised wife.
l think she lied-but Sletz is breakin
her heart fer the Fastener"
Here, without another word, Ma
Daily opened a door behind her and
creaked through. closing it softly.
OF such inherent tact was she, she
did not wish even his mother to see
big John Daily take his hard knock,
even though he took it standin'." with
only a tremor of the hand that held
the dipper.
When he met Siletz in the morning
he looked at her with eyes little
more haggard-there was a deeper
line at the corners of his mouth.
The girl bore traces Of the first an
guish she had ever known in the pal
lor of her face, the dull look of smol-
dering flame under the daZe of help
lessness.
There was no one in the eating room
besides themselves. Collins was out
In the hills with the crew. for at the
first sight of Sandry still alive, Daily
had given orders to go on with the
work and Siletz had stopped between
he tables at supper time.
"Will the Siletz stay" she had
asked simply and it had taken no more
han that The camp went ahead in |
definitely.
Now Daily stopped her with great |
land on her shoulder and looked hun
,rily into her face.
"S1etz," he said softly, rs 1t true?"
She raised her eyes to his and an
wered as simply, yes"
There was no need Of many words
mong these people of strong lives,
+ Straightforward principles.
The big man Strengthened up bit
nd shut his lips hard, as If he bit
pom pain, looked after the vanishing
gments of all his dreams that had
copied the hills of the future. His
lother had seen that look In the eyes
f John Daily the frst-who had
took his hard knocks standin' that
,ok of patient strength. For It she
ad followed him into the hard life
( lumber camp and never regret
I'D it.
Now 1t spent itself on the rising
i'll, visible through the open door
cross Siletz' dark head, and John
ally the Second was ready to face
is loss.
"Siletz," he said gently, always re-
lember that I'm the best friend you
Of on earth-I'll be waitin' all nay
fe to help you eff you ever need
le." And he smoothed his hard
ands easily down her arms, lingering
moment with her hands folded in
Is palms. Then he turned away to
lie days work. There was small I'M
ertone Of softness in his voice at the
st words that was never to leave
again.
Continued Next Week.