Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-09
CONTINUED from preceding issue)


"They tell me- Steve continued. '-tha-
there's talk among You OF 10 more work
on the river when we've put this railroad
through. I've heard it said that some Il
You think YOU are cutting the groSsd out
from under yonr feet with every shovel
fun Of earth you lift. You ought 10 know
better than that. You oaght 10 know for
yourselves thu. Ri III be need for more
men ii these w2,ds -Aan there ever has
been before. But II You don't, if YOU can't
see il that way, why not come around and
let me have a fair chance 10 talk things
over with Won myself before You decide u
turn on this j0bf | want YOU to rcmem-
Der that a man who i a liar in one thing
is mighty likely TO talk loose t~ongued, no
matter what he breaches"
And there, without lifting his eyes from
the floor. Big Louie cleared his throat and
made answer.
Maybe he retorted-"maybe. and
maybe not "a sure either. | have listened
70 big words before now, me, that have
pat TO food under my heli, no coat TO ny
back"
IF is Only food and shelter and
clothes for voUr back. Big Louie, youll not
nave tn worry. But I'm not promising
either. mind, that therc1l be easy money
to blow on white vhi-key. Were YOU *
peciing any?"
That brain which could cope with but
ono idea at 4 time was fertile ground for
-..I .-l,,I -,.f I. .n, a. II. r-r, u,fvbr
sow. Big Louie failed to reply. lie sat
quiet. deep in thought. when Stephen
OMara closed the door noiselesslv be
hind him.
N was minutes after Steve had gone
back mp the hill before Garry Devereau
reached ont a hand in the darkness and
touched, czTerimcntallv, what had seemed
to be a shapeless black blotch al the edge
~ light y rod or two from the door. And
Instantly al his touch the shadow was gal
'yanizcd into life. II reared and plunged
and enyeloped Tx Slighterman in 4 crush
ing embrace and bore him over backward.
With the muz2ie OF q revolver chatting his
ear Garry managed 10 worrt his head high
enough to free his mouth and ~nostrils from
the dirt.
Get off me-, Get off me you fat ro-
manccr. ycu" he whispered fierccly.
in explosive erunt of di-may answered
him before Fat Joe TEL him ". III \ thin
and %profane tenor he was bidden TO ex-
plain his presence there.
~ couldn't sleep Garry replied, his
voice still paevish, $50 ! came out for a
breath III mir. ! saw him start this way
saw YOU foll wing him with that gun in
your hand. / i1-t slipped over, too, in
ease there PVT NJ he doings. What's the
! row, Joe?"
Joe took him urgently by the elbow,
turned him about and started him for the
rise.
can old grndge,'' he deigned m ungra-
6ious explanation. ITS years and years
| old. Steve licked him once. Once when
they were boys the folks thar live down
next to Allisnn'S dressed Steve up like 4
picture book, the nearest | can make out,
and sent HIM 10 town a-shoppin. %lIarri-
gan, he
Il know, | remembert' Garrv's eager
whisper interrupted. "That ~. | didn't
know that IIarrigan was one Of the moi
Steve whipped that day. Bat that wasn'e
what | meant. Who was the-the girl
Iiarrigan was talking about when Steve
when Steve
Joe fingers frightened D little As the
other cs inccd q tendency TO lag.
Hurry \ hit, will vou2r he urged com
plainingly. "Show 4 little speed. I'm sup
posed To- be up there asleep And then.
g%ruffly, Int was the Allison girl If course
In spite 81 the hand upon the elbow
Garrett Dcvercau stopped short in his
tracks.
"Barharar' he Stammcred. Barbara
Alliccn3 iac. was that the gril he meant