Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-07-21
CHAPTER v-Continued.

II can't believe it. Murray. It's q
leaf out of the book of Bedlam!
Take fair shot at it and see where
the bullet lands: this entire crazy fake
is built upon one solitary, lonesome
fact-the fact that we're here, with a
job on our hands big enough to create
an active. present-moment market for
labor and material. There is absolute
ly nothing else behind the bubble
blowing; II we were not here the Nj
quota Improvement company would
never have been heard of"
Grislow laughed. Your arguing that
twice two makes four doesn't change
= the iridescent hue of the bubble" he
volunteered. IF big money has seen
a chance to skin somebody, the mere
fact that the end of the world is due
to come along down the pike some
day isn't going to cut any obstructing
figure. Well all be buying and sell
ing corner lots in Hosford's new city
before we're a month older. Don't you
believe IT."
III believe It when I see It," was
Brouillard's reply; and with this the
matter rested for the moment.
II was later in the day. an hour or
so after the serving of the hearty
supper in the engineers mess tent.
that Brouillard was given to see an.
other and still less tolerable side of
his temporary guest. Hosford had
come into the Office to plant himself
solidly in the makeshift easy chair for
the smoking of big. black after-sup-
per cigar.
I've been looking over your rules
and regulations, BrouilIard." he be-
gan, after an interval of silence which
Brouillard had been careful not to
break. You're making capital mis-
take in trying to transplant the old
Connecticut blue laws out here. Your
,workingmen ought to have the right to
spend their money in any way that
suits EN-"
Brouillard was pointedly occupying
himself at his desk. but he looked up
long enough to say: Whisky, you
mean?"
THAT and other things. They tell
me you don't allow any open gam
bling or any women here outside of
the families of the workmen."
I'VE don't" was the short rejoinder.
THAT won't hold water after we get
things fairly in motion"
1T will have to hold water as far
as we are concerned, II nave to build
a stockade around the camp" snapped
Brouillard.
Hosford's heavy face wrinkled itself
in a mirthless smile. You're nutty."
he remarked. when find a man
bearing down hard on all the little
vices, it always makes me wonder
what's the name of the corking big one
he is trying to cover up"
Sihce there was obviously no peace
full reply to be made to this, Brouillard
bent lower over his work and said
nothing. At every fresh step in the
forced acquaintance the newcomer
was painstakingly developing new an
tagonisms. Sooner or later, Brouillard
w,
ture, but he was hoping that the actual
hostilities could be postponed until
after Hosford had worn out his tenn
porary welcome as a guest in the engi-
neers' mess.
For a time the big man in the easy
chair smoked on in silence. Then he
began again:
Say, Brouillard. I saw one little girl
today that didn't belong to your work
men s-family outfit, and she's a peach;
came riding down the trail with her
brother from that mine up on the
south mountain-Massingale isn't II?
By Jove! she fairly made my mouth
water!"
Inasmuch as no man can read field
notes when the page has suddenly be-
come q red blur. Brouillard looked up.
you are my guest. in a way. Mr..
Hosford; for that reason l can't very
well tell you what l think Of you"
So much he was able to say quietly.
Then the control mechanism burned
out in q fash of fiery rage and he
cursed the guest fiuently and compre-
hensively. winding up with a crude
and savage threat of ACKNOWLEDGMENT
II he should ever venture so much as
to name Miss Massingale again in the
threatener's hearing.
Hosford sat up slowly. and his big
face turned darkly red.
Welt" he broke out. $50 you're
that kind of a fire-eater, are you?
I didn't suppose anything like that
ever happened outside Of the ten-cent
shockers. Wake up. man; this is the
twentieth century we're living in.
Don't look at me that way!"
s. But the wave of insane wrath was
already subsiding, and Brouillard, half