The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-12-15
honest men to starve."

honest men to starve."
1t was hopeless from the start, yet
Steve tried again
81 can promise you work as long as
you are able to hold rein" he Of
fered, but be moved nearerthe door
while he was speaking. THAT is all
can promise"
Perhaps Fallon believed that Big
Louie was weakening. Perhaps he felt
that the situation was too highly dra-
matte to be wasted, for he made wide
| flourish with one hand.
"We want our time, and we want 1t
now" he threatened. Were going to
show you who bosses this river before
we're done with your
Fallon shouldn't have gloated; he
shouldn't have threatened And Shayne
shouldn't have smiled Steve had slip
ped the latch loose. Now he swung
open the door.
Call for your time at the Morrison
Office" he said evenly, land If you're
| going-why. go!'
BY collar and belt lie swung him
back and drove him sprawling into 4
drift.
Are you in hurry, too, Shayne?'
he asked pleasantly, and Shaync buried
his head beside Fallon's in the snow.
Then Steve closed the door carefully
and turned again to Big Louie.
Louie" he said, 81 make it rule to
urge no man who does not wish to
stay. If it needs persuasion to keep
you do not want you here. But you
are running with the wrong crowd,
Louie You'll learn 1t some day, but
some day may be too late"
/ The big, dreamy eyed man was hard
ly listening, but he gestured toward
the door. And Steve treated bis de-
parture kindly, as he had always treat
ed his presence.
| Outside where Shayne and Fallon
had picked themselves up Big Louie
hesitated and fumbled in his pocket
with cold cramped hand. lie deliy-
cred the letter for Stephen which had
been Entrusted to him by Miss Sarah.
| There are many men like Big Louie
who are pitifully faithful until events
outstrip their intellects. Steve was
sorry for him, and half hour later,
after he had read Miss Sarahs prim
note requesting his presence at dinner
| at 7:30 Christmas eve, he grew sor-
rier still iwhIle he watched the III as-
sorted trio meet once more. blanket
! packs upon their backs and snowshoes
on their feet. Big Louie had joined
the other two from the direction Of the
stables. There were words between
them, for Steve saw the huge mans
arm lift to strike Shayne to the ground
and then drop harmlessly back to his
side. And Steve knew what that bit
of pantomime meant Big Louie had
been to bid his team goodby. There
was smudge Of brown sugar across
bis coat, though the watcher was too
far away to see that But he knew
that Big Louie had been crying, knew
that Shayne had smiled. 1t was the
second time that .Shayne had smiled
that evening-his second bad mistake
Long after they had disappeared into
the north toward the Reserve COM
pany's camps Steve wondered that 1t
had not cost him his life.
Miss Sarah's note which had been al
most a week on the way was very
primly correct, but the inevitable post
script which underran 1t sounded
more intimate note.
I'VE are not excessively formal as
rule, Stephen she wrote, 80 a din
ner jacket will be adequate. As | am
expecting two other guests besides
your friends, Mr. Morgan and Garrett
Devereau, | must ask you TO let no
business matters interfere with your
promptness"
Steve dared not let himself wonder
who those other guests would prove to
be. Miriam Burrell, he knew, had al
ready written Garry that this was to