The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-11-30
"You've made me very, very happy"

you've made me very, very happy
them with a short gesture. you are
not beginning to worry, too. are your
Worry" Allison's frown was bare
ly perceptible. why should 1? !
never let anything worry Inc. Who is
beginning TO fret? You aren't, are
you? You don't look-much disturbed y
Not a particle Steve still smiled.
II never do. either, unless there is
something worth while to make me
Just thought perhaps you might have
contracted 1t from Mr.. Elliott. He's
been bothered. you see, by the way
some of the men are acting. We're
short a lot of labor this week"
The big man wheeled and squinted
at the droves Of men sweating under
the unseasonably hot sun. He peered
keenly at each elump of laborers some
of them scarcely distinguishable knots
of humanity in the distance.
Not very short he stated comfort
ably. II don't claim to be wholly
competent judge. but it looks to me as
though they would be in one another's
way if there were any more Of them
What's wrongF'
The chief engineers answer was
drawing in its deliberation.
81 wish knew" he replied. 81 wish
1 could he positive. And there aren't
too many OF them; they are altogether
too few. We're going to need them.
and more, too, before we finish, Mr..
Allison. Perhaps I'd better figure on
perhaps if they continue to quit on
us, by twos and threes, as they have
In the last week, I'll have to-
His pause seemed almost an invita-
tion that the other suggest a remedy,
and, whether it was or not, Dexter ALL
son was quick to seize the opening.
His suggested solution was heartily
bluff.
Import some more" he said. when
you've employed these men as long as
l have-the type of man who has
worked all his life on the river-youn
know as well as do just how uncer.
tain and unreliable they are. What
you need is 4 gang that doesn't want
to think for itself. This crowd has too
much Imagination for grind like
this"
Steve nodded very thoughtfully.
IF It is all Imagination" he won
dered. But they're not merely dis
contented. you see, Mr.. Allison. They
they are misleading themselves. They
seem to think, from what I've gather
ed from Mclean ard few with whom
l have talked, that they are working
themselves out Of job for good when
they help to build this strip Of rail
road. They think so. They have been
convinced that such is the truth. Per
sonally, however, I feel sure that be-
tween US we can correct that impress
sion"
Even though be was looking in the
direction Of heavy smoke cloud that
had followed a sharp blast to tie north
of them, Steve felt the weight Il ALI
sons questioning glance.
We" he echoed Where do I fig
ure I'm it?'
The younger mans upward glance
was seemingly surprised.
You? Why, you're a stGekhoiler.
It means as much to you As it does t"
Mr.. Ainnesley and Mr.. Elliott"
Allison interrupted him.
"Of course he exclaimed. 'Surely!
/ see! What mean was how IN the
world can l make them understand
that such a fool idea IS all wrouSf SO
far as this constructive work is con
cerned, I'm not an active member. !
i had that understood with Elliott
" hen | went into this thing
"Of course" Steve IN turn broke in
- understand that. But they know
you: they know that Morrison woulc
be nothing more than a street Of well
kept lawns and COW pastures II you
hadn't seen its possibilities. Aud so
I've already told some Of them, Mr.. Al
lison. I've gone even further ard Civ
en- a lot Of thea my word that you u
guarantee yourself that this is the big
gest thing for the good OF this section
that has yet happened"
The speaker smiled frankly into the
bigger mans eyes.
and that was all they needed was
it," Allison queried, at length. THAT
fixed 1t, did IT.?
Absolutely" Steve's cheeriness
should have been infectious. "Abso-
lutely, Mr.. Allison. a lot Of people
have come to look on your WORD as law
in this country. you know-a lot Of
them"
Hum m" replied Allison. "Hum-m.'
Both Of them were quiet for a time
steve's next remark brought Allison's
head up sharply.
81 meant TO bring some Of my esti-
mates and plans down with me when !
came" he told him. You spoke Of
wanting TO run over the whole prop
! asitIon with me. youu remember, the