Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-11
"Then I'll Come Back to You"
AUTHOR OF ONCE 70 EVERY MAN"

Ii was not the hunger OF ais own heart I:
it was neither intolerance OF r., traint nor
nIcltal rebellion against the dulie which
were holding hm o cic~e Epriver thu had
caused tie chief engineer III the last
Coast work 10 withdraw 20 completely
within himself although many times each
day lis eyes did wander toward TIE south
and Morrison. Daring that bleak period
Steve's thoughts were often of Barbara,
but they were not Samber thoughts. The
very hardness ot his life schooling had
taught him too well how little Of wisdom
there l. in fretting against the day Ut ac-
ton when that day cannot he hurried nor
controlled. Steadfastly he refused a. let
himself brood. Ii he could not 20 To her
he would not. nevertheless. allow himself
10 dwell upon that imposSIollity. Instead
his spirit ranged ahead TO 2 hopeful.
more or less indefinite and not too dis
tant date wien his absence might not seem
10 threaten too great a cost 10 those mat
tiers lay in his trust.
Steve had little chance for conversation
in those DAYS with Garry, now an employee
of the company a. an assistant 10 Fat Joe,
except for a word or two over Il hastily
snatched breakfast or perhaps az supper
al night, and at night he was usually too
tired To talk. But the Others growing rest
l~essness had not escaped his notice. For
a while Garry had seemed TO accept his
continuance there M camp a. r matter ~
course, and for that very reason neither
49,
Fat Joe nor Steve had dignitled the thought
Of his possible departure by - mach IT,
a single spoken word. Garry's own actions
first began % indicate now necessarily
he was debating that question within ms
own brain. And one night toward The end
of the week he finally reached the point
of voicing q decision which was old in an
occupation 10 Steve and Joe. They were
on the point of going TO bed. Garry had
risen and then paused. lie hesitated and
crooked his arms and then yawned a tri-
file too carclessly that evening.
"Well, this finishes another day" he re-
marked. nor did he realize how soulful
were the words. "And | cleaned mp the
last Of The stockroom today, Joe. a swift
hut accurate workman. eli? I'll leave be
hind 4 record unblemished by oversight or
sloth. And w-no it, about time !
uppos | was going back To town
II was out. nor could the yawn con
ceal his eagerness. His back was turned,
but Steve knew what light was IN his
eyes. Steve's carelessncss was q far neat
er thing than Garry's had been. whats
you hurry?" he inquired easily. why
rush awave And if YOU think your in
dustry has betrayed YOU INTO idlene-s
you're reasoning poorly tonight. Want an
sther iob?f
"What else is there | could do?"
M man save one who was very. very
tired could have spoken IN such "a tone ue
man except one who has tired himself IA
the highest Of court~-his own opinion of
course-could nave put such a degree 81
contempt into 20 simple a query.
"Why-why''- Steve faltered, and then
se took command Of his own wits again.
'.There's work enough, don't doubt that"
he exclaimed. and laughtcd a little. Joe
here will he another week or ten days fin
fishing with the fill up yondcr. Hen do
well ii he manages II Ivy then and that.
too, with every available hand we have. !
don't want 70 rob him of \ single man "
| can help il. but I've got 40 go ahead with
the line to the south. To put II concretely.
I'm IN need of a rodman. Do YOU think
you'd care TO obiigef'
IT, IL. .p-4frrpdl