Gilpin observer., 1916-06-08
CHAPTER xvIl-contInued.

The Preacher!" she gasped aloud,
"oh. father! What have l done!
have shut my ears to the winds Of
God!"
When, an hour later, she came up
on the cook-shack porch and stood
leaning in the doorway. spent with
her wild passion. Ma Daily grimly fed
the IRE In the range, setting about
the supper for the men left at camp.
Mother" said Siletz DULY. "she
He'd"
'Yes-l know it. But what you goin'
to do. child7 You love him an you're
right-so would ef l was thirty year
younger, for he's q man, East or NO
East"
The general turned to her work and
. sigh heaved her ample breast.
"lt's all In the days work." she
thought. AN you had to take your
chanct, Johnny-but you're strong. my
son. you're a strong man-like yer
daddy"
So began . strange time in camp
Daily came home in three days. eager
and grim-lipped. and in the pocket of
his flannel shirt he carried the big
check for which Sandry had worked
and struggled. He had delivered the
raft In safety. along with the scaler's
report. receiving the payment which
had been ready in the hands of q
thin. gray man who leaned from the
steamers rail to exchange a few curt
words.
Ma Daily cornered him in the kitch.
On late in the night as he finished
his careful rounds of the camp
Son." she said gently. ''thsy's q
hard knock comm to you an ! want
to give you warnin'. though know
you1l take II standin'. Johnny. - yer
daddy took all O his. an I've seen
him take some corkers.
Il know what you've always thought
o. Sletx, son. sence she was teensy
chap-Ive watched her quiet ways
open yer heart an seen her walk in.
an I've hoped myself some day It'd
all work out. fer she's always turned
to you in trouble. It's instinct. But
son-son. haven't you seen nothin
sence Sandry come among US? Haint
ye read the signs?" The foreman had
stopped at the sink and lifted a tin
dipper Of water for a drink. At the
last words he put the vessel slowly
down untouched and turned an amazed
face toward the old lady. His blue
eyes were wide. and the mother glo
ried like cir, In the good man
strength OF him-the broad shoulders
the muscled arms. bare to the elbow
the shapely back and the straight hips
Of the hill-climber
What you talkin OF. mar" he asked
Jest this. SletI laid out her hear,
fer all to see when they brought Sandr,
home an that-that Jezebel woman
shamed her before us all. She said
on the heels O. tn childs cry Of love
that she was sandry's promised wife
think she lied-but S'letz is breakin
her heart fer the Fastener"
Here. without another word. Al,
Daily opened q door behind her an,
creaked through. closing It softly.
OF such inherent tact was she, sh,
did not wish even his mother to se,
big John Daily take his hard knock
even though he took It standin'." Will
only a tremor OF the hand that hel,
the dipper.
When he met Siletz In the mornlnI
hs looked at her with eyes q litti
more haggard-there was a deepe
line at the corners OF his mouth.
The girl bore traces of the first ar
yuish she had ever known in the pa
lor Of her face. the dull look OF smo
dering flame under the daze Of hely
lessness.
There was no one in the eating roor
besides themselves. Collins was ou
In the hills with the crew. for at th
Arst sight Of 6andry still alive. Dali
Aad given orders to 90 on with th