The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-09-07

I'll have to hustle or lose everything
have put In. You see? That's why
hated to see those horses drown. for |
intended to use them in reaching the
coal fields. Now I'll have to hire men
to carry their loads. No doubt Mr.
Gordon has arranged to protect youI
holdings. but there are hundreds OF
claimants who will be ruined
II suppose the government protected
its subjects" said the girl vaguely.
"One Of the illusions taught In the
elementary schools" laughed O'Neil
I'VE Alaskans have found that it does
exactly the opposite. We have found
1t a harsh and unreasonable landlord.
But I'm afraid I'm boring you" He
wrapped her more snugly in her GOV.
erings. for n chill had descended with
the darkness. then strove to ~enliven
her with stories garnered from his rich
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES which gave her fas-
chatting glimpses Of great undertak.
ings and made her feel personally ac-
quainted with people Of unfamiliar
type, whose words and deeds, mirthful
or pathetic, were always r~efreshingly
original. OF certain individuals he
spoke repeatedly until their names be-
came familiar to his nearer. He called
them his boys" and his voice was
tender as he told OF their doings.
These men are your staff" she ven.
tured.
Yes. Every one who succeeds IL
big work must have loyal hands to
help him"
where are they nowT'
"Oh, scattered from Canada to Mex
leo, each n doing his w particular
work! There's Mellen, for instance;
he's In chihuahua building a c~antilever
bridge. He's the best steel man in the
country. Mckay, my superintendent.
is running a railroad job in California,
Happy Tom Slater
The funny man with the blues?'
Exactly! He was at work on q by.
draulic project near Dawson the last
| heard Of him. DR.. Gray is practicing
in Seattle. and Parker, the chief engi.
neer. has a position Of great responsi.
bilitv in Boston He is the brains Of
eur outfit, you understand. 1t was
:eally be who made the North Pass
and Yukon possible. The others are
scattered out in the same way, but
they'd all come If l called them" The
first note Of pride she had detected
crept into his voice when he said: my
boys are never idle. They don't have
to be after working with me-"
"And what is your part OF the work.
asked the girl.
81? Oh, I'm like the clown at the
circus-always pretending to help, but
forever keeping underfoot. When 1t
becomes necessary l raise the money
to keep the performance going"
"Do you really mean that all those
would give up their positions and
come to you II you sen for them?'
by the first train or afoot, If there
were no other way. They'd follow me
to the Philippines or Timbuktu, re-
CARELESS Of their homes and their fam
THAT is splendid You must feel
very proud Of inspiring such loyalty"
said Natalie. But why are you idle
now? Surely there are railroads to be
built somewhere"
"Yes. l was asked to figure on a on
tract In Manchuria the other day. l
could have had 1t easily and 1t would
have meant my everlasting fortune,
but
But whatT"
II found 1t isn't q white mans coun-
try. It's sickly and unsafe. Some Of
my boys would die before we finished
it, and the game isn't worth that price.
No, I'll wait Something better will
turn up. 1t always does"
AS Natalie looked upon that kindly,
square hewn face with its tracery Of
lines above the eyes, its fine. strong
jaw and its indefinable expression Of
power, she began to understand more
fully why those with whom she had
talked had spoken Of Murray O'Neil
with an almost %worshipful respect.
She felt very insignificant and purpose
less as she huddled there beside him.
and her complacence at his attentions
deepened into a vivid sense Of salts
faction. Thus far he had spoken en-
tirely Of men. She wondered If he
ever thought Of women and thrilled a
bit at the intimacy that had sprung up
between them 80 quickly and natu-
rally.