The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-10-26

II was already daybreak; u was trairs
end now for Garry. IL does make q
difference II one knows that some one
cares.
Upon their return to Thirty Mile two
nights later Joe's attitude Of criticism
was the FIRST thing which piqued
steve's interest There was something
iudicrous In the formers voice as he
sat and mathematical the food which
the cook boy brought TO the table, even
though he devoured hungrily all that
his plate would hold. And because
Joe was so obviously primed for sen.
sation that evening out OF sheer per.
versity Steve struggled to draw him
into discussion Of a topic which. just
a. obviously. had no appeal just then.
"what I hope TO do" he confided
eravely to Garry. is to finish up at
Morrison and make possible the trans
fer OF some OF those men up here. We
are working only one shift now. With
two figure we could sail along a-fog.
ging How does that strike you. JoeT
That was only one Of his many at
tempts, but all Of them. save for the
inner laughter which they afforded,
were totally without result. Joe's an.
swers were monosyllabic, bis attention
wandering at best. To that particular
question he nodded his head spirit
lessly.
"This butter Amt none too fresh" he
growled sourly. "and I wonder II that
cook boy thinks we dote on ham every
meal? I don't for one. I. may be all
right II q mans plumb starving to
death. but It don't lend no real ele-
gance TO a repast-"
That gloomy complaint brought little
more than a sparkle to steve's eyes.
but It made Garry lean forward In his
place Throughout the meal while the
other two fenced In just such fashion
he forgot his own food 10 listen. de
lighted anticipation In every feature.
And when they had finished supper
and pushed back their chairs he stood
grinning a little. watching Joe survey
that Uttered room which served as Of
Ace and sleeping quarters for the chief
engineer Of the East Coast company.
Fat Joe's gaze swung from wall to
wall. from Uttered corner TO heaped up
chair. Then he shook his head In de
spair.
cit looks TO me, Steve" he grunted,
'as though you amt never had no real
training In tidiness. have your There
don't seem TO be no system ut all In
the way you leave your things around.
There's one boot over In that corner;
it's rot a mate. I know, because l saw
you take them OF last night wouldn't
be certain otherwise. And it's the same
way with all your things. Just look at
this rooml A nice place to receive call
ers In. now amt 1T"
That was the first lead he rendered
them, but Steve, rather than crafty
him with a direct question, chose to 60
forward In the dark. He leaned over
and followed his usual custom when
he wanted to think. He tapped out his
pipe.
But I can always find everything
he defended that Is. unless you have
taken the trouble to put things away.
Then it's n tossup that something or
other will never be found until It turns
up OF its own accord. It's not SO bad,
joe" He, too. swung to survey the
room. mot 40 bad! Just little unset
tied, that's ALL Are we likely TO have
any callers. do you think. who would
object to this layoutr'
Joe snorted. but his eyes were
mournful. lie knew that there was
nothing else to do but yield a part nj
least
1--WE amt likely to-" he murmured
Were Just naturally bound TO have
'em. They're comm In tomorrow, and
ask you again. amt this a pleasing
prospect TO greet 'emT
For all that the seemed 10 be staring
ruefully down the room. he was watch
ing for the surprise that darted across
Steve's face. Momentarily the latter
had forgotten his assumed air Of
placidity.
Tomorrow? whoT' And then Steve
laughed. eco ahead and tell us. Joe
I'm beat. I'll admit that I'm painting
with curiosity"
Joe pulled up a chair and dropped
into II. II appealed to him. this meth.
cd, whenever he had the time to spare
His pink face was stlll innocent OF
guile.
Il don't mind the men folks" he re
sumed. THAT fat party. | mean, who
wears the plaid suits, nor Caleb Hun
ter, either. Both OF them are used &c
such truck as this. And | reckon it'll
tickle the ladies' too. But | can SET
Honey sticking his nose In the air and
sniffin' supercillous like the first min
ute he gets his nose In the door. Hs
amt going to approve ut all, at all
not any way you look at It."
Honey
Both Steve and Garry ignored the
rest OF Joe's explanation to gasp thai
single word In concert.
"who In the world do you mean by
'Honeyr"
"who could l meanf" Joe demanded
eollectedly. II didn't give him the
name. did II mean that chap Wick
ersham. who owns the timber nortl