The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-11-17

that they caught each day q deeper
note in the hoarse complaints of those
same men-a note no less ominous than
was that newer, hoarser one of the
swollen river-nevertheless were duly
thankful that the leaden sky had at
least tinsel lining. 1t might have
showed.
A month earlier it had been Steve's
plan to span that mile or so Of swamp
and bridge the river before the cold
weather set in. Nor was his altered
order of campaign due in any way to
the storm which had raised the river
and made of the alder dotted stretch
Of fiat bog meadow an oozing, quaking
morass. 1t no longer represented mere
ly "a positive not too alluring problem
! In engineering-that strip of swamp
and open water. 1t had taken on q
newer, strategic Importance And the
change in Steve's plans, so far as the
work at Thirty Mile was concerned,
was as much due to Me news which
Fat Joe brought home with him one
night toward the end of the next week
as it was the result of the interview
which he had held with Hardwclz Ell
lott himself.
Joe had been whole day absent on
the north end of the line. Alone be
had been over every foot of that all
but completed stretch which ended at
the border of swampland, there at
headquarters, troubling himself not at
all over the unevenness of the road
bed, satisfied entirely with the surety
I he gained with every inspected mile
that trainload of logs or a dozen
trainloads would stay on the rails
/ when the rails were laid and the day
came to set wheels rolling. But the
| further report he brought back with
him was far less reassuring.
Il wonder Joe unused aloud that
night-"I wonder. now, why any man
who knows anything about handlin'
timber should go to work botherin'
himself with sideways leadin' down to
the river when he knows, as well as
Harrigan should know. that It amt
comm ont that way? 1t don't seem
good sense nor logic to me, unless
He stopped there and left his own
opinion unDulshed, Since the evening
HarriganS had stepped out OF tue nlaiIs
bunk house and disappeared black
rage In his face and promise to return
upon his lips, that lumberman's red
head had been conspicuous only be-
cause IL was absent from the land
scape. SO far Harrigan had failed to
reappear, and Fat Joes method of ap-
prising his chief of his return to the
Reserve company's payroll was dis
tinctly characteristic. But Stoves re-
ception of the news was little more
than listless. He seemed to change
the subject entirely.
II don't see why it wouldn't be just
as easy or easier" Steve replied, ito
cross here on pilings practically the
whole distance as 1t would be to fill and
bAAN5C wv anu II VIC NClC W lUOh
at 1t in that light, then why wouldn't
it be still easier to drive those piles,
say, next February or March, while
the swamp is still crusted over and
hard? 1t would afford us some sort
Of footing to work on then other than
black ooze and lilypads. Wouldn't 1t
seem so to your"
"We'd still have that track north Of
here to lay" Fat Joe advised. when
We work In from the south with STEEL"
Surely" Steve admitted. "Of course.
But wouldn't that be better bet than
to stand to see our embankment and
bridge
He broke Off there, just as Joe had
hesitated moment before. The I'M
dercurrent of meaning for which the
latter's ears were waiting came to the
surface, however, when Steve began
again.
Suppose, Joe" he pursued lazily--
suppose you had contracted with a
railroad-an infant road too young
even to be named--to move for you
more timber than either of us will ever
own, contracted in apparent good
faith, when all along in your heart you
were certain that the railroad itself !
would never be able to fulfill its half
OF the bargain. Granting such a state
of affairs. Joe. what do you suppose
you would do?"
Maybe I'd hire me a red headed |
river dog" came Joe's answer. pat
Maybe Id hire me a bully boy boss
of white water to build me some skid.
ways to the nearest Hood water. SOS
could teach the infant railroad you
mention that business was business
contract or no contract
"0f course you wouldw Steve agreed
instantly, and he might have been com
pllmentlng first primer fayorite 50
pleased was his tone. "Of course you
would I'm afraid that was too easy
for you, wasn't it, Joe? But now sup
pose you were bent on proving to,
everybody, and particularly to those
who had fathered it. what on uBfor-
tunate weakling this immature, ua-
named child Of constructive silence
really was. In that event how do you
figure you'd conduct yourself2"
Joe smiled oddly a little balefully.
It was magic quick, that change in his
expression, as swift as was the
thought