The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-12-21
The night Tor your return. /"

Garry propped himself upon one ell
bow, the better to see the speakers
countenance.
"My safety" he repeated blankly
My RETURN And then wanly CRATE
full, You are not the sort of man who
lies convincingly, Steve"
And then Stephen O'Mara let him
have it all the story which had lain
so many days in his heart. There were
times when Garry went even paler
during the short recital times when
everything else was submerged by the
incredulity that flooded his face. But
before Steve had finished the last trace
of doubt was gone. Before the end
came Garry had bowed his head, this
time in flushed, self conscious wonder
which TRANSPORTED him.
Miriam Burrell!' he breathed
Proud, intolerant"-
His head came up. The next in
slant he voiced the words which Steve
most wanted to hear.
! you shouldn't have told me this
said he. You had no right, unless
| Steve laughed at him.
| 3Ou OlcSS NOu, OUt At CAt1dlllcd
II asked her if l might. Why. DOM
you understand that she meant to her
self If didn't? You see, she is-far
far Drawer than you are, Garry"
| Garry lifted his hands and hid hi
| face.
So quietly that his exit made II.
sound Steve slipped to his feet ant
outside CT IN,
ing. The hardwood ridges, touche
by frost, were flaming streaks of co.
or against the rainwashed evergreen
when he picked his way down to til
river and found a dry stone for a seat
An hour and more he sat there Will,
his thoughts went back over the trai
of the years, the trail which had lc,
him from that cabin to pair of VIC
let eyes and lips that arched like &
boys.
Steve let his mind turn again unre
servedly to his own problem that morn
ing. He tried to face sure eyed the
road which still stretched ahead. He
did not know that Garrett Devereau
the debonaire, the cynical, the world
weary and world wise. had broken
down and was sobbing noiselessly. rs
men sob, in the room which he had
left, shaking with deep and terrible
gasps that racked his very soul. Bu
1t was already daybreak; it was trails
end now for Garry. 1t does make
difference If one knows that some ont
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
ludicrous 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 tina;
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 topic which, just
as obviously. had no appeal just then.
what | hope to do" he confided
gravely to Garry, lis 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. Witt
two figure We could sail atppg 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, his attention
wandering at best. To that particular
question he nodded his head spirit
lessly.
"This butter amt none too fresh," be
growled sourly. and wonder if that
cook boy thinks we dote on ham every
meal? l don't for one. 1t may be all
right if a mans plumb starving to
death. but 1t don't lend no real ele-
gance to repast."
That gloomy complaint brought little
more than a sparkle to Steve's eyes,
but 1t made Garry lean forward in bis
place Throughout the meal while the
other two fenced in just such fashion
he forgot his own food to listen, de
lighted anticipation in every feature.
And when they had finished supper
and pushed back their chairs he stood
grinning little, watching Joe survey
that Uttered room which served as Of
fee 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.
ut looks to me, Steve" he grunted,
.as though you amt never had no real
training in tidiness, have you? There
don't seem to be no system at all In
the way you leave your things around.
There's one boot over in that corner;
it's got mate, know, because l saw
you take them off last night wouldn't
be certain otherwise And it's the same
way with all your things. Just look at
this room. A nice place to receive call
ers in. now amt It z"
ITO he continued next week