The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-12-21
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK,

| cteNe udu uuu little Cuduce lOI SOtl
versation In those days with Garry
now an employee of the company a.
IN assistant to Fat Joe. except for {
word or two over a hastily snatchet
breakfast or perhaps at supper a
night. and at night he was usually TOT
tired to talk. But the others growing
restlessness had not escaped his no
| tice. For awhile Garry had seemed t.
accept his continuance there at camp
lis matter of course. and for that
very reason neither Fat Joe nor Steve
had dignified the thought of his pos
sible departure by so much as single
spoken word. Garry's own actionl
tirst began to indicate how necessarily
he was debating that question within
his own brain And one night toward
he end of the week he finally reached
the point of voicing decision which
vas old in anticipation TO Steve and
Toe. They We're on the point of going
10 bed Garry had risen and then
paused He hesitated and crooked his
arms aud yawned trifle too careless.
y that evening
well. this finishes another day." he
embarked. nor did he realize how soul.
full were the words And | cleaned
mp the last Of the stockroom today.
Toe 4 swift but accurate workman.
n? I'll leave behind record unblem-
shed by oversight or sl0th. And now
how it's about time, suppose. ! was
going back to town"
Ii was cut. nor could the yawn con
cal his eagerness. His back was turn
I'd. but Steve knew what light was In
his eyes Steve's carelessness was q
far heater thing than Garry's had been
WHATS your hurry" he inquired
easily why rush away? And If you
think your industry has betrayed you
into idleness you're reasoning poorly
tonight Want another job?'
Bantering Indifference was the key
note of that reply Mutually they had
adopted 1t from the very first. 1t smack
ed of the freemasonry which always
marked Steve's conversations with Fat
Toe We're they earnest or frivolous
beneath the surface. 1t Is always rec
equitable In the speech of friends such
us they. differentiated from actual in
difference by an intimacy of inference
between the lines which makes such
discourse almost foreign to uninitiated
ears. But Garry's answer was not In
Kind Steve was caught so far of his
guard by the question which came
tiinging back at him that he was glad
Garry had not turned.
What else is there l could dOT'
No man save one who was very, very
tired could have spoken In such tone;
no man except one who has tried him.
self in the highest of courts-his own
opinion Of himself-could have put
such a degree of contempt into so sim.
Pile query.
"Why-why"- Steve faitered, and
then he took command of his own wits
again. There's work enough, don't
doubt that" he exclaimed. and laughed
little. Joe here will be another
week or ten days finishing with the
fill up yonder He'll do well If he
manages it by then and that. too. with
every available hand we have. don't
want to rob him of a single man If
can help it. but I've got to 60 ahead
with the line to the south. To put 1t
concretely, I'm in need Of rOdman.
Do you think you'd care to oblige?"
Again the hint of banter persisted,
but Garry's jaw was tight when he
faced suddenly around.
II wil!' he flashed back hoarsely.
II will If it's mans job. But I'm
done with filing a dinky pad with
rows of figures all day long. I'm Tin.
ished with this dry tallying Of cans
of beans and soap and yards of rope.
Do you understand? What work would
I have to do?''
Out of the corners Of his eyes Steve
saw CONSERVATION overspread Fat JOe's
face His own was only amused.
You'll have to swing an Ak" he
enumerated slowly, ''hnd you'll have to
lug rod and tripod. You'll wade
through bog and fight your way
through underbrush. And then. for
variety. swing an ax some more. II
you've never learned yet what 1t is
to be really tired. Garry: IL you've nev-
er known what 1t is TO go to bed wish.
Ing morning would never come. you'll
find out what that's like too"
As soon as It WIS spoken Steve rec
ognized the slip Watching Garry's
eyes widen. he knew that Garry had
caught 1t also. For a moment a tor
rent of words trembled on the latter's
Ups. and then lie swallowed and nod
ded shortly The vague dreariness of
his acceptance was fully as electrical
as the threatened outburst might have
been.
"Ill try It." Garry said very simply.
III have try at 1t tomorrow"
And he pivoted on his heel and pass
ed out.
Some minutes after he had gone Fat
Joe. still n little dazed, rose softly and
unostentatiously, crossed to shelf
shoulder high on the wall and reached
10 remove quart bottle of brandy
which Steve. returning home soaked
through and through had brought out