The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-11-24

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 oil 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 topic which. just
as obviously, had no appeal Just then.
-What | hope to do" he confided
gravely TO Garry. is to finish up at
Morrison ali | make possible the trans
fer of some Of those men up here. We
are working only one shift now. With
what | might have thought twenty.
four hours back. But doesn't enc fact
remain unchanged still, no matter what
we thinkf Suppose we admit that some
one else does want this stretch of
track we're laying. Suppose some
body is figuring on picking it up cheap
at bankruptcy price if we forfeit TO
the Reserve company. You know
yourself that you would never have
begun it simply for the profit there will
be in moving the Reserve logs and the
millions on millions of feet Of lumber
both to the east and west, which can't
be touched at anything but prohibit
tive figure without this road, We were
going through to the border too. And
if some one else Is betting that we
don't, If some one else is betting that
we can't yank trainload of logs down
to this end of the line before the list
of May, that doesn't alter our case any,
does It'll Even though we suspect that
some man is playing us to lose, do we
have to know exactly who he isT
Slowly, but very surely, the older
mans face began to smooth.
"Once or twice. he stated, "Tye
thought to anticipate you, perhaps be-
cause have 1t on You little, as they
say, In the matter Of years. I'm not
going to attempt 1t any more, for
thought that this conversation would
be at least surprise to you. You sit
there and take it very quietly for a
man who has been badly startled"
Fat Joe has been preaching 1t for
a month Oddly enough, Stephen
O'Mara chose that point at which to
laugh softly. "And |, for month
have been ridiculing him. That's one
of Fat Joe's pet diversions, you know
When all other excitement fails Joe
Invariably falls back upon an magma.
ton too totally vivid to be wasted on
technical things. l laughed at him un'
I'll last night. Do you-but, Of course
you know Garry DevereauT he fin
ished.
Knew his father" Elliott answered
succinctly. know him we'll Good
blood, good brains, big heart! WhyT
And then for the second time that
day Steve related the salient points Of
that episode which had ended with
the first gray streaks of returning day
During the recital the expressions
which chased across Elliotts face were
as varied as they were full of concern
"Then wasn't merely historical
was IT. he brooded after Steve hat
finished. "Who-who did you say you
thought might be behind the man who
would have had your plans had 1t moi
been for Mr.. DevereauY
81 didn't say" replied Steve, and FOL
the first time since his entrance there
was mirth in the unison of their laugh
ter.
"It all brings us back to the poin
from which we started" the younge
man went on when they were grave
again. "It's plain enough issue Sc
far as we are concerned. We've got t
be at the mouth of that lower valley
by May. We're going to be! And al
see It, wasting time and energy Il
shall we call 1t sleuthing, Mr.. Elliott
won't help us much. We though
that lack of time and the general ma
[ IuIe Oh luis Country hClC GUMS " "
handicap enough. But now your mon
ey Is in and II never did like to b.
beaten. Can't we let it stand like that
at least until some one else makes
palmer move? We know the cards W
hold. If others care to sit In perhap
we'll all come to a showdown mex
spring at Thirty Mile. Itll be cas-.
enough to explain just how we did II
Alibis based on yelled opposition wout
not interest the Reserve people nue.
IL we left their timber there to roi
And I'm trying not to over
look any bets, Mr. Elliott"
Hastily the iron gray man thrust hi
hat back from his forehead. He CAM
to his feet and crossed and clappe'
one hand upon Steve's shoulder.
Next May" he barked. "0'Mara
I'm glad you came down this morning
I've been carrying a lot of those idea
around I'm my head until they had be
come nightmarish. But I'm through
now. You won't hear me croak again
| staked what l had on you month
ago. I'd do It again this minute
what's the odds. after oil, who It !
that's playing US to lose? It's onl