Alma record., 1916-06-22

OI0er tnree years. nut recently ~ ht"
secretary OF the interior has come into
once and he has just rescinded that
later ruling without warning, which
gives us barely time to comply with
the law as IL first stood. For my part.
I'll have TO hustle or lose everything
have put IN. You see? That's why
hated 10 see those horses drown, for
intended 10 use them in reaching the
coal fields- Now III have to hire men
TO carry their loads. No doubt Mr..
Gordon has arranged TO protect your
holdings. but there are hundreds OF
claimants who will be ruined"
'I suppose the government protected
It's subjects" said the girl vaguely.
"One OF the illusions taught IN the
elementary schools" laughed O'NeiL
I'VE Alaskans have found that 1t does
exactly the opposite. We have found
IL q harsh and unreasonable landlord
But I'm afraid I'm boring you" He
wrapped her more snugly In her COW
erings, for a chill had descended with
the darkness. then strove to enliven
her with stories garnered from his rich
experience-stories which gave her fas
cinating glimpses OF great undertak
ings and made her feel personally ac
quainted with people OF unfamiliar
type. whose words and deeds. mirthful
or pathetic. were always refreshingly
original OF certain individuals he
spoke repeatedly until their names be
came familiar TO his hearer He called
them his boys" and his voice was
tender as he told of their doings.
These men are your STAFF she ven.
tured.
Yes Every one who succeeds IN
big work must have loyal hands to
help him"
"Where are they nowT
"Oh. scattered from Canada TO Mex.
leo, each one doing his own particular
work. There's Mellen. for instance;
he's i'm chihuahua building a cantilever
bridge. He's the best steel man in the
country. Mckay. my superintendent.
is running a railroad job in California
Happy Tom Slater
"The funny man with the bluesf'
Exactly. He was at work on ny
draulic project near Dawson the last
! heard OF him. DR.. Gray is practicing
i'm Seattle. and Parker. the chief engi-
neer. has a position Of great responsi.
bilitv i'm Boston He is the brains OF
ulr outfit, you understand II was
really he who made the North Pass
and Yukon possible. The others are
scattered out in the same way, but
they'd all come if | called them" The
crept into his voice when he said: "My
boys are never idle They don't have
to be after working with me"
"And what is your part of the work 2
asked the girl.
az Oh, I'm like the clown at the
circus-always pretending to help, but
forever keeping underfoot When II
! becomes necessary l raise the money
to keep the performance going"
do you really mean that all thos,
men would give up their positions anc
come to you If YOU sent for themf'
"By the first train or afoot, if ther,
were no other way. They'd follow IN,
TO the Philippines or Timbuktu, re
gardless OF their homes and their fam
lies
"That is splendid. You must fee
very proud Of inspiring such loyalty
said Natalie. But why are you idl'
now? Surely there are railroads to b.
built somewhere"
Yes, was asked TO figure on con
tract in Manchuria the other day.
could have had 1t easily and ii woul'
have meant my everlasting fortune
but
But whatT'
II found 1t isn't a white mans coun
try. It's sickly and unsafe. Some o
my boys would die before we finishes
1t, and the game isn't worth that price
No, I'll wait. Something better wi
turn up. IL always does"
As Natalie looked upon that kindly
square hewn face with its tracery O
lines above the eyes, its fine. stron
jaw and its indefnable expression O
power, she began TO understand NOR
fully why those with whom she ha
talked had spoken Of Murray One
with an almost worshipfu respec
She felt very insignificant and purp1s,
less as she huddled there beside hin
and her complacence at his attention
deepened into vivid sense OF sati,
faction. Thus far he had spoken er
tirely OF men. She wondered If
ever thought OF women and thrilled
bit at the intimacy that had sprung u
between them so quickly and natl
rally.