The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-07

nounced
You're not getting ready for a trip,
| hope?"
mo, sir. Not exactly. sir. The dog
was cheap, so II just bought him"
AS a matter OF fact, dogs were not
cheap, and Walsh should have been in
bed ut this hour. Murray walked on
wondering what the fellow could be
up TO.
Later he anne upon a laborer dicker-
ing with a kyak Indian over the price
OF a fur robe. and In front OF a bunk
house he found other members of the
night crew talking earnestly with two
lately arrived strangers. They fell ST.
lent as he approached and responded
to his greeting with n peculiar nervous
eagerness, staring after him c%uriously
as he passed on.
He expected DR.. Gray out from
Omar, but as he neared the track he
met Mellen. The bridge superintend-
N engaged him briefly upon some de
tail, then said:
Il don't know what's the matter
with the men this morning. They're
loafEg."
"Loating? Nonsense. You expect
too much"
Mellen shook his head. The minute
my back is turned they begin to Cos
sip. I've had TO call them down"
"Perhaps they want Il holiday"
"They're not that kind. There's
something in the air"
While they were speaking the morn
ing train pulled in. and O'Neil was sur
prised to see at least II dozen towns
people descending from it. They Were
l%Oafers, saloon ~frcquentcrS. for the
most part, and, oddly enough, they
had with them dogs and sledS and all
the equipment for travel. He was pre-
vented from making inquiry, however,
by n shout from DR.. Gray, who cried:
Hey. chief. Look who's here"
O'Neil hastenod forward with a
greeting upon his lips, FOR Stanley was
helping Eliza and Natalie down from
the caboose which served as a passen-
ger coach.
The young women. becOmingly clad
in their warm winter furs, made a pic
ture good to look upon. Natalie had
ripened wonderfully since her mar
riagc, and added to her rich dark
beauty there was now an elusive
sweetness. a warmth and w~omanliness
which had been lacking before. AS
for Eliza, she had never appeared more
sparkling. nor freshly wholesome and
saucy than, on this morning.
"We came to take pictures" she an
nounced. I'VE want to see If the
bridge suits us"
"Don't you believe her. Mr.. O'Neil,"
said Natalie. Dan told us you were
working too hard. 50 Eliza insisted on
taking you in hand. I'm here merely
In the office of chaperon and common
scold. You have been OVERRIDING.
You're positively haggard."
Gray nodded. HE won't mind me.
I hope you'll abuse him well. Go at
him hammer and longs"
Ignoring Murray's smiling assertion
that he was the only mar in camp
who really suffered from idleness. the
girls pulled him about and examined
him critically, then fell to discussing
him as If he were not present.
Hes worn to the bone" said Eliza.
Did you ever see anything like his
wrinkles? He looks like a dried ap-
pie" Natalie declared.
Dan says he doesn't eat"
Probably he's too busy to chew his
food. Wen make him Fletcherize"-
And eat soup. Then We'll mend his
underclothes. I'll warrant he doesn't
dress properly"
How much sleep does he getY' Nata-
lie queried Of the physician.
about half as much as he needs"
Leave him to us" said Eliza grimly.
Now, where does he live? Well start
in there"
O'Neil protested family. please
don't. l hate soup. and l can't allow
anybody to pry into my wardrobe. 1t
won't stand inspection"
Miss Appleton pointed to his feet
and asked crisply:
How many pairs Of socks do you
wear?"
zone"
Natalie was shocked. 'One pair Of
socks In this cold. It's time we took
a hand. Now. lead us to this rabbit
hole where you live"
With a feminine touch the girls en-
Enthusiastically fixed up Murray's home.
They put his house in order; they
mended his socks. They had just en-
ished their work when the doctor came
running. He began abruptly:
"I've been looking for you, Murray.
The men are all quitting"