The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-27


 he had been detected in theft or a breach of duty.
 Hello. Walsh. Been buying some live stoek?'' O'Neil inquired. Yes. sir I picked up this dog cheap
 Harness, too, eh?'' Murray noted that Walsh's arms were full of gear enough. indeed, for full team. Know ing that the foreman owned no dogs, he asked half banter1ngly: You're not getting ready for trip. I hope9"
 Nc. sir. Not exactly, sir The dog was cheap, so IT just bought him" As matter of fact, dogs were not cheap, and Walsh should have been in bed at this hour. Murray walked on wondering what the fellow could be up to-
 Later he came upon a laborer dtcker- ing with Kyak Indian over the price of 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 sf- lent as he approached and responded to his greeting with a peculiar nervous eagerness, staring after him curiousIy as he passed on.
 He expected Dr. Gray out from Omar, but as he neared the track he met Mel1en. The bridge superintend- ent engaged him briefly upon some de tail, then said:
 q don't know whats the matter with the men this morning They're loafng.''
 .Loahng2 Nonsense! You expect toe much
 Me1len shook his head. s'The minute my back is turned they begin to gos- sip. I've had to call them down."
 Perhaps they want a 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 prfsed to see at least a dozen towns people descending from it. They were 1oafers, saloon frequenters, for the most part, snd oddly enough, they had with them dogs and sleds and all the equipment for travel He was pre- vented from making inquiry, However, by a shout from Dr. Gray, who cried:
 Hey, chief! Look who's hereG"
 O'Nei1 hastened 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, becoming1y clad in their warm winter furs, made pie ture good to look upon. Natalie had ripened wonderfully since her mar riage, and added to her rich dark beauty there was now an elusive sweetness, q warmth and woman1iness which had been lacking before As for Eliza, she had never appeared more sparkling, more freshly wholesome and saiIcV thar on IlliS morning
 "We came to take pictures,'' she an nounced. I've want to see if the bridge suits us.''
 Don't you believe her, MT. O'NeiI.'' said Natalie ssDan told US you were working too hard, so Eliza insisted on taking you in hand. I'm here merely in the office of chaperon and common sco1d. You have been overriding You're positively haggard.'' Gray nodded. ''He won't mind me. I hope yoa'Il abuse him well. Go at him hammer and tongs."
 Ignoring Murray's smiling assertion that he was the only man 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.
 He's worn to the bone," said Eliza. Did you ever see anything like his | wrinkles? He looks like a dried ap- ple," Natalie declared.
 tDan says he doesn't eat.'' Probably he's too busy to chew his food. We'll make him Fletcherize''- l And eat soup. Then we'll mend his underclothes. I'll warrant he doesn't dress properly
 How much sleep does he get?'' Nata- lie queried of the physician.
 About half as much as he needs Leave him to us," said Eliza grimly. s'Now, where does he live? We'll start I in there.''
 O'Neil protested faint1y. Please l don't! I hate soup, and I can't allow anybody to pry into my wardrobe. It won't stand inspection-'' Miss Appleton pointed to his feet and asked crisp1y
 How many pairs of socks do you wear?"
 One"
 Natalie was shocked. "One pair of socks in this cold! It's time we took hand. Now, lead us to this rabbit 1 hole where you live"
 With a feminine tonch the girls en- thusiastically fixed up Murrays home. 1 They Dar his house .7 order, they