The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-03

there'll be need for more men in these woods than there has ever been before. But if you don't, if you can't see 1t that way, why not come around and let me have a fair chance to talk things over with you myself before you decide to turn on this job? I want you to remember that a man who is a liar in one thing is mighty likely to talk loose tongued, no matter what he breaches"
 And there, without lifting his eyes from the floor, Big Louie cleared his throat and made answer.
 Maybe" he retorted-"maybe, and maybe not so sure either! l have lis- tened to big words before now, me, that have put no food under my belt, no coat to my back"
 elf it's only food and shelter and clothes for your back, Big Louie, you'll not have to worry. But I'm not prom ising either, mind, that there'll be easy money to blow on white whisky. Were you expecting anyT
 That brain which could cope with but one idea at a time was fertile ground for seed which such a one as Harrigan might SOW. Big Louie fail ed to reply. He sat quiet;~ deep in thought, when Stephen O'Mara closed the door noisclessly behind him.
 
 It was minutes after Steve had gone back up the hill before. Garry Dever- eau reached out a hand in the dark ness and touched, experimentally, what had seemed to be only a shapeless black blQtch at the edge of light, a rod or two from the door. And in- stantly at his touch the shadow was galvanized into life. It reared and plunged and enveloped the slighter man in Q crushing embrace and bore him over backward With the muzzle of a revolver chafing his ear Garry managed to worry his head high enough to free his mouth and nostrils from dirt.
 "Get or me! Get off me, you fat romancer, youv' he whispered fiercely.
 An explosive grunt of dismay an- swered him before Eat Joe let him rise. In thin and profane tenor lA was bidden to explain his presence there.
 'T couldn't sleep" Garry replied, his voice still peevish, ESQ came out for . breath of air. I saw him start this way-saw you following him with that gun in your hand. I just slipped over, too, in case there might be doings. Whats the row, JoeY'
 Joe took him urgently by the elbow, turned him about and started him up the rise.
 "An old grudge," he deigned an un- gracious explanation. Its years and years old. Steve licked him once. Once when they were boys the folks that live down next to Allison's dress ed Steve up like q picture book, the nearest can make out, and sent him to town a-shoppin'. Harrigan, he"- q know! remember" Garry's eager whisper interrupted. That is, didn't know that Harrigan was one of the mob Steve whipped that day. But that wasn't what meant. Who was the the girl Hsrrigan was talking about when Steve-when Steve''-
 Joe's fingers frightened little as the other evinced q tendency to lag.
 "Hurry bit, will you?" he urged complainingly Show q little speed! I'm supposed to be up there asleep" And then, gruf1y, Ut was the Allison girl, of course"
 In spite of the hand upon his elbow Garrett Devereau stopped short in his tracks.
 ''Barbaraw he stammered. Barbara Allison? Joe, was that the girl he meant tonight when he said he was going to marry one of those women himselfY"
 Joe peered at, him, trying to make out the expression upon his face.
 "Why not?" he wanted to know. "Why not? Amt he good enough for herr"
 There came a pause; then Garry's stunned rejoinder.
 "Good enoughr' he repeated sense hssly. Good enoughT He laughed half wildly. as though he had sudden ly hit upon a very funny thought in- deed. 'That man in love with a girl like l7er-good Lordw
 And Fat Joe, who had failed to un- derstand, sworc again beneath his breath DeC6uSc tUcEe WuS uo tiAAc iCAs in which to argue the matter. His face was still very red from his strug- gle for self restraint and his whole mental balance so disturbed that he forget entirely to conceal the blued re- volver dangling in one hand when he re-entered the cabin a moment later. The latter object ruined the effect or his insouciant rendition of Home, Sweet Home."
 Thought you were going to retire, Joe?"
 Steve was already undressed and crawling into bed. His question was slow worded and trifle stif1ed.
 "I was," Joe assured him hastily. "l was. just stepped out to sec that ev- erything was tight and tidy for the night: that's all'
 Quizzical eyes contemplated the re- volver now.
 Taken to carrying a weapon, after all. eh? Well. perhaps that's wisest.