The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-21
CHAPTER XXI.
Final Preparations.
n the following day Happy Tom
arrived with fifty men.

~ II got the last mothers son
| could find" he explained as
he warmed himself at O'Neirs stove.
Did you go to lIope?"
Il did, and | saw the splavvus him
self"
"GordonY"
Hes worse than we thought Tom
tapped his shining forehead significant
ly. Loft to Iet.'
"What-insane?"
Nothing but echoes in his dome.
The towns as empty as his bonnet,
too, and the streets are full of snow.
It's n sight!'
Tell me about Mrs. Gordon
She's quite ii person." said Slater
slowly. She surprised me. She's
there, alone with him and IA Waterman.
She does all the work, even to Juggling
in the wood and coal-he's too busy
to help, but she won't leave him. She
told me that Dan and Natalie wanted
her to come over here, but she couldn't
bring herself to do it or let them assist
in any way, Gordon spends all his
time at his desk. promoting. writing
ads. and prOSpectuses. He's got a
grand scheme. He's found that Hope
Consolidated is fun of rich ore, but
the trouble is in getting it out, so he's
working on IA new process of eXtrac-
ton. It's Il wonderful process-yOu'd
never guess what it is. He smokes it
out, He says all he needs is plenty of
smoke. That bothered him until he hit
on the idea of burning feathers. Now
he's planning to raise ducks, because
they've got SO much down. Isn't that
the limit? She'll have to fit him into a
padded cell soone or later"
Poor devil said O'Neil. I'm sor-
ry. He had an unusual mind
Slater shifted. Il think it's pretty
soft for him myself. He's made better
than a Standoff-he lost his memory.
but he saved his skin. it's funny bow
some men can't fall. If they slip on
a banana peel somebody shoves a
cushion under 'em before they light. |
never got the best of anything. If |
dropped asleep in church my wife
would divorce me and I'd go to the
electric chair. Gordon robs widows
and orphans right and left, then ends
up with a loving woman TO take care
of him in his old ace Why. if | even
robbed a blind puppy of a biscuit I'd
leave n thumb print ON his ear or the
dogs mother would turn out to be a
bloodhound. Anyhow. I'd spend my
declining years nestled up to "A rock
pile with a mallet in my mitt and a
low browed gentleman scoWling at me
from the top Of a wall. He'd lean on
his shotgun and say: Hurry up, Fat
ty. It's getting late. and there's a ton
of oakum to pick 1t just goes 10
show that some Of us are born behind
the game and never get even, while
others, like Gordon. quit winner, no
matter how much they lose" Having
relieved himself of this ferFid homily.
Happy Tom unrollcd a package OF
gum and thrust three sticks into his
mouth. Speaking of bad luck be
continued, when are you going to get
married, Murray"
O'Neil started. "Why-nevcr,, II
isn't the same kind of proposition as
building a bridge. you know. There's
a little matter Of youth and good looks
that counts considerably in the mar.
riage business. No IN would
have an old chap like me"
Slater took a mournful inventory OF
his chiefs person. then said doubtful
ly: "You might put it over. Murray. |
amt strictly handsome myself. but !
did"
AS O'Neil slipped into his fur coat.
after the fat man had slouched out. he
caught sight of himself in the glass OF
his bureau and paused. He leaned
forward and studied the careworn
c%ountenance that peered forth at him'
then shook his head. He saw that the
hair was growing grayer. that the face
was very plain. and-yes, unquest1on-
ably it was no longer youthful. vi
course he didn't feel old, but the EVIL
dence that he was SO admitted or no
disproof. and 1t was evidence OF a sort
which no woman could disregard
For a week the ice rose slowly. q
foot a day. and In spite of the greatest
watchfulness it took the false WORK
with It here and there. But concen
trated effort at the critical points saved
the structure from serious injury.
Then the jam in front OF Jackson gla
: cier went out. at least in part. and the
ice began to fall. Down 1t settled
smoothly. swiftly. until it rested once
more upon the shores. 1t was still as
firm as In midwinter and showed no
sign Of breaking: nor had 1t moved
downstream a hairs breadth. OMEN
gathered his forces for the f1nai On
slaught.
On April 8 the last of the steel ior
span No. / reached the front. ana cree
ton was begun. The men fell to win
q vim and an enthusiasm Impossible 10