The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-10-26


after they nad rounded corner. Steve
looked down and smiled casually into
Barbara's wide and startled eyes.
That's river boss" he explained.
enjoying what he considers roaring
good time. His name is Harrigan. He
works on the Reserve company's cut.
which we are TO move in the spring.
and whenever he has had trifie more
than enough he always sings that song
He's willing to fight. too. TO prove that
it was written especially for him.
He's not exactly friend of yours.
is hep" she said.
well. not exactly Steve admitted
mot when he Is In that frame of
mind"
''Or in any other the girl persisted.
and she glanced down at her hand, still
lying upon the blue flannel sleeve.
Did you know that your arm grew as
eard rs iron for pr Instant 7 rpver
knew that any one arm couId grow
as hard as that. And is that the way
you always prepare t. receive your
friends?'
Steve colared little.
Perhaps I'm overcantions." he re-
piled. But it has to be hard. 1t con-
stitutes what one of my men. Joe Nor
gan, calls accident insurance
Then her face lighted up again. The
delighted bob of her head with which
man.
do you-why. you must have heard
of Joer be exclaimed.
Joe Morgan" she laughed. Fat
Joe.' isn't it? And of course l have
heard of him. You don't realize il. but
know more about this East Coast
work and--and the men who are do
ing 1t than ! had any idea myself
Why. I'll wager that you never knew.
yourself. that he once wrote in to the
officials insisting that the entry of his
name on the files be changed from Joe
Morgan. cook to Joseph Morgan. as
sistant to Chief O'Marar"
Steve's chuckle of appreciation was
answer enough.
Il want TO know joe please. Can't
| meet him. Mr.. O'MaD"
But the question WITS unnecessary.
Joe Morgan-Fat Joe to the river front
and the construction squad-was al
ready hustling In their direction. even
before Steve, with that slow smile tug
eing at his lips. had finished assuring
her that 1t was never necessary to
summon Joe into the presence Of an
attractive member Of the opposite sex.
He came without being called.
Morning. chief" Fat Joe saluted.
in that thin and reedy tenor which
none but fat men have.
Steve managed the presentation with
extreme punctility and left them
When he returned. almost an hour lat
er. be heard them both laughing long
before he came into view. and on the
way back up the hill the girl detailed
for him much of her conversation with
Fat Joe.
why should there be any-any ele-
ment Of personal danger In this work
you are doing. Mr.. O'Mara?' she final
aiy asked. "And did ! do wrong in
mentioning to Mr.. Morgan how that
man came out Of that-place and glar
ed so at your"
His rejoinder should have been very
reassuring.
$50 Joe has been limiting at that
mystery stuff again. has he? After
listening to him one is compelled to
believe that I run daily a veritable
gauntlet of nameless perils."
Barbara stood. small fists buried in
her sweater pockets. studying his
smile Of amusement.
81 shouldn't like to believe So" her
voice was family diffident And you
you haven't accepted my invitation
for Friday May ! expect you? l,
didn't tell you, but Archie-Archibald
Wickersham-will be there. as well as
Garry. $3.50 you won't be entirely
unacquainted."
And then at those words his face
changed. All In one feet second. in
spite of the whole mornings quick init
macy of mood and the spirit of com
partnership which TO her had seemed a
DELIGHTFULLY."- new yet time tried thing,
Barbara found that she could not read
an inch behind those grave gray eyes.
She found his quiet countenance as I'M
readable as that of the utmost stranger
might have been. And while she wait
ed. not entirely certain how displeased
she was at his deliberation. blacklist
of black horses scared splendidly over
a fence to the north and came canter-
ing down the road, The rider, tall.
bareheaded girl. lifted her crop in sa-
lutte as she caught sight of Them
My friend. Miriam Burrell." the girl
murmured In explanation to Steve, and
something had gone from her voice and
left 1t conventionally impersonal.
"She's riding Ragtime. and isn't he a
beauty-almost as much a beauty as
she is herself?'
The horse came on, to be refined up
at last directly in front of the two at
the roadside. Stephen O'Mara met for
a moment the level, measuring glance
of its rider before Miriam Burrell turn
ed to Barbara.
"I've enjoyed exceedingly our morn
inc eaptpr RObs" her alto voice