Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-19
"Then Eli Come Back to- YOU
AUTHOR OF ONCE TO EVERY MAN"

her prethly serious argument that the lSt
of May was too early a date for their we'd
ding in view Of the work which he had 10
do and her own state of unpreparedne~s
left him so white of face that she felt
%guiltily sorry for him for many days 10
follow-felt eniltier still AT the relief she
experienced when -he had establi shed that
reprieve. The other interview was long
er and took place days earlier, but it was
no more of a deligl.. 10 Archibald Wicker
sham.
Dexter Allison had returned home al
most a week in advance of his daughter,
pleading stress Of business, but in spite
OF the demands upon his time and atten-
ton he had found il impossible to forget
the night of the dinner, when he had
watched his daughters eyes. upon Stephen
lO'Mara's face.
He had been troubled more than a little
since his Christmas trip to Morrison. The
night before New Years Wickersham was
announced at 9. He was thinking of Bar
bara's mother when he beckoned his guest
to q chair. shook his head over his red
cheeks and offered a cigar.
'Devilish cold weather." he grunted
none too graciously, for he had not want
| ed 10 be disturbed just then.
The younger man admitted that it was.
His mind plainly was not upon the wealth
err, but he found difficulty in introducing n
topic Of his own choosing O~utspokennesS
had never been one Of Archie Wicker
sham's boldest characteristics. 80 Allison
| assisted him now. Allison liked a man To
be outspoken.
"Well." he demanded, 'let's near il. What's
on your mind?"
There are times when hatred will be-
tray almost any man. Hatred now led
Wickersham to speak not wisely, hut with
venom.
81 want YOU to renew Your name on the
East Coast notes." he said. ''They are due
on the second"
Few men had ever said al want YOU TO"
to Dexter Allison and, AZ he put it. 'got
away with it 10 any great extent And OF
all nights this one iii particular was the
least likely to prove propitious for such an
lattempt. That was Wickersham's over
sight.
"Sow sane Dexter. $50! Well, now
for your reason"
Wicker~ham had not learned until after
Barbara's departure that she was spending
the holidays in Morrison, for he had him
self expected tn he away. And 1T l. only
fair to the girl 10 say that she had hon
estly forgotten to apprise him of her plan,
in her real excitement at going, but find
ing ii out for himself had not made the
fact any pleasanter Ia Wickersham.
at should he clear enough without ex-
planation'-he enumerated each word
nicely-"if. you want that road they are
building"
Allison glanced up, surprised at the tone
employed.
Meaning. Of course, | do" he muSed-
"And yet-and vet ! dom knowT
Fear burned in the tall, thin mans eyes
that night-fear that made his hatred FOR
the absent man who was teaching HIM fear
anything but a pretty thing TO watch.
ave tried to buy off their men, lie
was holding himself with an effort that
made him trembIe. ''I've held up their sup
plies on every track that we control. but
THEY'VE had the luck with them. They've
made NJ lost time by working day and
night. I've
you've set a drunken foe. to steal ms
plans" drawled the other with deadly sar-
casm, 'like n second rate one night stand
william. Don't forget to mention that too!'
His l~ounging body shifted q little.
"Archie. do YOU remember what told
YOU about that woods rat. as you called
him once9 Did tell you that he would
fight, Well. listen. and listen closely,
while ! repeat it for You. lie hasn't even
warmed to il yetr
Wickersham went yellow at that, but his
lev self control held firm. He did not
break into vituperation this night. lie
smiled. though his voice was only a whis-
per Men have dropped out Of sight be
fore now in those woods" he husked. III
win or I'll see that he lies and rots in one
of his own sink holes"
A big voice i. a wonderful weapon nj
times. Allison's booming bass made Wick
ersham's threat seem only mean and hol-
low when the heavy man leaped 10 his feet
and shook a finger under that high bridged
nose.
mo, you won't" he snapped. mo, Won
won't, And If | didn't know. after hearing
Won talk. that you haven't stuff enough in
YOU to be dangerous. I'd fix YOU 50 you'd
he in no condition TO bu-hwhack anybody
for the next six months. I'm in q had mood
tonight. Drop ont Of sight. chf You'll
play this fair at least a. | see il by my
standards. and they are better standards