Putnam patriot., 1916-10-13

these two men aren't altogether tC blame; they're acting under orders Isn't that right?" he asked Thorn
 The miner hesitated. until the grip in his hair frightened: then, evidently fearing the menace in the faces on ev- cry side, he decided to seek protection In a complete confession.
 "Yes.' he agreed sullenly. "Gordon cooked 1t up. It's all fake"
 O'Neil nodded with satisfaction This is the second time he's tried to get my men away from me-
 You fellows don't seem able to pro- tect yourselves, so Doc and I will have to do it for you. Now listen," he con tinued more gravely. T meant it when l said I'd open the commissary and help you our if the strike were genuine: but. nevertheless, want you to know just what it would have meant to me. I haven't enough mon- ey to complete the s. R. and N, and cant raise enough. but 1 have signed an option to sell the road if the bridge is built by next spring. It's really two years job, and some engineers don't believe it can be built at all, but l know it can if you'll help. If we fail I'm ruined if We succeed he waved his hands and smiled at them cheerfully- well build anoth- CT railroad somewhere. That's what this stampede meant. Now. will you stick to me?'
 rI1t.- .,.--x~.,. ,a,-ra-J fs,r,, o hundred throats:
 You bet we'll stickr'
 When general good feeling was re- stored Murray attempted to make his way out, but his men seemed determin- ed to thank hila one by one. and he was delayed through q long process of handshaking. It. pleased him to see that they understood from what hard ships and disappointments he had saved them. and he was doubly grate- full when Walsh rounded up his crew and announced that the night shift would resume work at midnight
 He escaped at last, leaving the men grouped contentedly about huge pans of smoking doughnuts and pots of cof- fee. which the cook boys had brought in. Liquor was taboo in the camp, but he gave orders that unlimited c- gars be distributed.
 The news of the White river fiasco reached Curtis Gordon in Seattle, whither he had gone in final attempt to bolster up the tottering fortunes of the Cortez Home railway. His disap- pointment was keen, yet O'Neil from the beginning had met his attacks with such uniform success that new failure did not really surprise him. It had been forlorn hope at best Strangely enough, he had begun to lose some thing of his assurance of late. Al though he maintained his outward ap- pearance of confidence with all his old skill, within himself he felt grow ing uneasiness. a lurking doubt of his abilities. Outwardly there was req son enough for discoura cement. for, while his cooperative railroad scheme had begun brilliantly. its initial sue cess had not been sustained. AS time passed and Eliza Appleton's exposure remained unrefuted he had found il ever more difficult to enlist support. His own denials and explanations seemed powerless to affect the pubic mind, and as he looked back he dated his decline from the appearance or her first article. It had done all the nis- chief he had feared Not only were his old stockholders dissatisfied, but wherever he went for aid he found disconcerting lack of response, a half yelled skeptlcism that was maddenlng.
 Yet his immediate business worries were not all nor the worst of his troubles His physical powers were waning To all appearances he was as strong as ever. but strange bodily iassitude hampered him. He tired easily. and against this handicap he was forced to struggle continually. lie had never rightly valued his amazing equipment of energy until now, when some subtle ailment had begun to sap it. The change was less in his mus cular strength than in his nerves and his mental yigor He found himself growing peculiarly irritable. Ills faii- nres excited spasms of blind fuFy which Jeff him weak and spent. He began to suffer the depressing tortures Of insomnia. At times the nerves Ill his face and neck twitched unaccount- Ably. and this distressing a1eeuon <p~aa.a