The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-09-14

"a blanket little higher
across the sleeping mans
shoulder. while Steve contin-
ued silently TO study Garry's face
Even In Inconsistencies a family
crooked smile Of skepticism still chung
60 the lips.
ct was like him." Steve remarked
at last very soberly somehow the
minute he began TO speak I knew II
was exactly the sort Of thing expect
ed him 20 say. The probability OF
death Is q much more amusing pros
pect 10 some men. Joe. than the per
pleYity Of living"
Fat Joe flashed a swift, half puzzled
glance at his chiefs face. He started
to ask a question. then scowled and
checked himself and turned instead to
kindle irc In the stove OF the lean.
TO kitchen Of the cabin. But half
hour later he was stIll murmuring the
last Phrase over 20 himself perplexcd.
" when Steve came leading the horse
RagtIme up 10 the open door. Saddled
and with reins atrial. the animal had
been wandering throughout the night
about the upper end Of the construc-
tion camp clearing. At the sound OF
hoofbeats outside Fat Joe left the
stove and the half cooked breakfast
he had set himself TO prepare.
$50 that's the way one Of 'em come"
he murmured II was wondering
some. Last night I didn't notice the
horse. being mite too hurried to give
ample attention 10 details. a. II were.
But ain't-aIn't this one Of AIliscn's
horsesf"
"No. Joe" Steve answered heavily.
"He is from Allison's stables. but We
have him TO thank. Just the same.
along with Garry. for our blue prints
and estimates. II was Mr.. Devercau
whom he brought up here last night
and In fairly good time. I should Judge.
too. from the pace at which they set
out. Garry turned him into the hill
road, and he must have stuck to II
blindly until he struck our fork"
And. after a longer pause. THE horse
Il Miss Allison's own property" he
added quietly.
JOf DuIrtu ups AhHtohast ~ sa'
mention Of the girls name he felt him
self better equipped TO understand
both the lack OF immediate action and
the seeming preoccupied indifference
Of his superior which. In the face OF
the nights Developments. would have
been otherwise utterly unaccountable
that morning.
The probable nearness Of him who
had gone bounding away empty hand
ed from the lighted shack was OF far
less moment than the possible identity
OF the one, who had furnished the In
spiration OF that night raid. And to
Steve the need of assuring that tall
girl with the vivid lips and coppery
hair OF Garry Devereau's safety bulk
ed quite as important as did the ad-
visibility Of seeking Immediately an
informal interview with Dexter Air
son. such rs the latter himself had 50
genially suggested.
II happened To run into Harrigan
this morning" Fat Joe said In an I'M
concerned manner.
As disinterestedly as had Joe. Steve
now drained his coffee cup and waited.
''Iie was down 10 the cook shanty."
Fat Joe rambled ON. Its an hour
since he'd ought 20 have been out there
with the powder squad In the north
cut. and when l asks him II he was
feel'n' indisposed this morning he says
no, out the supply teams was going out
and one OF the drivers had told him
that I was sending him along 10 help
with the Ioadln'. He had such a nice.
frank. open faced way OF lying that
couldn't bring myself TO correct him.
I Just let II stand that way and told
him such was the arrangement" Joe
saw swift satisfaction play across
Steve's face. "He had a bandage
around his head not much different
from this one our friend here Is wear
ing. But he said he was scratched by
q twig"
The room was very quiet for a
breath. That, thin note had crept into
Fat Joe's tenor voice-thin and chill
and menacing. And there as abruptly
as he had assumed II he flung aside
his mask OF dislngenuous irrelevance.
Fat Joe wheeled. put both elbows upon
the table edge and leaned forward
heavily. II was much as Though he
were setting himself to shoulder by
sheer weight through the diseourag.
Ing wall OF Indifference behind which
the other was apparently withdrawing
once more.
but as for me"-his high voice rang
q little-"but as for me. well. always
did pride myself that / could shoot
some. whether II was by daylight or
dark
And the only result which that state
ment achieved was an answering. med
itative nod. Fat Joe subsidized. All
that he could say had been said. and
they finished breakfast as they had
begun II, la absolute silence.
stephen o'Msra touched a match to
the dry grains OF tobacco which he