The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-04-06
CHAPTER xvli-contlnued.

The PTeacher!" she gasped aloud.
"oh. fatherl What have ! done!
have shut my ears TO the winds OF
God!"
When. an hour later. she came up
on the cook-shack porch and stood
leaning In the doorway spent with
her wild passion. Ma Daily grimly fed
the fire In the range. setting about
the supper for tho men left at camp.
Mother" said Siletz duly. she
lied"
"Yes-l know II. But what you goin'
to do. child! You love him an you're
right-so would ef | was thirty year
younger. for he's a man. East or no
East"
The general turned to her work and
q Sigh heaved her ample breast.
It's all In the days work." she
thought, IAN you had to take your
chanct, Johnny-but you're strong. my
son. you're a strong man-like yer
daddy"
So began a strange time In camp.
Daily came home In three days. eager
and grim-lipped. and III the pocket OF
his fannel shirt he carried the big
check for which Sandry had worked
and struggled. He had delivered the
raft in safety. along with the scalers
report, receiving the payment which
had been ready In the hands of a
thin, gray man who leaned from the
steamers rail to exchange a few curt
words
Ma Daily cornered aim in the kitch-
en late In the night as he finished
his careful rounds of the camp
Son." she said gently. 'theys a
hard knock comm to you an want
to give you warnin'. though | know
you'll take It standin'. Johnny. as yer
daddy took all O. his, an I've seen
him take some corkers.
Il know what you've always thought
o. Sletz. son. sence she was a teensy
chap-I'ye watched her quiet ways
open yer heart an seen her walk In
an I've hoped myself some day it'd
all work out. fer she's always turned
to you In trouble. It's instinct. But
son-son. haven't you seen nothin
sence Sandry come among us9 Hain't
ye read the signs?" The foreman had
stopped at the sink and lifted tin
dipper OF water for drink. At the
last words he put the vessel slowly
down untouched and turned an amazed
face toward the old lady. His blue
eyes we're wide, and the mother glo.
ried like girl in the good man.
strength Of him-the broad shoulders,
the muscled arms. bare to the elbow.
the shapely back and the straight hips
OF the hlll.climber
What you talkin' OF, mar" he asked
Jest this. Sletz laid out her heart
fer all to see when they brought Sandry
home an that-that Jezebel woman
shamed her before us all She said
on the heels o. tn childs cry of love
that she was Sandry's promised wife
think she lied-but S1etz is breakln
her heart fer the Fastener"
Here. without another word. Ma
Daily opened q door behind her and
creaked through. closing It softly.
OF such Inherent tact was she, she
did not wish even his mother to sec
big John Daily take his hard knock
even though ne took 1t standin'." with
only a tremor OF the hand that held
the dipper.
When he met Siletz in the morning
he looked at her with eyes a little
more haggard-there was deeper
line at the corners OF his mouth.
The girl bore traces OF the frst an
guish she had ever known In the pal
lor of her face. the dull look of smol
fering fame under the daze OF help
lessness.
There was no one IN the eating room
besides themselves, Collins was ou
IN the hills with the crew. for at ths
brst sight of sandry stili aive. Daily
Ssd Givea orosrs 70 70 On with tnl