The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-03-16

and pepper. Along both edges stood
an army OF white e~arthenware plates.
Ranked by bone.handled knives aud
forks and tin spoons.
At the west. beside mn opel door.
was n high pine desk Uttered with pa
pers, n telephone hung at one side. A
small table stood before a window,
with a rocking chair In proximity
one Of those low, old.fashioned rock.
ing chairs that old women use, and
that invariably hold a patchwork
cushion with green fringe. and q white
knitted tidy. That rocker vas part OF
Daily's camp. II had followed the
march Of progress as the camp cut its
way into the hills.
ITS my one comfort" Ma was wont
10 say, though land knows ! don't
gct 10 set in 1t more'n a quarter what
I'd like"
As the loggors slid noisily on 10 the
benches. their caulks giving up tho
mud they had held prrposoly Tor IN"
swept floor. Silctz came and went. set.
ting the substantial viands In tho
open spaces left in the expanse OF
white oilcloth. She exchanged a word
here and there. always a sensible
word, something of the work. the day.
or the men themselves. She was put
ting a plate OF cookies. sugar sanded.
with currants on top, between jim
Anworthy and a blaCk.haired Pole.
when a foot struck the step at the
Ingf lpnE THarn V.ua gnt,,,kl,, L.,
the sound that drew every head
around at once. a stranger stood
against the misty darkness between
the jambs.
lie was young. apparently about
twenty-five or six. well set up. with
straight shoulders above narrow hips
and d poisc that claimed instant at.
tentiCn. lie removed his soft hat.
holding II In bis hand. while mis-
bright, blue eyes looked im~personally
over the room. over his shoulder a
pair OF big, dark ones peered anxious.
ly, while a black muz7le with a small
white patch nosed hts elbow aside.
John Daily"
II was a call that demanded, rot a
question.
From the head OF tho nearest table
n giant OF a man. easy natured, lax
featured, loose joints banded together
by steel sinews, rose lumberingly.
I'm him." ne said.
The man In the door brought his
eyes sharply TO focus on his face. read.
lug II with lightning rapidity.
I'm the Dillingworth Lumber com.
pany-Or most OF IT," he said clearly.
and I've come 10 stay. Where shall
! rut my horso?"
There was a startled silence after
these amazing words. An uncXpressed
ejaculation went from face 20 face up
and down the tables. Then John Daily
showed why he was the best foreman
In that region. He got himself loose
from the end bench and walked over
to the door.
IAN right, Mr."
He waited easily. ms II II was Der
fectly natural for strangers 10 drop
from n hilltop and them.
selves the ruling power OF the country,
or more strictly speaking one OF the
ruling powers. for there were two.
"Sandry," finished the other. wal.
ter Sandry-from New York"
Come In. MIR. Sandry-you're Just
In time"
Daily turned back to the lighted
room.
"Siletz, give Mr.. Sandry my place
Harrison. I'll have TO take your filing
shed for tonight. Tomorrow we'll fix
things In better shape"
The saw.hlcr. an important person.
age and II TO be conCiliated. frowned
In his plate. but the foreman had lost
sight Of him. lie reached out a huge.
hard hand and took the bridle.roin
from the newcomer.
Already this man was standing IN.
side the rude building. with a high.
headed air OF force, OF personality that
made itself felt in the most stolid ma.
ture present. He glanced down the
double line of faces and for "A second.
Just a fractional, fleeing moment.
seemed 10 hesitate. Then he laid bis
hat on the small table, walked round
TO Daily's empty scat. swung a leather
puttee and a well.built shoe over tho
bench and sat uown. He was In place,
and Il vague feeling OF adjustment. Cr
sOlidity, accompanied him, as II he
was there. as he said. 10 stay. Every
man In the Dol felt II; and one OF
those strange sensations OF portent
communicated itself TO them. as when
the everyday affairs OF life come TO
a turn In the road.
Daily's was on the we Of n change.
The girl was putting a thick. white
plate, hot from boiling water, before
him, deftly laying the simple cutlery,
pushing back an intrudiEg dish.
There was an air OF detachment about
her, No portion OF her garments
touched him, She was always so,
aloof In a quiet way, Now, as she
tended the stranger silently, one OF
her long braids slipped over her Shout.
der and fell across his hand. He drew
away from the contact sharply and a
dozen pairs OF eyes saw the action.
He'll" murmured a man at the
1 49,. ~ A. M