The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-30

~ II
imminent, and for days and
(XR&J days something had been dy-
ing hard I'm stephen 0'Mara's breast
His step was slow that afternoon when
he drew apart to take up his position
alone upon a bit Of higher ground, his
shoulders heavy and dropping. yet his
brain was feverishly active.
They came slowly at frst-wicker-
sham's iogs-thudding heavily. one by
one. into the underpinnings N the
bridge. sliding free or lodging cross cur
rent, as the case might lie. then In
thicker and thicker tide that ground
and up ended and settled with the
weight Of the coffee colored flood be-
hind It. In the beginning the handful
Of men who had put those timbers into
place set themselves doggedly to save
their completed structure until the man
who had worked with them shoulder
to shoulder through the night called
them with a nod back to the bank.
Obediently then they collected In
small knot behind him. murmurous
gutturally grumbling.
The coming Of wickersham's men
was not thing Of degrees. They pour
Cd into view through the brush fringe
at the north edge Of the marsh and
halted. but only for an instant
who Ia your friend at the time
when you need a friendf Harrigan.
that's mel"
"Harrigan. that's mef' And there
came a lull In the valley at Thirty
Mile, broken only by heavy breathing
and the crunch OF logs Jamming be-
meath the bridge and the ugly swirl OF
backed up water.
And then Harrigan stood forth. Long
arms dangling. palms back, almost TO
his knees, that red headed one minced
forward on the balls OF his feet. Har.
rigan was redeeming a promise many
weeks overdue. II was spring. and
Harrigan had come backi
I'm here" be spoke to that bowed
head. IF you are afther carin' TO wei
come mel''
"T've been expecting you. Harrigan. "
Again that startling mildness.
There is little wonder that II deceiv.
ed the riverman. Listening. watching
O'Mara's slack form. even Fat Joe's
face burned. even Archie wickersham's
dared dash In triumph. And Harrigan's
went savagely exultant.
"You talked out loud TO me once" he
tainted "Is Il so dithcult you find
n now to speak up so l can hearT'
would you promise TO listen TO ar
gument. HarriganT"
vilificntion tore ut the others lips un
til friend and enemy marveled at what
Steve took In silence.
"You have begun many things In
this country" the long TRADE end
ed. "You came out OF these woods
with rags on your back and started nj
bein' a gentleman when We were onl,
bhoys. You've made a great sue
cess av II with the ladies'. wen gr-ranl
you that But you should have stucl
70 your soft and lily white pastime. fol
when you aimed to turn this river int
n gentleman's proposition you started
something too big for you 10 finish. In
taking Il on your hands now. Cam
you even talk back like u MANI
Maybe you are right, Harrigan.
Steve said. "You may be- do no
know. | have started big things an'
left them unfinished But you arr
wrong for the rest of II. Harrigan. To-
I am going-to-inish-your
Ike q blast OF wrath o'Mara LITE
and struck him. Harrigan's hands ha'
not left his hips before he met IN
ground. and he was back on bis Zee
ike q bounding bali. only to 60 dow
again before the smashing impact Q
those blows Caution he tried TO US
I'm rising. aud they searched out hi
face, his chin. and drove him hiths
and yon. Open fighting Was not I'd