Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-01

other had CROPPED and then thought
better Of the impulse. 'You were go
ing Of your own accord | see. Well,
Pm telling you to go now! The doors
open. I left it so for you when l
came in. And I'm telling you, too, be-
fore you leave that you'll do we'll not
to come back. There's not room for
both of us on this river any more, Har-
riganv'
The riverman's eyes shifted Fur
lively they fitted from face to face in
those rows Of faces at the walls. But
whatever he thought or hoped to find
feeting flash Of support or encourage
ment-was hidden behind common
mask of establishment as blank as had
been his own. They were waiting for
his answer He knew they were wait
ing for that as he crossed to the door
And when he paused there, to turn in
sudden savagery, he realized that his
hardness had robbed him of his
chance It was too late to talk back
then.
you're tellin'- me-" he rasped out,
land I was goin-sur-re. But things
ARE not yet finished between you and
me, for I'm pr-romisin' you that I'll
be back. I'm pr-romisin' you I'll be
wild We again. I'll be wild ye again,
come spring"
He disappeared. And hard upon his
going Steve wheeled and frOnted those
scores of silent men. His eyes leaped
from point to point, as Harrigan's had
craftily fitted Briefly, crisply, he ac-
companied the sweeping survey with
a voice that was loud enough for all OF
them to hear
Big Louie. Fallon! Shayne! This
is your chance to say SO if you're go
ing to be lonesome, now that your
song bird has flown. Speak up.
came down tonight just TO hear yOn
talk
Nothing but an indistinguishable
murmur answered him, a low groW]
that was neither argument nor eva
sion. Rebellion was still a long way
ahead for most OF them. They had not
vet had time to talk themselves to the
pitch of open revolt. They had merely
begun to listen to Harrieen, whose dis
ciDleS in dissatisfaction they were,
And now in his absence they stirred
uncomfortable under the gaze of him
who remained They dropped their
heads and searched for matches. But
Steve felt the weight Of unspoken
thoughts when he. too. faced back in
the doorway. This time there was 10
naming Of names. He embraced the
whole room when he spoke.
They tell me-" Steve continued, THAI
there's talk among you of no more
work on the river when we've put this
railroad through. I've heard it said
that some 81 you think you are cutting
the ground out from under your feet
with every shOvelful of earth you lift.
You ought to know better than that
You ought to know for yourselves that
there'll be need for more men in these
woods than there has ever been before
But if you don't. if you can't see it
that way. why not come around and
let me have Il fair chance to talk
things over with you myself before
you decide to turn on this job? want
you to remember that man who IS
liar in one thing is mighty likely to
talk loose rongued, no matter what he
breaches"
And there, without lifting his eve
from the floor, Big Louie cleared h
throat and made answer.
Maybe" he retorted-"maybe, AND
maybe not so sure either! I have lis
tened to big words before now. me
that have put no food under my belt.
no coat to my back"