Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-03
P VI (Continued)

The long row of deaks was flied, az
he approached waving the virgin post
card and seeking to write. Not a cor
ner was vacant, the people standing
with elbows touching, bending their
backs to h inscription of a kaleido-
scope of messages. Some seemed to
use this place in which to do their
entire correspondents; and almost an
were %toilers, new released from their
daily prisons, fastening through their
hours of leisure that there might be
more ime for further fastening.
their writing jealousy. lest some of
its sweetness escape: and tired work
ers sending home money-orders, and
ontce-boys stamping a few belated
circulars. and ragged chaps who look
ed as though they might be writing
negg1ng letters, and careless brisk
young men who licked their stamps
impudently. and pounded on them
with a decisive fist, and threw the
letter carelessly into hat mysterious
silt through which it travels to any
place in the world you wish, except
possibly he poles themselves. Before
MN an Old woman In a plaid shawl
that he saw her sad old face, yielded
him he place, taking her missive off
carefully. and leaving him to rest his
elbow upon the nk-stained SCARED
surface of the desk, and request
Messrs. Junk Co. please to call; which
which was almost like a child's. All
along the line bent the earnest faces
"a dozen races and, a dozen tempera-
ments. Vaguely he wondered what
they. wrote, finished his own bit, and,
posting it below the amazing tiers Of
little pigeon-holes with their waiting
messages, he left the ill-kept building,
bought a paper from a bowling boy.
three packages of pansy-seed from a
horist-shop, a coffee-bun and some
fruit from a baker and grocer, re-
spectively, and went home to the cat
and the dog.
The next day Miss Endicott came
early, and was much troubled about
Equality, who seemed, if anything,
worse than when she brought him. :,
They always get worse before they
was plain he was worried about the
they?" she questioned, a trife
doubtfully. Couldn't you try a new
course of treatment"
II intend to-" said he, who had tried
nothing. go far, but hope. I'm begin
ming today"
sighed, and kissed h animal between
the ears. What are you gathering up
all that truck for %" she inquired, see
ing that a new corner was gradually
being cleared. She nae taken to show
ing considerable interest in his work,
as though she challenged him to i'm
prove himself, hut hattered him that
he would do it: a most helpful and
encouraging attitude to encounter.
Il am going to have a few more
fower-beds," Adam enlightened her.
Good" said she. II like to see q
person keep at a thing!"
You admire efficiency" he asked.
She seemed a little doubtful about
her answer.
Ives. of course 1 do" she replied
after hesitation. IT like people to be
faithful In accomplishing anything,
n to be quick and capable. Yet I
nave known admirably efficient peo-
ple,' who's were trustworthy. and at
tractive, who yet somehow lacked.
She caught herself up sharply. II was
thinking of someone whom I think a
good deal Of" she added, land whom
l ought to like q lot better than lido.
Yet, somehow, our feelings and our
reason won't always cooperate, will
they?'
She had flushed a little and laughed
a little. Evidently this Somebody
was an important factor in her life.
He wondered, savagely, if it could by
any chance be Brock Allen. 1remem-
behring's his cousins evident devotion
OF the other night. But she switched
offfhe dangerously personal ground so
swiftly that he was diverted back to
the dog n the garden before he
fairly knew it. When she left, she said
she would no. be back for a day or
two, becaus of some aviation meet,
and Adam went back to his self-im-
posed task sadly. This day was We'd
nesday. The interval to Saturday
\ at rQfchaS ahead in oro,iroh l, o-l 49,
digging went on slowly. Then it, took
a sudden brace. After all, Saturday
was coming!
1t was midday before any answer
to his postcard arrived. and when it
did, it o the form Of the gigantic
fellow who had noticed the flower bed
on the a they took the stoves away.
Adam had Just finished his noon meal,
and was sitting on the steps, rolling a
cigarette, when the man arrived.
He was an alarming-looking per-
sonage, this man, and, in his youth,
must have been possessed of enor-
nous strength. His shoulders, bent
Knew what simple sins, were uncom-
monty wide, and his arms hung from
their sockets like fails. His bullet
head was close-cropped and his long
jaw bore the scars of many a by-gone
battle. His g vas concealed in. the
OSpSAAo VI llIC OdhuOWu WHICH mac
palpably rung down the curtain on
some strenuous career, and left him
cheated Of part Of his youth. But he
was not old; only broken-shambling
along like the hulk Of a discarded bat
tleship, adrift in strange waters. Yet
his struggle had left. him with a curl
ously gentle manner. and a voice
whose husky whimper a%pologized for
all the roaring it had formerly done.
Approaching. he pushed back the
peaked cap he wore, brushed his, coat
tails aside and stood, hands on thighs,
in front Of Adam.
7 Il come from de Junk Comply"
out how much stuff you'll let go?"
AVam eyed his visitor carefully, try
ing to catalogue him.
Whatever else you are. or were"
he unused aloud. you are neither a
business man nor a diplomat"
Huh" said the fellow. Never fear.
I wouldn't be no such milksops. Get
me?"
The world is full Of amazing
things" Adam commented with APP
the deuce it wal you aid. Dn-.ou
know. you look vaguely famii.ar,
HUH said the man. .Never you
mind what I done. I've got life for It.
as you can see fer yourself. Kindly
get down ter business"
There wa a bitterness in his voice
which caused Adam to give him an
other sharp look. Decidedly he had
seen the fellow somewhere. Perhaps it
was only On the occasion of his first
visit, but this explanation was not
sufficient. He liked the great, hulking
creature somehow. The incident Of
the planting had stuck in his mind,
and on the impulse he offered his to-
bacco pouch and motioned to a seat.