The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-01

WaAAIa Il Mtn W UMNs ~ N0A1AH0 aNt"
lars month. nothing more. That's
what I'm out here for. paristc. TO
find out why. In spite OF the fact
that I've worked day and night now
for a year and half. IN spite OF tho
fact that I've gone out and struggled
and fought for contracts and even
beaten down the barriers Of dislike
and distrust and suspicion 10 set
business--why can't set ~ some
thing or some one n blocking me.
and I'm going 70 find out cha, and
who II isl I think I know one man
---Thayer, But therc may Be more
That's why I'm playing INF. game OF
lost identity. l thought l could get
out here ard nose around withou,
him knowing II. when he found out
az once who l was. and seemed 90
have had a previous tip that l was
coming out here. had 10 think fast
ped into my head. Maybe II can
play the game long enough. Il will
take him off his guard and cause
him 20 work more In the open. They
may give mo n chance 10 know
where stand. And I've got 10 know
that. Ba'tiste- Bccause--'' and his
voice was vibrant with determine
ton. Il don't care what happens 10
me personally. l don't care whether
I lose every cent OF what I have
worked for. but do care about
this: I'm going 10 make good 20 my
fathers memory. I'm going TO he
able 20 stand before a mirror and
look myself straight IN the eye.
knowing that buckied up against
trouble. that n nearly whipped me.
that II took the unfaircst advantage
that Fate can take OF q man I'm al.
could fully right myself In his eyes.
but that u there n Justice. n there
Is anything fair ard decent in this
universe. some way he'll know. some
way he'll rest In peace. with the un.
derstandIng that hts son took up tho
gauntlet that death laid down for
him. that he made the fight. and
that he wonr'
''Bon--goodr' Old Ba'tiste leaned
over the foot OF the bed. my Plcrrs
--hs would talk like that. Bon' Now
what Is II you took for7''
I'm the first place. want 10 know
how so many accidents can happen
In a single plant. Just az the wrong
time. I want TO know why II In that
can 70 out and fight for q contract.
and then iose u because Il saw was
broken. or an off-bearer. Juggling
slabs away from the big wheel. can
allow one 20 strike at Just The wrong
moment and let tho saw pick 10 UP
and drive It thru the boiler. laying
up the whole plant for three weeks.
I want 20 know why IL IL that only
about one of three contracts I land
are ever filled. Thayer's got some
thing 10 do with u. I know. Why7
That's another question. But there
must be others. I want 10 know who
they are end weed them out. I've
only got three and a half years left.
and things are going backward In.
stead Of forward"
How you intend TO fin this out7"
II don't know. I've got one lead
las soon as I'm abie to get into
town. That may give me a good
deal OF information. came out here.
az least, IN tho hope that Il would.
After that. I'm hazy. How big a
telegraph office Is there at Taber-
nacle?"
How big7" Ba'uste laughed.
How petitel Eet Is about the size
OF the--what.you say--the peanut"
rs there ever a time when the
operator isn't therc7'
AT noon. lie 20 out 70 dinner.
and he leave open the door. II Get
Is something you want, walk in"
Thanks" A strange eagerness
was In Houston's eyes. Il think I'll
be able to get up tomorrow. Maybe
I can walk over there: It's only
mile or two. isn't IT."
But when tomorrow came. II found
white. bandaged figure sitting
weakly in front OF Ba'tiste's cabin.
nothing more. Strength OF purpose
and strength OF being had proved
two different things. and now he was
quite content 10 rest there in the
May sunshine, TO watch the chatter.