Evening star., 1923-07-01

oyergroWn boy ne was, Ior al
his mates ticket, with a wide grin
and a hearty laugh that would charm
response from the sphinx. No one
had told him yet about Gisli Gislison
not even his brother, Big Joe, had
dared to tell him.
Bowery was in high spirits. and no
wonder, having come home to the
ioneliest yet most cheerful place on
tbs lakes-Beaver Island. We all sat
around the stove-the McCann boys,
old man Dunlevy. Salty Gallagher and
Hughie Big Biddy Gallagher. Tight
Gallagher and Willie Boyle, and a few
/ more. There was a drop to drink and
the dance to follow. and the perch
had begun to run.
"Ye know how scarce jobs We're and
men laid up?" Bowery leaned for
ward with his hearty laugh. Il was
on the dock when the Meuominee
( come in, and I went aboard her and
, struck the old man. Give me any
thing from mate to wheelin', but no
lookout tells him. He looks me
over sour and hard, and says: Cal
legher, hey? I'll bet you're one o them
condemned Beaver Island Galleghers
that's holdin' down berths on half the
lake, hoats this minute" Delany, who
was second mate on the Manitou last
year, he was standin' by, and he be-
gun to grin. 4 got two Beaver Gal
leghers aboard here now says the
old man. and I reckon l can stand one
more, So git aboard and go TO wheel
in"
Bowery ceased speaking. A queer
tension had fallen upon the group Of
us, and he was quick to sense it. He
saw the stranger standing to one side,
arms folded-a long. gaunt, faxen-
haired man with face like nodded
iron he was. He looked once at
Bowery Galleger. then he turned and
went out. with 1.-THE and silent step.
where did that blow in from?'
calculated Bowery.
Hughie Big Riddy leaned forward
and spat into the stove. "Washn'ton
Island-one O. them Icelanders from
10 Wisconsin side" he said awk-
warly Bowery glanced from face to
face, then spoke: well, what Is it?
You fellers ain't lettin' them square
heads run over here
Willie Boyle smiled in that queer.
knowing way OF his.
Coin to fsh this fall. Bowery?" he
asked gently. with your brother Joe.
, maybe?"
"Ch-huh. Dads goin' to give US the
Eleanor. Joe and go half on the nets,
and Wen get in on the perch in a
couple O. weeks. What's that feller
70 doing over here? Layin' over?"
Something like that said Willie
Boyle He's got our trap nets here
and there-nobody knows just where.
He dom. flag EN- He just seems to
feel where they are"
"Huh?" Bowery stared. frowned per
plexedly. You don't mean he's f1shin'
over here? Who's with him"
Nobody" grunted Emmet McCann.
Island; he's runnin' his own nets"
'I'll be blowed," calculated Bowery,
staring around Everybody got par
THE Steelhead is campin' on Pismire
.alysis or something? Does Joe let this
Teller alone. too"
faces.
Joe interfered." said Willie Boyle
dryly He got laid up for week
and lost a ix-hundred-dollar pound
net The two McCafferty boys inter-
fered. and so did them Danes over TO
Garden Island They landed on
Pismire one night and warned Gisli-
son off He come over to the dance
the next night and cleaned the whole
Of them-proper, He's come over for
the dance tonight. I guess
j: 4 X !:
STIE asn't bad sort" spoke up
i old Dunlevy auaveringly.
when this lad come over first. in a
west gale it was, his engine gone
dead on him. and he wild tarp rig
ged forard for a sail!' g.
Hes clever on his feet too" added
Tight Gallagher. 'D'ye mind when he
stepped out wild Danny McCafferty an
stepped him down and niver the same
step twicet? Awe, clever he is. Gisli
Gisllson is the name of him. On the
ocean in the war he was. so Mary
Boyle was tellin' me-"
Bowery started at that. And how
does Mary know about it?"
He'll be takin' her to the dance to-
night, I guess" said Willie Boyle,
who was Mary's uncle. IT'S q free
country. ye know, Eddie"
Bowery came to his feet, all the
face of him. "Any man." said he,
who camps on Pismire. and fishes
lonely, and don't flag his nets is
crazy! l s'pose you buy his nsh,
James?"
His cousin James nodded. Being
the company's agent I play square.
He gets fish too. Eight hundred
pound today, a hundred an forty
bucks. Uses a net some, but mostly
hooks. He has miles an miles OF the
hooks. they tell me"
'See you later" said Eddie Bowery,
and went stamping out Of the store.
There was a space Of silence. All
were regretting that Bowery had not
waited. They had first dwelt upon the
good qualities OF Gisli Gislison; there
were other things to be said.
"Bowery's nobody's fool" said Salty
Gallagher Hes warned"
Willie Boyle rose. 'Tm not missin
the dance this night" said he. smiling
i've got ten dollars that says Bowery
cleans the Icelander''
(which way?" quavered old Dun.
levy. "wid his f1sts--or wild MaryT
Both ways" said Willie Boyle