The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-04-17
Fixing
Up

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had slipped onto the wharf
at that instant the watch

anu Slrl OIL the city uOlSdI1, MS Gig
arctic fingers clinging to the sleeve
of her fiimsy sweater, imagining they
would not be disturbed in the shadow
of that lumber pile stacked at the
further end. There in the shadow
the boy and girl were young enough
to be afraid Jenny twitched hen
flimsy sleeve from Joe's stained fin
gers.
Then they heard the nearing step
of the Waterman, whom they had not
evaded, after all. Instantly, Jenny
shrank closer among the shadows OF
the lumber pile. Joe clenched his
fists and took an involuntary step
backward. The back step brought
him over the edge of the wharf, and
turning upside-down, he was plung-
ed head first into the cold wash OF
the dirty water. Jenny's scream
brought the Waterman into quicker
action. But the tide was running
hard that night and Joes body
wasn't foUad by the authorities. What
happened 70 Jenny no one knew or
cared.
That Autumn a fellow called
"Brick" worked at the Eliot farm,
and then stayed on through the Win
ter to chop wood. AT first his back
ached furiously and his hands blist-
cred and the cleanness of this wide
outdoors began to- startle him. A
man needed to be right with himself
and his maker if he was to work the
ground and gather of its bounty;
man wouldn't dare live in this sun
shine and storm and hear the night
winds drawing through the tree tops,
unless he cleaned his heart. When
Spring came Brick" had saved
enough from his wages to make
payment on a piece of woodland
which he meant to work up for HIM
self the following Winter. There
was an old cabin on it where he could
live. But for this Summer he was to
work at the Elliott farm.
Planting time passed eventually
and the Eliot truck commenced to go
to the city market with loads OF
abundant harvest. Brick" had been
in once with Mr.. Eliot when the
emergency call came for him to go
alone. He could drive the truck and
he needn't lose his way in the pro-
cession that nightly wound its length
from the fertile river bottom lands
to the historic market place. The red
light of the truck ahead glowed at its
distance on straight stretches of the
road and disappeared around the
curves only to reappear at the next
Strengthening of the cement ribbon.
Distances between the towns less
ened; here was the smaller city
across the river mouth from the
metropolis.
Brick" felt his truck rumble out
upon the great bridge that spanned
the stretch of dark water; lights
spangled the rails of both sides;
lights spangled the streets of the
sleeping city A clock striking some
where penetrated the quiet purr OF
the smoothly running engine. Amid
this multitude of humanness no less
than on the fields and hillsides,
man needed to be right with himself
and his Creator. And where was
Jenny?
At the entrance to the bridge the
truck had passed a keen-eyed blue
coat who signalled with cordial wave
of white glove for the driver to pass.
And there against cement buttress
half way over leaned wisp of sub
stantial form that stirred as Brick"
glanced that way. He pulled on the
emergency and sprang to catch a
flimsy skirt that tore, but gave him
time to clutch foot and arm.
Don't be a fool" he spoke sharp
ly.
"Joe!" she gasped. "Hot dog,
Joe's dead I'm off my nut seeing
spooks!"
He hesitated, fingers holding at her
clothes as they had held that other
night when she slipped ahead among
the wharf shadows. He could go on
and leave her with the cloak of his
new world concealing him; or he
could stop to touch her with the
beauty and joyousness of these other
ways.
Jenny" he said gently, "I'm Joe.
got away that night and it had Civ
en- me such a shake-up that / didn't
want to stay cumming round"
Joel" she sobbed. Joe! Your
dying like that scared me stiff and
I've lived straight, but / can't get no
work and / was going like you did"
Joe's strong fingers closed over
Jenny's claw-thin hand.
"You come with mel" he said.
1--WE bought little place in the
country. You come with me and