Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-10-07

I
much flow, levels. logarithms, trigo-
nometry. The personal had entered
into the mechanical
He did not hire the men under his
charge. That he left to the company's
superintendent and foremen. But he
fried TO know each by sight and greet
them with a nod that recognized them
with himself as partners In the work
each according to his measure, ca
pacity: A labor camp had been estab
lished in the Sink under canvas and
light lumber. bunkhouses. dining
rooms and a few concessions all under
strict supervision Of she company.
II was on Sunday when Caleb. rid
ing over to meet Hinckiey at the big
dam. passed a man coming out OF q
little store that carried stationery,
candy. tobacco and newspapers and
magazines. He had . paper bag
tucked into his side pocket from
which he distracted a sweet morsel
/ for HIS mouth as Caleb, astride horse
in preference to the car provided by
the company, went by him. The man
was far from neat. though he wore
linen collar. His clothes were OF I'M
usually good material. but they were
all out of shape and stained. There
was lack Of spirit In the mans car
riage that arrested Cafeb's attention.
Caleb looked sharply at him. He
saw a proiled face framed in an I'M
trimmed beard. a face that was
shrunken from sickness or dissipa-
ton. a shifting glance ri moody eyes,
features that seemed remotely IA
miliar.
The sense Of having seen the man
before persisted and. when Caleb met
foreman. who saluted him cheerily.
he drew rein. The mso was still in
sight
'Does that chap work for us?" asked
Caleb. ~ haven't seen him abont be-
fore" The foreman shaded his eyes.
"He came two weeks ago with a rec
ommend from Mccarthy, the contrac-
tor. to Mr.. Burns. Burns was needin'
a timekeeper. He put him on. Name
of Johnson. He turns In his sheets
well enough. lushhound gone on
the blink with prohibition"
well, good luck to you" said Ca
leb and put his horse to lOpe.
McCarthy's name had given him the
clew. He was sure Johnson was Bax-
ter. He had heard rumors In his In
frequent visits TO Golden and the club
~of the latter's downhiil progress Still
drinking bad liquor. borrowing. ejec-
ton from the club for a heavy bill.
attempts at curbstone real estate. |
deals In insurance given him by |
friends, talk Of misappropriated pre-
miums and renewal checks. smoothed |
over for old times sake.
Calebs resentment had died out
with Baxter's downfall. All that Bax-
ter had attempted against him had
ended in failure If he was attending
to his Job Caleb did not want to hound
him on still lower But he did not
think Bakers rehabilitation probabl@.
He kept him in mind until he re-
turned. Then he. sought Burns. John
son's-or Baxter's-record was good
enough.
Hes been a boozer." was the SUI
per's report. $50 far he's kept sober.
Want him laid off2"
Not so long as he keeps on the
stun and turns In correct Sheets" said
Caleb. ''But. If he's drunk. or you
think he's carrying liquor. inside or
out, fire him. Treat him under the
rules the same as anybody
Two days later Caleb was called to
Golden for a conference. As he
stroIled along. looking In the store
windows, his eyes were caught by a
placard announcing an exhibition OF
paintings by Juan CarquiDez can.
vases OF Mexico Caleb. remember
ing the picturesque. forcefuI figure Of
thought that he would like
10 see how the man could paint. It /
would pass an hour pleasantly.
The gallery was small one. Caleb
Jaw Carquinez talking with a group /
# three possible patrons. his strong
ace as mobile in IT'S earnestness as {
IFS gestures. {
A little pile Of catalogues stood on Z
table by the door and Caleb took {
me, making the round OF the walls,
IowIy. held before canvas after can q
as by the beauty OF the work. d
Caleb became obsessed with the de- c
ire to own one. The name Of II was Il
La Tenaya." and his Spanish was In
efficient to translate the word. On a r
lit Of ancient lava that rose In the y
foreground. looking out across a dusky
lain to a line OF hills that held the J
ose and purple Of a dying sunset
hree Indian women were drawing wa
er from a pocket cistern In the rock,
lingering to exchange their simple :
ossip. A custom as old as the hills
the drawing Of water at =
unset for the evening meal II made :,
trong appeal to Caleb, aside from the =
xqufsite painting and tone value OF :.
he canvas :
GRO BE coETINUED.j -