Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-01-11

ndht IL as lousn lul mt 40 hS
knew howl"
He nodded again, that brisk,
irate gesture.
"And what of itYp
"This!' He flung his cap into a
chair and slapped the desk. II
didn't squawki | didn't even ask
for a fair break. 1t vas June, with
the black flies so bad Sandy couldn't
keep road-builders in the woods.
He put me in there with what he
had left of a crew and ! stuck. |
was the only one of the gang |
started with who stayed through,
and when we wound up | was boss
did | get something better then?
Guess againl swamped. | drove
team. | went with the loading
crew, and every place was put |
set the pace for the rest of EN-
Yeah. College boy. Getting sand
papered because he was son of the
push"
He nodded once more, a bit white
now.
-Four things I'd proved | could do
better than anybody else there.
Four !'-holding up the fingers of
a trembling hand. Saws next.
Could | get a partner to stay with
me even at the money | made for
him? | could notl They brought
In a Finn who'd never found a man
to stand his pace; be hoisted his tur.
key the ninth day and went out with
his tail dragging, and when Swan
son got TEX there was nothing else
to do but put me In to run the show,
was there?
you know what happened then.
Forty cents a thousand | saved you
below anything that'd ever been
done at Witch Hill, and when We
were winding up the job at that
And the boys liked me. | had 'em
working their heads off for you and
showed the lowest labor turnover
they'd ever had in the country since
God knows whenl
"Stuffed-shirt? Yes-man? HI,
sir y
MY" said old Tom, with forced
sardonic mildness. my, you're proud,
amt your"
The boy caught his breath as
though for a stormy denial checked
himself and 1ared:
You're id right, | ami 1t
showed what | can do on one job
gave me something to go on when
ask for the bigger one that's been
promised me-" His voice trembled.
You'd admit ii to anybody else, too:
you'd admit 1t of any other kid who
turned the trick. Then, sir, why the
devil won't you admit it to and about
me?"
His fist fell to the desk again, but
this time with a sharp thud. Tom
Belknap's eyes left that accusing
gaze. and he stared once more
through the window.
No." he said dryly, as If to end
debate with himself, and the sug-
gested alteration of his face which
had threatened, perhaps, a melting,
a s%oftening, came to nothing. 1T
goes back to where we started that
I'm runnin' this outfit yet and hir-
Ing men and putting EN- where |
think they'll do me the most good.
Zone thing" he propounded, you've
got to learn Is to know men, TO get
along with men. You don't like Cor
bel"
mol never havei Neither does
anybody else around this outfit p
with an inclusive gesture. You've
got a price on his interest, and even
If you aren't ready to buy him out
| won't lock horns with him. Let
him III the office and the mills;
let him run the bank. | want to
get into the woods, Tom, and at
Kampfest. There'd be no conflict |"
"As | was sayin'; you don't like
Gorbel and for no reason, | can see.
You've got to learn why you like
and don't like men. You've only
been on n job. You try another,
now, and come spring you show me
what you're wound on" Color was
deepening In the lined face and eyes
showed pale against 1t. We've had
a lot of gable this afternoon |
Here's your letter from Sandy. See
If you a make a shown some.
where else, and when | get back .
Wen see what we can see |"
He rose.
That's all, then?" John asked,
oddly restrained.
That's all there is. The Century
leaves In two hours. If you're GO
Ing to say good-by to your mother
! you'd better be about It."
The boy stood ir~resolute, con.
flicting impulses surglng within him.
When, with a sweeping movement,
he snatched up his cap.
"Good-by, sir,"-crisply.
"Good-by, John, well,
good-by %!"-gruffly.
Their hands met briefly, formally.
you'll go on to Seven tomor-
row )" Difficult to tell wheth-
er that was statement or query
difficult to tell, too, whether the
clea ring of his fhrnaf had hnnn nee.