The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-12
Chapter 27

STRAIGHT TALK
 s Judith Dale raised her hand, A silence fell on the crowd of dam workers who had come to greet her They had asked for speech. BfE "Tell me what you would like to know? she asked
 Our jobs low about our jobs? Who gets Mason's place" How long you goin' to keep oper' atin'?"
 Again her uplifted hand Big Tom would have had the man next in line fill Masons place. We'll fol low the same plan. Max Larson Is next in line"
 A roar of approval greeted this. "Your jobs are safe. The new company has money to carry on the work and keep your salaries going during the will contest"
 She stopped. Somewhere on the outer fringe an argument was going on. What's the trouble?" she de manded.
 "Aw." came voice. there's a bird back here says we ought 10 beat it while beatin's goo and get ourselves a real job. He says the Bevins women are go Il t let this dam go as soon's the wills broke and they get the money"
 "Whatll we do with him. Miss Judy?" asked young voice, shall we ride him out on c rail?'
 This emergency was one Big Tom could not have foreseen. Judith knew her dam workers. She had known them all of her life. They could be quickened to mutiny as quickly as they could be quickened to loyalty and upon the turn of a word this decision might rest.
 Ride him out on rail?" echoed Judith in derision. why give him transportation. let nim walk"
 The quick answer won. Roars of laughter. scufiling on the fringe then silence.
 Judith spoke again-"naturaliy you are interested il your johs Whether you keep these jobs or uot is up to you. It will depend upon one thing. your loyalty to Big Tom Bevins.
 As you work. remember you are working for him. just as am vol k ing for him. He earned the fre million dollars it will take for the erection and maintenance Of thfs dam and he had right to say how 1t should be spent. H. left il to me with the orders to spend it as he would have spent 1t had he lived not for my personal use am work ing as his secretary; his stenog rapher, at salary less than many of yoL are receiving.
 Big Tom knew there would be ar attempt to break his will and he pre- pared for it. There will be no dan ger from that source but tho same influence which will try tC break the will. will try to send spies into camp here to cause dissension distrust. anything to hinder the work on the dam.
 "If you listen to these spies, vol will he hurting yourself worse thar anyone else.
 Big Tom had foresight enougt to protect your interests agains our common enemy. Have you loy alty enough to protect his memor! and carry out the desire of his life the building of this dam?"
 ITO Judith. it seemed the shout O l assent was unanimous am shortly afterwards the crowd be gan dispensing and she found her self surrounded by a group of fore men. engineers and construction men, many of whom she had worke, with before.
 You said the right thing. Mrs Dale." said Larson. they were vol ried about working for millionair stenographer. You put ther straight on that"
 And what you said about loya ty." added another.
 Say. Judy" interposed Clar Good win. with whom she had a tended college. "did you mean tha about working for salary?"
 q certainly did," she answered then with a boyish grin. where d l pitch my tent? And say. could 70 rustic a second one for my gil friend? This is Delphy. boys, sh decided she wasn't going to let m come down here and eat mantilla and holy beans. so l found her o the train. spending her last nickt to take care of me"
 Good for Delphy. you bet we ca find tent for her."
 They had been walking uphill an Judy saw they were fast coming [