The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-01-18

IN dirty StlnKer! blru-Eye SdAu
beneath his breath. $50 he's drivin'
him out already, is he? Well, tn low
down."
"Who's driving who out?" Elliott
asked.
"Misther Brandon. Americky moight
be free country but Lineup amt In
it, thin. Ovid Donny amt welcome
here md It's likely he's got his orders
to move on"
Elliott hitched his pack-sack higher.
whats this? Orders? What's wrong
with him? Seemed like harmless old
gaffer to me- Bent on coming to Tin
cup, too; wanted it like little kid
wants candy. Got my goat. -. Who's
going to run him Off"
Bird-Eye had hoped nimbly to log
from which point he could see across
bobbing heads.
"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed. "Sure, it's
Misther Brandon hisself who's a-run-
MIN ovid Denny off"
Elliott craned his neck and could see,
halfway to the depot, two men on the
travel earlier that day; the other
man he had not seen before. The latter
had Don Stuart by one arm but that
contact was not the friendly assistance
which Ben had offered the old fellow.
AS Elliott looked, the feeble old man
tried to draw away but the other was
insistent, scarcely hesitated in his
progress toward the station.
Train vests due now" Bird-Eye
said. "Sure, md pore ovid Denny, he'll
be a passenger. It's a cryin' shame,
kapin' him away from Lineup sol"
Elliott started forward, Bird-Bye at
his heels, crossing the street, leaping
to the high board sidewalk and swing
ing on.
He overlook the two he followed just
in time to hear Stuart gasp:
"-aint long to E. live, Nick. I'd
like :. stay here. :. ii. Amt pleasant
to be sick and not among
friends"
"Never mind" the other said as one
might to a protesting child. "I've told
you any number of times to stay
away"
On this reply Elliott moved abreast
of the man.
Hello, old timer!" he said, address
ing Stuart. Going some placer"
He did not look at the man said to
be Nicholas Brandon. His manner on
the question was almost casual.
"Oh 4. hello" Don painted. Il :.
Mister Brandon, here :. won't let me
:. stay"
Then Elliott looked at Brandon. A
man of undeterminate age; not old,
neither young. Powerfully built, with
a peculiarly white face and eyes as
black as night. Those eyes bored into
Elliott's now, keenly, intelligently, with
the look of a man who is accustomed
to gauging others without delay or hes
itation; they were the eyes Of man
who knows men, the glance of one &C.
customed to rule men.
ooh, this man doesn't want you to
stayl" Ben said softly. And then with
smile, to Brandon: II sort of took
the old timer under my wing today. He
wants to stay here quite badly. I'll
look after him."
There's no place for him here,'
Brandon said positively. Come, Stuart,
it's almost train time"
He twitched at the old mans arm
but Ben broke in, brow wrinkled as If
he wanted to handle perplexing mat
ter fairly.
"Well, now, say! No place? Sup
pose a place was made for him a few
days? I'd sort of planned on that.
There's hotel here, and I'd be willing
to"
II don't know you," Brandon inter-
rupted and irritability crept into his
voice. i've never even seen you. I've
known this man for years. He's an old
employee of mine. This is my affair.
never have others, especially strangers,
meddling."
A low whimper came from Stuart
and Ben rubbed his chin with one
knuckle.
"Yeah. / am butting in, guess. But
You see, the old timer told me q
little about himself. He's been lone
some long time, take it. He's not
what you'd call in robust health. /
figure that If was In his shape I'd
like to be with few old friends my
self and if"
In the distance train whistled and
on the sound Brandon's eyes snapped.
1--WE not time to argue my AFFAIRS"
he said sharply. Come, Stuart"
"But, Nick See ;. here, Nick. :.
I'll never get back :. again. It's
lonesome. bein' sick :. alone, where
you can't Nick! You're
hurting my wristl"
He WINGED from the grasp and on
that the last shadow of smile went out
of Ben Elliott's face, the slightly apol-
ogetic look at interfering in a matter
which was not strictly his affair passed
from his eyes. He put himself square
" before Brandon.
"Let him CO." he said quietly. but his
,ook drove hard into those black eyes.
The man hesitated and flushed.