The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-01-25

long ways off and Now this mat
ter of nuts: You like all kinds?"
"Not all nuts; no." The steel-gray
eyes were bit narrowed, now, as ELI
OFT tried to plumb the old mans mood
swell, for instance: like peanuts?"
"No. Can't stand EN-"
mot at all? Almonds, then?'
A twinkle was surely coming to life
in the courts eyes but, seeing it, the
defendant only frowned.
"Can't vote very strong for al
monds."
''Or English walnuts or pecans?"
"Never did hold them to be what
you'd call Irresistible, either"
"Hum-m. How about black wal
nutsT
"Now," declared Elliott with nod,
NOW, you're getting into real classy
nutsl !"
Men in the crowd looked at one an
other, not knowing what to make Of
this.
swell, IL you like black walnuts,
would you say they were your favor
ite?"
The other considered this question
with great, If not wholly genuine. seri-
BUSINESS.
mo, not exactly. I'd put black wal
nuts high up in the list, all right, your
honor, but since you're interested
about my preferences In nuts, I'd say
that the best nut that ever hung out
doors or offered itself for the cracking
was good old hickory nut"
Real tough ones, eh?"
Real tough ones, yes"
Able wiped his face with palm and
wet his lips. The two looked long at
one another and that spark passed
which will jump from man to man, car
ried sometimes by deed, often by a
word. frequently by only glance; that
message which says as plainly as
though inscribed in black characters
against white background: 81 like you
I am your friendp 1t went from the
old man to the young and back again
from young to old Nicholas Brandon
understood and the lightnings in his
dark eyes played more briskly, more
ominously.
sand so you'd figure lineup as a
sort of hickory nut?"
II had. Lineup has reputation all
through the Lake states. Wherever you
go youll hear it talked about as q
hard camp. I'd heard so many times
that good man with ideas of his own,
with independence and. maybe, with
ambition had better keep away from
here that 1 found myself hankering to
get look at the place."
whats your line Of workY
II follow the timber. :. Anything"
swell, just what, for instance? What
are some of the jobs you've held?'
Elliott smiled a bit.
"Good many. was chore boy once |;
another time / was a road monkey.
I've teamed and sawed, worked as
millwright and on rivers. Once or twice
I've run a camp or two"
But your avocation, I take it, Is
looking for hard nuts?"
Brandon spoke now:
"YOur honori' His voice was well
modulated and yet In its quality was
something which suggested iron COW
cred with velvet. GAS complaining wit
ness in this case, may suggest that
we are beginning to waste time? This
young man has pleaded guilty. OF
course, do not want to be put in the
light of one who attempts to dictate
to court Of law, but have pressing
matters to attend to and If we can
get on. -"
Outwardly this was only sugges-
ton, plea; really, though, 1t was one
way Of demanding, Of giving an order.
Eyes, you're busy man, Nick" Able
said and nodded. I'D sort Of figured
being busy here today. myself. Sort
of wondered If somebody wouldn't
bring in Bull Duval on a charge of as
sault and battery. He trimmed my
man Harrington so badly that he's
gone and my operations without a
boss today. I sort Of thought, being
Interested as you are in law and or
der, that Duval might be brought In. {"
"That is something know nothing
about" Brandon said severely.
Likely not You can't be expected
to keep as close track of the men who
work for you as do Of mine. That is,
It isn't reasonable to think man of
your caliber would"
He spoke drily and Elliott. watching
the two, could see that his words
stung Brandon. The justice straight
ened in his chair. however.
But maybe we are delaying things
Now, Mr.. Elliott, don't you think 1t
little out of the way to come into a
town, a total stranger. and upset all
that towns presidents? If you. in
stead of one Of Mr.. Brandon's hired
men, had cleaned up on my man Har-
rington, for instance. it might not have
been such a grave offense. But here
you come and pick out the one man
in lineup who hasn't been struck or
even threatened in longer than | can
recall-a man who Is regarded here
about like most folks would regard a