The Western news., 1937-06-17

1
sired to answer.
"Oh, just looking around"
I'm other words, figuring out q
place to test that wild-eyed theory
OF yours, that the Big Moose swung
over toward the B. c. hills. That
it,"
"Well-since you put IT that
way"
"And you didn't take me into your
confidence"
I've tried to talk to you about II
q dozen times" the younger man
said desperately.
And I've tried to talk you out
OF 1t. But there's somebody else,
stronger'n I am"
Jack caught the meaning. His
lips became colorless.
See here" he argued. "I'm not
trying to stop you from working
the way you see fit. Why shouldn't
the rule work both ways7 I'm pay
ing the bills on this experiment Of
mine. No matter whose idea is
right, we'll share and share alike"
"Um humph." Mckenzie Joe
rolled his tongue and stared far up
the valley. sI knew another fell
low like you once, Jack. He got an
idea that he had to go after things
on a grand scale. First thing he
knew all his money was gone. And
he had to sell out"
That's idiotic."
SOS your idea," said Joo blunt
V.
Hammond's eyes snapped.
YOU'RE only saying that because
you've\got prejudice against any
thing that's modern or sensible. All
you wanfto do is Hpeverybody's
time, staggering around blindfold-
edl"
Heatedly he swung down the step
then and headed for the village.
Mckenzie Joe stared after him,
not unklndly light in his troubled
eyes.
Now / know I'm goin' over to
Whoopee and get drunk" he unused
at last.
For that matter, Hammond knew
1t too, and the knowledge helped
considerably to cool his anger as
he pounded along the trail toward
his placer claims. Getting drunk,
with Mckenzie Joe. was like a
plague of locusts or a spring flood.
Something disastrous always hap
pened. At last, Jack turned from
the trail and went into Jeannes
store for a tin of tobacco.
You look worried" she said.
II am. Joe has announced that
he's going to get drunk Thursday
night
Well" she laughed, 'the'n have
plenty Of company" Jeanne was
much more buoyant these days.
Lew shade had not come again to
Sapphire. In fact, Kenning had told
Jack that the man had purchased
one of several newly imported ca
noes and gone down the lake, pros
pecting. Enough that he had de-
parted. Jeanne went on. "You won't
have to call out the reserves whep
Joe gets going?"
Jack remained serious.
Its really pretty terrible,
Jeanne. Cracked heads and all
that
"But you're going to be with him
to see that he doesn't get hurt"
II can't leave hirn-somethinp
always happens when I do"
Jeanne smiled.
Maybe he'll fool you this time
and be good"
Here's hoping" Jack felt bet
ter now. Strangely, he always felt
better after he had talked to Jeanne
Towers. Yet he did not realize
how often he needlessly dropped by
this little store to buy tobacco when
he had plenty, matches when his
pockets were full, socks he did
not intend to use. A week before,
she had insisted on paying the part
ners for the original supplies
which they had furnished her, only
to 60 deeper in debt. 1t had been
a secret loan from Jack Hammond
for $4,000, to be rushed out by air
plane the next day and sent by ex-
press to The Pas. At least, the
monetary weight of her past was
off her conscience. Now she came
forward, wistfully eager.
Gee, it's good to see you smile
again." she said. Then hesitantly.
You've helped me SO much. I'd
give anything il I could
There she halted and turned
away. Jacks eyes followed her
gaze, to sight the trim form of the
approaching Kay Joyce.
"Oh, there you are" the Seattle
girl exclaimed, with her usual easy
command of spontaneity. eve
been looking for you"
Jack Hammond felt again the
queer emotions which flooded him
whenever these women met. As
though he should explain Jeanne,
extol her good qualities. 1t made
him angry with himself; Jeanne
needed no extolling and Kay had
never made an outright move OF
enmity.
Il was just on the way down to