Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-17

Wills had expected dislike and re-
sentiment, the usual hostility Of
clannish group to q stranger, and
he was relieved to encounter no &C
tive antagonism. Only the chemist,
young Daniels, had been definitely
unfriendly. Daniels had shaken
hands, but with q Withdrawn and
slightly contemptuous look in his
eye, and had gone back to his lab
oratory without q backward look.
The dampness, the steam, and the
nauseous odors were pretty bad and
Wills was not entirely strong yet.
But a logged determination made
him swallow grimly. and stand
braced, with his feet apart, listen
ing to Jerry's impatient instructions.
These muscular, grim, silent men
might despise him for an outlander
now, but they should not pity him
for being a weakling and . gutter.
Keep that there moving" or
dered Jerry, yelling above the howl
ing crunch Of the drum-barkers.
Then he muttered, "Time and ma
toni" and scrubbed his nose with
his glove.
Across the damp, odorous, roaring
mill, a red-clad figure was hurry
ing-Marian Morgan. Jerry pushed
back his cap, in . half-grudging
gesture of respect. The mountain
woman has been chattel and an in
ferior for generations. The noun
tain man has learned to admire and
respect the female sex but slowly.
Wills mouthed, Good morning."
but the words were lost in the
grinding bedlam.
Marian's face was pale, her lips
straight. She said. II want to talk
to you," but it was the gesture Of
her hand that made the words in
telligible.
Wills handed the wooden paddle
to Jerry, who received it with q
flourish of obvious relief, and fol-
lowed Marian past the battery Of
steaming digesters, through q sheet
iron door into the yard. A cold wind
was blowing but after the noise Of
the mill Marian's voice sounded loud
and fiat.
-
car. I want to talk to you and I
don't want Lucy to hear"
He followed her into the car. She
shut the door, drove out the gate,
and into 4 little weedy lane that
ran through a lumber yard. There
she stopped the car and said with
out preamble, "I'm sorry to impose
on you. know you're busy
with new job and all-but there's
no one else I can turn to. It's
about Tom Pruitt. You didn't know
Tom-but he helped my father build
this mill. He has been like one Of
our family always. A week ago he
disappeared-and that's why moth
er got the idea Of putting you in the
mill. She needed man. Last night
/ found Tom. He was over on Ha-
eel Fork. He owns some timber
over there-rich timber. A man
named Cragg from Baltimore was
trying to steal it. And Tom shot
him."
Wills sat silent for a moment.
Then he said, 'Do they know-the
men back there?"
81 suppose SO. They took Tom to
Jail last night. Mother went to Ashe-
vile early this morning to get a
lawyer and arrange about bond for
Tom"
"Then-this Cragg isn't dead?"
"Not yet. Tom shot too low. The
bullet went into his shoulder and
hit the spine"
81 see." Things were coming
clear. The attitude of the men in
the mill. Their eyes, judging him
gloomily. Tom Pruitt, who belonged
to the mill, had always belonged,
was in trouble, and he, Branford
Wills, young upstart had blandly
walked into Toms job.
1.-THE reason came to talk to you
is this" Marian went on. even il
you don't admire me an awful lot"
"But-great Scottl" Wills began,
and then as abruptly ceased. He
could not say, I'm mad about you"
He could not speak out the things
that seethed in his heart and
stormed at his guarding lips to be
spoken. She was Marian Morgan,
of the Morgan mill. And he was q
mill-worker, empty-handed and un-
distinguished by any prowess Of skill
or accomplishment.
"But I know" Marian went on,
not looking at him, ''that you are
fond Of mother. And this morning,
after she left, Lon Hicks. the dep
uty at the Jail, telephoned. He says
Tom is going to refuse bail. That
he wants to stay in jail. He's old
and queer-and he was over on that
ridge for days with no shelter and
very little to eat, watching for those
men, lying In q bush to waylay
them. He's upset-and somebody
| will have to talk sense To him. He