The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-09-18

point OF efficiency it didn't often pay
to take them on. In this case, how
ever, something in the mans bear
ing, dropping though it was, didn't
quite match the rest of him, and
Curt was sufficiently intrigued to
pause.
Emilio unwittingly settled the
matter. He was standing by, eyes
yelled. By now Curt could read the
natives dead eyes, and the disap-
proval Curt saw there was enough
to swing his decision. Curt nodded
toward the door and the man fol-
lowed him inside. Emilio brought
up the rear.
Lauriano Duro, the craftsman in
charge of the Office, was bent over
his work.
Anything for my attention."
asked Curt.
''No, SIR" :.
The native Strengthened up, looked
at the three, and Curt thought he
caught a flicker of Emilio's eyelids
before the craftsman bent over his
table again.
In silence Curt selected the maps
he wanted, together with bundle of
white flags. He took down from a
shelf company camera, loaded it
deliberately, handed the lot to
Emilio.
"Put them aboard, and get some
lunches packed at the mess-hall. It'll
be better than what they could put
up for us over at the levee camp.
See to it there's plenty of coffee
black" Then, as Emilio hesitated,
he barked, "Well! That's all! We've
no time to waste"
Emilio departed, and this time
Curt definitely caught the flicker OF
eyes that Vargas aimed at Lauriano
Duro as he turned to the door. Curt
spoke to the stranger.
Cali right, Collins, where you
from?"
Illinois, SIR
"How long you been down here?"
-Four years, sir"
''Not so much SIR if you don't
mind!" Curt was rapidly getting in
a mood. The prospect of two days
of Emilio was facing him. "What've
you done to keep going these four
years."
'Worked most Of the time, si-
worked, here and there. I've han
died a Diesel shovel, done rough
carpentering, used transit"
"Where'd you come from last?"
"I've been up at the Rosario
mines on the hydraulic pumps"
why'd you leave?"
Fired"
"Drunkenness?"
eyes, SIR"
81 said I don't like the Sir! Well,
I don't know what can do for you.
I've got to depend on the men I'm
der me and I won't hire booze
hounds"
'I'm hungry, Mr.. Curtis, and I'm
a good worker. I don't get drunk
very often. can keep away from
it, honest. I'll promise to leave it
alone, If you'll give me chance.
| I'll"
''Don't SWIVEL. Here" Curt sighed,
"let's see what you look like on pa
per. Fill this out. Make it snappy,
I've only few minutes to spare"
The man took the application
blank, sat down at table and COM
menced writing. Curt loaded his
pipe while he studied the mans
back. He paced for few moments,
forgot to pull on his pipe, had to
light it again.
'Lauriano!"
eyes, sir?"
Here He handed the native
bill. Get me a tin of Briggs and
couple cartons of candy bars. Any
kind. Put them aboard the launch
and hurry back. I haven't much
time this morning"
The candy bars was an old trick
of Curtis. It was his theory that
the more candy man consumed the
less alcohol his system craved.
The native .hesitated, but under
the glover Curt gave him, departed
in haste. Lauriano Duro hadn't the
pertinacity of his compatriot, Var
gas. The screen door had no soon
| CT SldIIlIIlGu d1tSI AllIIl IIldI SUIb dD-
preached the man at the table.
'Stand up!"
Collins rose to his feet. Curt
looked him steadily in the eye a
moment, then reached out and
ripped open the shirt. It practically
came apart. The mans head jerked
up. Curt grunted. Thought sol"
Collins skin was smooth and health
ily tanned-and clean! The flesh was
firm and hard, no ribs showed. The
man was in the pink Of condition,
other appearances Notwithstanding.
'.All right, out with it, and quick.
What do you want?"
It was a different voice Collins
used in answering, as he tucked the
shirt together again and under his
belt, calm enough voice if not as
| Sured.
"Just what asked for. job"
ssWhy the disguise?"
A silence greeted this.
"Quick, man, why'd you come to
mel"