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diff --git a/44079-0.txt b/44079-0.txt index 7d1bb6c..0f18453 100644 --- a/44079-0.txt +++ b/44079-0.txt @@ -1,30 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sudden Jim, by Clarence Budington Kelland - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Sudden Jim - -Author: Clarence Budington Kelland - -Release Date: October 31, 2013 [EBook #44079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUDDEN JIM *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44079 *** [Illustration: “I’m waving a flag of truce, Miss Ducharme. Can’t we declare an armistice for ten minutes to bury our dead?”] @@ -8164,357 +8138,4 @@ Sudden Jim I want for my own.” End of Project Gutenberg's Sudden Jim, by Clarence Budington Kelland -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUDDEN JIM *** - -***** This file should be named 44079-0.txt or 44079-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/7/44079/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Sudden Jim - -Author: Clarence Budington Kelland - -Release Date: October 31, 2013 [EBook #44079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUDDEN JIM *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark - - - - - -</pre> - +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44079 ***</div> <div class='imgcenter mw100 wx350'> <img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' class='w100' /> @@ -10123,379 +10089,7 @@ my own.”</p> <p class='line0'>Younger Set, The. By Robert W. Chambers.</p> </div></div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Sudden Jim, by Clarence Budington Kelland - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUDDEN JIM *** - -***** This file should be named 44079-h.htm or 44079-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/7/44079/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Sudden Jim - -Author: Clarence Budington Kelland - -Release Date: October 31, 2013 [EBook #44079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUDDEN JIM *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark - - - - -[Illustration: "I'm waving a flag of truce, Miss Ducharme. Can't we -declare an armistice for ten minutes to bury our dead?"] - - - - - Sudden Jim - - By Clarence Budington Kelland - - Author of "The Hidden Spring," Etc. - - [Illustration] - - WITH FRONTISPIECE - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - Publishers--New York - Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers - - - - - Sudden Jim - Copyright 1916. by Harper & Brothers - - Printed in the United States of America - Published February, 1917 - - - - - SUDDEN JIM - - - - - CHAPTER I - - -It is not a fact that clothespins are threshed out like beans or wheat. -They are not a product of nature, but of art and machinery. A clear -understanding of this is necessary before the story can begin to march; -for if clothespins had grown in fields inclosed by rail fences, and were -gathered by the aid of a self-binder, there never would have been an -individual known from coast to coast as Clothespin Jimmy. This -individual would not have had a son named James, nor would Clothespin -Jimmy have started to build a new clothespin-mill in Diversity, -Michigan. So it is manifest that the fact stated in the first paragraph -hereof lies at the very tap-root of the whole matter. - -If you studied sufficiently over the hieroglyphics appended by -Clothespin Jimmy at the end of a check you discovered them to indicate -the signature "James Ashe." But it required more than a passing glance. -Nobody ever quarreled with the signature, because it suited the old man -and was honored by the bank. - -The owner of the illegible signature was sixty-five years old, was hale, -hearty, and ripe for adventure. Also he figured that fifty years of hard -labor about completed his sentence and that he was entitled to play -about. - -Therefore he called home his son James, who had shown an early and -marked distaste for the clothespin business, and took him into the -library, where there lived in ease and idleness some ninety feet of -assorted red, blue and black books. He opened the conversation: - -"Son, what name do folks call you by when they speak to you?" - -"Why--Jim, I guess." - -"Just Jim? Nothing describin' it?" - -"That's all." - -"Why?" - -"I haven't the least notion, father. Why should they call me anything -else?" - -"No reason in the world. That's what I'm gettin' at in my feeble way. -What do folks call me?" - -"Clothespin Jimmy," replied his son, promptly. - -"Yes, and when I die that's what's goin' onto the headstone. It means -somethin'. There hain't no need for a verse of poetry and clasped hands. -'Clothespin Jimmy' tells the whole story. I don't mind sayin' I'm proud -of it. Just like I was proud of the first dollar I ever handled--because -I earned it. Folks call me Clothespin Jimmy because I've done things -with clothespins--things that amount to somethin'. Men don't git names -like that by settin' in one spot till their pants wear thin. Now, take -you--they call you Jim, and there the matter ends. That's where you end. -You're just Jim, like seven hundred thousand other Jims. You don't stick -up above the herd. Hain't it about time folks was findin' reason to -hitch a descriptive name onto you?" - -"I'm twenty-eight. I've got a good job. I'm supporting myself and not -taking a cent from you--" - -"I'm not findin' fault with what you've done, son. You ain't a gilded -butterfly--that ain't what I mean. You're respectable and -self-supportin', but so's twenty million other boys in this country. -You're just a good average human critter. But that's not even comin' -close to the subject, which is that ma and me would like to go to -Californy." - -"Good idea, dad. When do you start?" - -"As things is we don't start at all." - -"Why?" - -"Largely because you're satisfied to have folks call you Jim without any -description to it." The old gentleman took a package of folded papers -from a drawer and slid the rubber band off them. - -"Here's somethin'," he said. "Bonds. Fifty of 'em for a thousand dollars -apiece. Net five per cent. I've milked the business to get 'em. 'Twasn't -right by the business, but I done it just the same. Now, then, you never -liked the clothespin business. Don't know why. So I've fixed it so you -could pick and choose between two things. I'll come to that in a minute. -But first, about Californy. I started supportin' myself when I was -fifteen, and I've been hard at it ever since--fifty years. The time's -come for me to git out with your ma and have a good time if we're ever -a-goin' to. Short time for frolickin' left at best. But it rests with -you. I figger I've earned the right to loaf, but I can't loaf without -leavin' somebody to labor. There hain't nobody but you." He stopped and -looked at Jim and slapped the package of bonds on the desk-top three or -four times. - -"There ought to be somethin' to you more 'n just Jim. I've waited to see -it crop out. Now I'm goin' to dig for it. Here's these bonds. Yonder in -Diversity is the new mill almost ready to start turnin' over. It'll be -worth a quarter of a million to somebody. I can make it so in a year. -What I got you in here for was to offer you your choice. You can take -the mill and the business and have it till God does you part--and buckle -in like I've done; or you can take this fifty thousand in bonds and go -play. If you take the mill, your ma and me take the bonds and go play. -There's the proposition. Take which you like--and no hard feelin's." - -"But, dad, suppose I don't take either?" - -The old man's face changed; his eyes grew anxious; the hand that held -the bonds trembled ever so little. - -"You wouldn't do that to me, son. Ever since that night twenty-eight -years ago when I heard a miserable squawkin' sound up-stairs and -mistrusted it was you, I've been workin' and plannin' and hopin'--with -you as the object of it all. I wanted to fix things for you, son--and -I've done it. You don't need to take the business if you don't want to. -Your ma and me can keep on like we've been goin', and have consid'able -fun, too. But if you was to refuse both, then I'd feel as if I'd sort of -wasted my time--as if my workin' and livin' hadn't been for no good at -all. You--you wouldn't do that to your dad, would you, son?" - -Young Jim walked to the window and stood looking out, and as he looked -out he reviewed his own plans and scheme of life, his hopes and private -aspirations. Presently he turned: - -"No, dad, I won't refuse both. I'll take one or the other." - -Clothespin Jimmy's face showed his relief. - -"Much 'bliged, son," he said, as though he were accepting a notable -favor instead of giving away what folks not addicted to polo or divorces -or Fifth Avenue or ocean-going yachts would consider a fortune. - -Jim returned to his window; his father sat thumbing the bonds and -waiting. Presently the old man spoke suddenly: - -"I don't want you tradin' unsight-unseen. You're entitled to know what -you're up against. In case you take the mill--I milked it for these -bonds. I told you that. The business will need this money and need it -bad. I've built big. The day the mill starts runnin' you h'ist a debt of -seventy thousand dollars onto your shoulder. You'll be pinched for -money, and you'll have a devil of a time. But I could pull it -through--and so can you if you're any good. You ain't steppin' into a -snap--not by several statute miles. Furthermore, if you take her you -take her for better or for worse. You git no help from me. These -bonds'll be all I have, and I'll need 'em. I won't let loose of one of -'em to keep you out of bankruptcy. Understand?" - -"Yes," said Jim. - -"Got your mind made up?" - -"I'd rather sleep on it, dad. Suppose we put it off till to-morrow." - -"If you're the man to handle the job you can decide now. Puttin' off -never helped matters. A man that makes up his mind right off may be -wrong half the time, but he's right a whole lot more than the fellow who -has to have a decision jerked out of him with an ox-team. If you expect -to get anywheres in this world, learn to make up your mind swift and -follow up with swift action. We'll finish the deal now before -quittin'-time." - -Jim turned and looked at his father. Somehow he felt detached from -himself, as if he were sitting at a distance twiddling his thumbs and -watching his own wheels go round. He occupied the position of spectator -very briefly, however, but popped back inside of himself and took -possession again--with a noticeable change. He felt different. He did -not feel like Jim Ashe as he had been acquainted with Jim Ashe, but like -another individual of markedly different characteristics. This change -manifested itself in his reply: - -"All right. We'll decide now. Now!" - -"Yes?" said Clothespin Jimmy, his fingers tightening ever so little. - -"I take the mill," said Jim. - -"Huh!" his father said. - -That was all. He slipped the bonds into his side pocket. From another -pocket he drew an envelope holding two long, many-times-folded strips of -blue paper. Jim recognized them as railroad tickets. - -"You'd better go to Diversity on Friday. This is Tuesday. Your ma and me -leave for Californy on Friday mornin'." - -Jim eyed his father suspiciously. "Had the tickets all the time?" - -"Yes." - -"You were going, anyhow?" - -"No; not unless you took the mill." The old man chuckled. - -Jim snorted. "Pretty sure how I'd decide, weren't you?" - -"Well, seein' as you're my son--and your ma's--I wasn't more 'n a mite -worried. I figgered you was sound timber, but there was always the -chance that sap rot had got at you. That envelope there was the stock -certificates, all indorsed over to you, inside of it. Take 'em. You're -the proprietor of the Ashe Clothespin Company now. I'm through with it. -Fifty years of work to earn a couple of years of play for ma and me. -When we're gone write us often. We'll need to hear from you. But don't -you dast to mention clothespins to me--either good or bad about 'em. I'm -through. Through for good and all--and it's up to you." - -"Done." said young James. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - -Young Jim Ashe rode from five o'clock in the morning until two in the -afternoon on a train that carried him through a stretch of the State of -Michigan that not even a local poet had ventured to call lovely. It was -flat as an exhausted purse--indeed, it was an exhausted purse, for its -wealth in straight, clean pine had long since poured from it, down its -rivers to mills where it had been minted into money. With this money a -second generation that did not know a wanigan from a cook-shanty, cork -pine from Norway, nor the difference between the Doyle and Scribner -scales, was getting its names in the Sunday papers and illustrated -magazines as bold and hardy owners of imported Chow dogs. - -At the end of nine hours of travel through the sort of scenery that -would make the decorations of a modern New York hotel a restful -diversion, Jim thought even a game of coon can with a traveling-man -which, as everybody knows, is the world's most futile method of passing -time--would be a boon from heaven. But there was neither drummer nor -cards. He was not the sort of person who could sit and think, and when -tired of that omit the thinking and just sit. So he brooded. Long before -he reached Diversity he was terribly sorry for himself, which, after -all, is a species of mild pleasure enjoyed by many. One conclusion he -did reach--namely, that Diversity must be the ultimate fag-end of -desolation trimmed with a fringe of black despair. When the train -stopped at Diversity's depot he looked out and felt that conclusion to -be sound. - -The first thing he saw was heat. He could see it rising in little -wiggling waves from the blackened sand; he could see it at work raising -more blisters on the paint of the station; he could see it struggling in -vain to reduce the weight of the baggage-master, who was also -telegraph-operator, station-agent, porter, and information bureau. The -next thing he saw was a jumble of form and color that would have made -immortal a cubist who could have caught it and labeled it "A Hole -Raveled in Civilization's Heel." But if the cubist had caught it he -probably would have called it "Gentleman in Union Suit Climbing a -Telegraph Pole," and so passed Fame by on the other side. - -The station reminded him for all the world of a flabby, disreputable -redbird, squatting in the midst of an hilariously ragamuffin brood which -sat back on its tails and derided her scurrilously. The progeny -consisted of coal-sheds, warehouses, nondescript buildings where nothing -was or apparently ever had been done, a feed-mill and a water-tank. All -of them seemed to detest the perpendicular; most of them leered through -doors squeezed to the shape of a clumsy diamond. Fire, thought Jim, -would bring a merciful release to the whole of them. - -He alighted with all the pleasant anticipation of a Christian martyr -about to dip into a caldron of boiling oil. No one was there to meet -him, for no one knew he was coming. He didn't know where to go and -didn't much care. All directions seemed equally unpromising. However, -before plunging into the unknown he stopped in the shade of the -building, mopped his forehead, and took an observation. - -Standing with the sun beating down upon her was a young woman who looked -at the departing train with an expression like one Jim had seen on a -girl's face as she stood in the bread-line. It spoke hunger. In spite of -his own discomfort Jim was interested, and there can be no doubt he -stared. He stared long enough to observe that the young woman was dark, -with a heap of curling hair so black that even the old, hard-working -simile of the raven's wing was not of the slightest use to him. She was -small, but had one of those exquisite figures which just a little -startle one. - -She did not impress Jim as at all pretty, but she did impress him as a -young person who might find difficulty in letting somebody else have his -own way. - -She continued to stare hungrily after the train, but presently she -turned her eyes so they met Jim's stare. In a second she comprehended he -was staring, and she flashed resentment at him. She even bit her lip -with vexation. Then she turned abruptly--but very gracefully, Jim -noticed--and walked across the tracks. - -Jim flushed uncomfortably and looked about to see if anybody had noticed -his bit of bad manners and its result. In a ramshackle buggy drawn up to -the platform sat an old man with square white whiskers. Possibly "sat" -is not the precise word to use, for the old man rested mainly on the -back of his neck, allowing the rest of his body to clutter up the space -intended only for his legs and feet. Jim picked up his bag and -approached. - -"Could you drive me to the hotel?" he asked. - -The old man looked at Jim's feet, at his ankles, his knees, his -belt-buckle, his cravat, finally into his eyes. This took time, and the -sun was hot on Jim's head. - -"I could," said the old man, finally. Then he wiggled the lines. -"Giddap, Tiffany," he said, wholly oblivious to Jim's presence on earth. -"Giddap there. Stir yourself. G'long." - -Jim stood goggling after him, as nonplussed as if the old fellow had -suddenly developed the old-fashioned dragon habit of spouting smoke and -flames. Behind Jim the fat station-agent laughed twice, thus: "Heh! -Heh!" which was all he could manage on account of his weight and the -heat. Jim's ears burned; he snatched up his grip and followed in the -wake of the buggy. - -He halted before a sign which proclaimed that here was the Diversity -House. There did not seem to be a great deal of bustle connected with -this establishment; as a matter of fact, there was no sign of life at -all unless you count an unshaven gentleman in white woolen socks and a -calico shirt, who lent the support of his back to a post on the piazza -and snored feebly. Jim went in. The office was deserted. He coughed. In -another month Jim knew how useless it was to seek to attract attention -in that hotel by coughing, indeed by anything short of exploding -dynamite on the floor. Next he tried kicking the counter. At best it was -only a hollow-sounding sort of kick and got no results whatever. Jim was -growing impatient, so he inserted three or four fingers in his mouth and -whistled. It was a lovely, ear-splitting, sleep-piercing whistle, and -Jim heard a movement on the porch. - -The gentleman of the white socks peered through the window, feeling of -his ear as though it had been sorely abused, and looked at Jim -disapprovingly. - -"Gosh all hemlock!" exclaimed the gentleman, mildly. - -"Are you the proprietor?" Jim demanded. - -The gentleman stared some more. "Who? Me? Ho! Don't calc'late to be," he -said. - -"Where is he? Dead?" - -"If he is he hain't let on to nobody. Seems though he might be over t' -the printin'-office playin' cribbage." - -"What do I do? Wait till he comes back before I get a room?" - -"Hain't no objections, but mostly they go up and pick out the room they -like." - -Jim sighed impatiently and placed his bag on the counter. - -"Can you tell me where the new mill is being built?" - -"Down the road a piece. Keep right a-goin' and you can't miss the dum -thing." - -"Thank you," said Jim, and started out to inspect the plant of which he -had become proprietor. - -Jim walked down the street, which did not run ahead in a straight line, -but meandered about aimlessly as though trying for all it was worth to -keep under the shade of the fine big maples which bordered it. Nobody -could blame it. In fact, Jim thought it showed extraordinary -intelligence for an illiterate, unpaved, country clodhopper of a road, -for the shade was the pleasantest, most friendly thing he had found in -Diversity. - -In five minutes he rounded a bend and came upon a flat which seemed like -a huge platter on which somebody was trying to fry a number of large and -small buildings. Half an eye could tell the buildings were new, indeed -unfinished. Heat-waves radiated from their composition roofs, and as for -their corrugated-iron sides, Jim fancied their ugly red was not due so -much to paint as to the fact that they were red-hot. Everywhere were men -hurrying about as if it were a reasonable day and they weren't in the -least danger of sunstroke. Inside Jim could hear the clang of hammers, -the rasp of saws, the multitude of sounds which denote the business of -an army of workmen. - -It looked very big and raw and uninviting to him. There was nothing -homey about it at all. It didn't even look interesting, and Jim stood -under a tree and wished his father had chosen some other calling than -the manufacture of clothespins. He mopped his head and wrinkled his -nose, and grew very gloomy at the thought that down there on that -unspeakable flat lay the work of his future years. His dreams had been -of something very different. - -He shrugged his shoulders and walked rapidly down on to his property, -acting very much like a man with a tender tooth on his way to the -dentist's. - -As he walked along the side of the biggest building he encountered a -small Italian boy with a big pail of water. - -"Son," he said, "where's the office? Where's the boss?" - -The big black eyes lighted; white teeth gleamed. - -"You lika drink? Sure. I take you da office." - -Jim drank and followed the boy, whose bare feet seemed miraculously to -take no harm from the rubbish he walked over. - -"Me Pete." he said, pointing to himself. "Me carry da drink." Then he -pointed to a small frame shack. "Dat da office," he said. - -Jim walked through the half-open door. Nobody was there. On a -drafting-table were drawings and blue-prints; a roll-top desk was -littered with papers and letters. Jim sat down in a revolving-chair to -wait for the return of Mr. Wattrous, the engineer in charge of -construction. It was very hot and stuffy, so he removed hat and coat and -made himself at home. - -A man with a red face, a wilted collar, and a leather document case -entered presently. - -"Afternoon," he said, sinking into a chair and mopping his face. -"White's my name. Fire-proof paint. Jenkins was sick, so I came up, but -I guess you and me can fix things as well as him, eh?" - -Before Jim could reply the individual continued: "Now we can't afford to -pay you any fifteen per cent. commission out of our own pockets. 'Tain't -right we should. But here's what we will do: We'll stand seven and a -half and we'll just add seven and a half to the face of the invoices. -See? You'll get your fifteen all right and we won't get stung for but -half of it. Neat scheme and fair to all sides, eh?" - -"Does sound neat," Jim said, "but not economical." - -Mr. White laughed, as at a witticism. - -"You poor engineers has got to live," he said. - -"True. Just out of curiosity, what price would you be making us if there -weren't any commissions to pay?" - -"Umm, well--I guess we could figure twenty per cent. off what it's going -to cost you." - -Jim said nothing, but scratched his head. He wondered if Wattrous had -added twenty per cent. to costs all the way through. If so he had not -been a profitable investment. - -"You'll O. K. the invoices?" - -"I guess likely I will--hereafter," said Jim, and turned to observe a -heavy-set man in corduroys and laced boots who entered with a roll of -drawings in his hands. This person looked inquiringly from Jim to White. - -"Make yourselves at home," he said, ironically. - -"Much obliged," said Jim, feeling now for the first time a real interest -in life. Indeed, he felt a sort of humorous interest. The situation was -not without its ludicrous appeal. "Mr. Wattrous," he said, "allow me to -present Mr. White. Mr. White sells fire-proof paint." - -Wattrous scowled, seemed a bit perplexed. As for White, his jaw dropped -and he stared at Jim and then at Wattrous with the expression of a man -who has been violently struck in the wind. - -"Yes," said Jim, "Mr. White is generous. The way he hands out -commissions would astonish you. Why, he's going to give you fifteen per -cent. just for buying paint from him." - -Wattrous thrust out his jaw. "Who the devil are you?" he said. - -"Ashe," said Jim; "James Ashe. I'm the fellow that owns this mill." - -Mr. White made an unsuccessful attempt to rise, but fell back under -Wattrous's furious glance; he tried again, more successfully, and -scuttled out of the office at a speed that threatened further to wreck -his already lamentably wilted collar. Jim turned sharply to Wattrous. He -felt unlike himself; felt the urge of a will he had not before -experienced; felt a sense of confidence; felt, indeed, a desire to do -something and to do it without delay. - -"You, Wattrous--of course you're fired." His voice hardened, became -peremptory without his volition. It seemed to do so of its own accord, -and Jim was conscious of mild surprise at it. "Get off the job, and get -quick," he said, "before I decide to pitch you off." - -Wattrous was of two minds. The first was to bulldoze this young man and -see if he couldn't roar his way out of his unpleasant predicament; the -other was to make matters worse by the application of personal violence. -He would have admired to thrash Jim. Jim read his mind and pointed to -the door. - -"Git," he said. - -Wattrous hesitated an instant, then swung on his heel and strode away -muttering. - -"I hope he meets up with White," Jim said to himself with a grin. -"Nobody'll get hurt who doesn't deserve it." Then he leaned back in his -chair and gazed at the ceiling, reviewing the last few moments. He had -made a new acquaintance--the acquaintance of Jim Ashe functioning in an -emergency--and it was a surprise to him. - -"Is that the kind of man I am?" he asked himself. - -Well, here he was. He was on the job, in the very midst of it, a quite -different beginning from what he anticipated. He had expected to merge -quietly into the affairs of his new property, but he had not merged into -it unless one can say that a hammer thrown through a glass window merges -into it. He had expected to enter his work with repugnance; now he -looked forward to his next official act with a tingle of pleasant -anticipation. After all, there might be more to business than he -suspected. - -"What next?" he asked himself. He had, so to speak, cut off the hand -that directed, the head that planned. They must be replaced, and Jim -himself had not the technical knowledge to fill the lack. He went to the -door and looked out; there, grinning up at him, was little Pete, pail in -hand. - -"Hello, Misser Boss!" said the boy. - -"I take it you've been here right along," said Jim, good-naturedly. - -"All da time. I hear you fire Misser Wattrous. Whee!" - -"I take it I have your approval." - -"Uh-huh," said Pete, clearly not at all understanding what approval was. -"I tell Italian mans. Dey laugh. You real boss. Speakaqueek--bang! -Italian mans lika dat." - -"Fine. Now, Pete, who's the next boss--who else besides Mr. Wattrous?" - -"Oh, Misser Nelson. He boss. Work wit' da hammer and saw, too." - -"Nelson, to be sure." Nelson, Jim remembered, was the head millwright in -the old plant. "Where is he, Pete?" - -"I show. You come." - -Pete led the way. As they neared the main building a young man not older -than Jim emerged from the door. His overalls were covered with grease -and sawdust, a rule protruded from a narrow pocket; quite evidently he -was of the carpentering clan. - -"Dat Misser Nelson," yelled Pete. - -"Oh, Nelson!" called Jim. - -The young man paused and turned a handsome, sharply cut face toward Jim. -It was a dependable face, a likable face, a face, if the steel-blue eyes -were to be believed, which belonged to a man whose action would follow -swiftly his words, or even precede them. He did not reply to Jim's hail, -but stood waiting. - -"Nelson," said Jim, "my name is Ashe. My father has gone to California -and I am in charge here." - -He paused briefly, and Nelson extended his hand with a suddenly -brightening smile. - -"Glad to know you, Mr. Ashe." - -"I've just fired Wattrous. Somebody's got to take charge in his place. -Can you take hold and make this mill run?" - -"Yes." - -"Good! You're boss. What are we paying you?" - -"Four dollars a day." - -"Wages. Your salary will be thirty-five dollars a week. When can we -begin to turn over?" - -"Mr. Wattrous figured four weeks." - -"We'll start to manufacture in three. Put on more men if necessary. Now -let's see where we're at." - -Nelson showed Jim through the mill, explaining what must be done here, -what was lacking there, why this machine sat so, why another machine -must be driven from counter-shafting. He told him about the conveyer -system, about everything, for mills and machinery were alike strange and -mysterious to Jim. - -"Is the general plan good?" - -"Yes. But if it were my mill I would--" - -"It is your mill. Make it run and make it run right. I'm going back to -the office to have a look-see at the books and files." - -As he sat in the revolving-chair he felt again a wave of astonishment at -himself. Was this Jim Ashe--the same Jim Ashe who got off the train at -Diversity an hour ago? Most certainly it was, and yet how little that -Jim Ashe knew about himself. - -"I guess I'm due for a personal inventory," he said to himself. - -He was aroused from his investigations by the whistle of the -hoisting-engine. It was six o'clock. He put on his coat and walked -toward the road, and as he went workmen nodded and smiled to him. - -"The old man's son," he heard as he passed. - -"Nelson says he's hell on wheels," was another scrap of comment; but the -one that pleased him most, because it was unexpected, because it would -have pleased most his father, was spoken from the opposite side of the -fence out of his view: - -"I heard him talkin' to Nelson. He'll make things hum." - -"Who will?" asked another voice, apparently joining the group. - -"Why, Sudden Jim--Clothespin Jimmy's boy." - -Jim walked back to the hotel with a new buoyancy in his heart; his first -half-day had been good. It had introduced him to himself--and it had won -him a name. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - -Supper at the Diversity House surprised Jim Ashe so much that it almost -ruined his appetite. He had expected the food to match the general -efficiency of the place, and had vaguely figured on the possibility of -dining on crackers and cheese. This teaches us that, whereas man judges -from the outward appearance, he should wait till he sees what comes out -of the kitchen. It was the sort of meal you might expect to eat in a -prosperous farm-house--plentiful, well cooked, and topped by apple pie -that made Jim wish he had started with dessert, continued with dessert, -and ended up with a final helping of it. There are few things in this -world more delightful than a splendid meal that takes you by surprise. - -He went out to sit on the porch, cool now with the evening breeze off -Lake Michigan. Sitting with his back against a post, and looking as if -he had not shifted his position since Jim saw him early in the -afternoon, was the gentleman of the white socks and calico shirt. He did -not look up as Jim passed to take a chair at the end of the piazza. - -Presently there drew up before the hotel a ramshackle buggy drawn by an -animal that was undoubtedly still a horse. It was a very Methuselah -among horses. The old man who rode in the buggy appeared comparatively -youthful beside it. Jim smiled at the turnout, then frowned a trifle, -for the old man was the same individual who had rebuffed him so bruskly -at the depot. - -"Hey!" called the old gentleman, without straightening himself from the -amazing position in which he sat. "Hey, Dolf--Dolf Springer!" - -"Eh?" the gentleman in the white socks grunted, sitting erect and gazing -about him owlishly. - -"Was you at the depot to see the six-o'clock come in, Dolf? Eh?" - -"Calc'lated to be." - -"Anybody git off, Dolf? Anybody special?" - -"Lafe Jenks and his wife, Mandy Williams, Tom Sweet, two -travelin'-men--" - -"Anybody special, Dolf? Eh?" - -"Well, last to git down was Michael Moran, Judge." - -"Um! What become of him, Dolf? Happen to notice?" - -"In there eatin' his supper." - -"Calc'late to be here long, Dolf?" - -"Quite a spell, Judge." - -"Calc'late to be here till Moran comes out?" - -"I could." - -"Um! Figger on speakin' to him, Dolf?" - -"Did think I might." - -"What was you goin' to speak about? The weather? Eh?" - -"Not's I know of, Judge." - -"Was you goin' to mention me? Eh? Figger on alludin' to me?" - -"Thought some of it." - -"As how, Dolf?" - -"Thought I might mention you was askin' after him." - -"Um! Goin' to tell him where I was headin' for? Eh? Think of doin' -that?" - -"Figgered I'd mention you was to your office." - -"G'-by, Dolf." - -"G'-by, Judge." - -The old man clucked to his horse: "Giddap, Tiffany! G'long there! Time's -passin' rapid for both of us. Don't waste none of it. G'long!" The -equipage drew slowly away from the hotel and proceeded down the street -at a rate of speed which came close to being no movement at all, until -it came to a halt again before a frame building at the end of the block. -Here the old man alighted, hitched his horse as carefully as if the -animal were a two-year-old showing signs of a desire to bolt. Then he -went inside. - -In ten minutes a man of middle age, not at all the Diversity type of -citizen, appeared in the doorway. He was below medium height, sturdily -built, with a face of the aggressive-business-man variety. Dolf Springer -uncoiled by a mighty effort and rose to his feet. - -"Howdy, Mr. Moran!" he said. - -Mr. Moran nodded curtly. - -"Zaanan's to his office. He wants to see you over there." - -Mr. Moran nodded again and walked briskly down the street to the -building before which stood the ancient horse and vehicle. He had wasted -no time obeying the summons, and Jim wondered somewhat, for Michael -Moran did not appear to him a man who was accustomed to run about at the -beck and call of old men in dilapidated buggies. He seemed rather a -person used to issuing orders and to exacting prompt obedience. - -He was curious, too, about the old man himself, who, without uttering a -word that could be construed by a court of law as expressing his wishes -in the matter, had, nevertheless, directed Dolf Springer to waylay Mr. -Moran and give him a message. The old man's method was a splendid -example of caution. It delighted Jim and aroused his curiosity as to the -name and place in the world of the old fellow. - -He made inquiries of a fellow-lounger on the piazza: - -"Who is the old gentleman who drives a horse named Tiffany--" - -"Who? Hain't been in Diversity township much, have you? Guess not. That -there's Zaanan Frame, justice of the peace. Been it nigh to thirty year, -and like to be it thirty year more." - -This was meager enough information, but Jim's informant seemed to think -it ample, for he relapsed into somnolent silence. - -Jim was just rising with the intention of taking a walk--that seeming to -be the sole entertainment offered by Diversity--when another buggy, -dust-covered, drawn by a team, stopped before the hotel, and a small, -wiry, exceedingly well-tailored old gentleman, with white whiskers of -the bank-president type, alighted. He got down jauntily, springily, -pertly, and trotted up the steps. - -"Mr. Ashe--Mr. James Ashe, Junior. Can anybody direct me to him?" - -"I am Mr. Ashe," said Jim, stepping forward. - -"Delighted to meet you, young man." The dapper little gentleman stood -off at arm's-length to appraise him. "Don't favor your daddy much. Foot -longer and two feet narrower." He chuckled gaily. "My name's -Welliver--Morton J. Welliver. Bet you've heard of me, eh? Bet you've -heard daddy mention me once or twice." - -"Of course. Your name, with Mr. Jenkins's and Mr. Plum's and Mr. -Mannikin's, is pretty average familiar to me. I hope everything is -satisfactory at your plant." - -"Satisfactory? My boy, the Brockville Hardwood Company is booming. Now's -the day for the clothespin man. We're at the top of the heap. Prices up, -competition down, market hungry. But what's this I hear about daddy? -Wired him I wanted to see him on clothespin business. He wired back: -'Out of the game. Son owns plant--lock, stock, and barrel. Tell it to -him.' Now, what's that mean?" - -"Just what it says, I expect. Father has gone to California with mother. -The plant's mine." - -"Clothespin Jimmy quit! Can't believe it. Thought he'd die with one foot -on a maple log and a clothespin in each hand. Well! Well! So you and I -have to talk business, eh?" - -"If there's any to talk," said Jim. - -"I reckon there's some--some. Where'll we go to do it?" - -"We might walk out a piece and sit on a fence," said Jim, with a grin. -"It'll be more comfortable, and we can argue and swing our arms better." - -"Good enough. Which way?" - -They walked along, Welliver doing most of the conversing. Indeed, it was -Mr. Welliver's habit to do most of the conversing. He owned a great many -words and was willing to part with them freely--but not unwisely. It was -said by men in the business that Mr. Welliver could keep you entertained -for an evening and not utter a word of what was on his mind. Clothespin -Jimmy once told him he was like the what-d'ye-call-'em fish that -squirted out a cloud of ink and then hid in it. - -"Guess we can stop here," said Jim when they arrived at a spot -overlooking the flat on which the new mills were rising. "That's the -plant below." - -"Um! Some bigger than the old one, eh? What's the idea? Going to take -all the business away from us old fellows?" - -"I guess you and Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Plum and Mr. Mannikin can look -after your share, if all I've heard is true." - -"We can try. We can try. And that, my boy, is the very reason I'm here. -I'm told you're putting in six more clothespin machines than you had in -the old plant." - -Jim nodded. - -"That means about one hundred and twenty-five thousand additional -five-gross boxes going on to the market." - -"So father says." - -"Well, son, the Club don't look on that with a favorable eye. Of course -you know the Club?" - -"Clothespin Club? I know we're members of it with seven other mills." - -"But do you know what it has done for the business? How it has taken a -scramble of unprofitable competition and turned it into a smooth-running -machine?" - -"Something about it." - -"The Club meets--socially, of course, and nothing to interest the -Sherman Law fellows. But we sort of talk things over friendly, and -somebody quotes a price on clothespins, and another fellow says that -sounds like a fair price, and they talk over market conditions and go -home. But they all stick to the price mentioned. The last price was -up-top, and we're all making hay. But we don't want anything to disturb -the market." - -"Um!" said Jim, who was beginning to glean a hint of Mr. Welliver's -object. - -"Conditions are about right now. Any increase in output will--unsettle -matters." - -Jim remained silent. - -"So," said Mr. Welliver in his most friendly way, "the Club had a little -meeting--" - -"Part of it," interjected Jim. - -"All but you," said Mr. Welliver. "Yes, we met casually, and talked it -over, and here I am to advise you against adding those extra machines." - -"You're a bit late," said Jim. "They're added." - -"But you might find it more profitable not to operate them. More money -can be made with twelve machines at present prices than with eighteen -and four or five tens lopped off." - -"Very possibly." - -"Well?" - -Jim understood then. Mr. Welliver's last observation had not been an -observation at all--it had been a threat. - -"You mean you'll cut prices if I go ahead?" He paused a moment. "You got -together and decided the Ashe Clothespin Company had bitten off all it -could chew, and this was a good time to sort of help us run our -business, eh?" - -"We know how much you've put into these mills. We know your daddy built -them on the strength of high prices, and we know that a drop in prices -will give you something to think about." - -"And your ultimatum is: Either we drop our six new machines or you drop -prices. Is that the idea?" - -"Something very like it." - -Jim got to his feet and stood over the dapper little man. He looked -large in the moonlight and Mr. Welliver became uneasy in his mind. He -contemplated with negligible pleasure the idea of this big young man's -losing his temper and rumpling him all up. But Jim had no such idea. - -"Mr. Welliver," he said, "father gave me this business and told me to -run it. He didn't tell me to let the Club run it--and I'm not going to. -You've come here threatening me, and somehow I don't take to the idea of -it. I know where I'm at and pretty much what I'm up against, but just -the same I'm the Ashe Clothespin Company, and I'll keep on being it as -long as there's a company. I'll run twelve machines or eighteen or -fifty, as I think it's wise, and if the Club doesn't like it, why the -Club can be just as peevish as it wants to. I've never been in a good -fight yet. You seem to want to get into one, and I'll accommodate you -for all I've got. Now, then, here's my proposition to the Club: It can -go on and run its own affairs and leave me alone--or it can start a row. -You can make your choice now. What is it?" - -"We can't allow you to run those extra machines." - -"It's war, then?" - -"I hope not that, but we'll have to point out to you that one mill can't -upset the whole industry." - -"And I'll point out to you that this mill can do as it everlastingly -pleases. Let's go back to the hotel. Is it shake hands or fight?" - -"I'm afraid it'll have to be fight." - -"Then," Jim said--and all of a sudden he felt grimly glad, and a grimly -glad smile lighted his face "then I guess I'll fire the first shot. Our -inventory shows we've got fifty thousand boxes in the old warehouse. -They go on the market to-morrow at five tens off the present price--and -if that doesn't suit you I'll cut off another ten or so." - -"But--but, my boy, you're crazy. You'll lose money on every box you -sell." - -"So will you--and you've got more to sell than I have just now. You can -watch me send the telegram," Jim said. - -"Young man, you're a bit sudden," said Mr. Welliver. - -"I may be sudden, sir, but you'll find I'm lasting, too. When this -ruction calms down one of two things will have happened: I'll be busted -or the Club will have learned to stick to the purpose for which it was -formed." - -He turned and strode off toward the hotel, with Mr. Welliver trotting at -his heels, uttering bleating sounds of protest. As they neared the -piazza, he said, pantingly: "Suppose we talk some more. Maybe we can hit -on a compromise." - -"The only compromise you can hit on is to keep your hands off." - -Mr. Welliver shrugged his shoulders. - -"Good night, young man. I'm afraid you're going to be very sorry for -this. Your father had more--discretion." - -"My father's backbone reached from the base of his skull to the seat of -his pants," said Jim, "and every inch of it was stiff. Good night, Mr. -Welliver." - -Inside he procured a telegraph blank and wrote a brief message to the -bookkeeper at the old office: - - Notify all agents and customers price clothespins five tens off - list. Effective to-day. - -Again something to do had arisen and Jim had done it swiftly, suddenly. -He had added fresh and stronger claims on his new name. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - -Jim awoke next morning to a sense not altogether one of satisfaction -with the events of the night before. He realized he had inaugurated a -clothespin war which further parleying might have postponed or -prevented. Again he had acted swiftly, suddenly, surprisingly to -himself. Yet as he thought it over he was less inclined to censure -himself. He felt he was right when he insisted on building and operating -his mill to suit himself--so long as he built and operated with -fairness. He knew Welliver and the Club would not recede from their -position, and that there remained only to surrender, play for delay, or -fight. There is a certain satisfaction in striking first. - -Jim's watch told him it would not be six o'clock for another half-hour, -and breakfast was not until seven. He dressed leisurely and descended to -the piazza, where, grouped about the step of the buggy, stood Welliver, -Michael Moran, and the old justice of the peace. - -"Good morning," called Welliver, chipper as a wren. "You're an early -bird. Thought I'd have to leave without saying good-by." - -"Hope you have a pleasant drive," said Jim. He turned down the walk and -strode away with the intention of tramping a mile or two before the -dining-room opened. - -"Wait a minute, son," Welliver called. "Come here and shake hands with -Mr. Moran--you'll be meeting each other in a business way considerable. -He owns this thirty-mile streak of rust you call a railroad. And Judge -Frame." - -Jim shook hands. Moran returned his pressure heartily; but, while he -offered a cordial welcome to Diversity, Jim was aware the man's clear -gray eyes were studying and appraising him. As for Zaanan Frame, he -merely grunted. - -"Haven't had a change of heart since last night?" asked Welliver. - -Jim smiled and shook his head. "Our folks will be quoting a discount of -five tens this morning," Be said. - -"Son, when you've been in this business twenty years you'll go slower." - -"Colts," said Zaanan Frame, "kicks out the dashboard jest for fun. But -most gen'ally, when an old hoss starts in to use his heels he means -business." - -James said nothing. He was to discover that Zaanan Frame was given to -making remarks to which it was difficult to retort; that Zaanan had a -way of dropping a statement over a conversation as one would lower a -candle-snuffer over the flame, and that a new subject to talk about -became immediately desirable. The old justice was a final sort of -person. Jim's dislike for him grew like one of these huge white -mushrooms which daring individuals pick and fry and eat--and sometimes -survive. - -"You are determined?" asked Mr. Welliver, making one last effort. - -"I'm determined to run my own business," said Jim. - -Mr. Welliver shrugged his erect and beautifully tailored shoulders. - -"When you've got enough--" he began, suggestively, but did not trouble -to finish the sentence. - -"Glad to have met you, gentlemen," Jim said. "I'm off for a walk to stir -up enthusiasm for breakfast." - -A man who has to have his clothes wet through before he can recognize it -is raining may succeed as a professor of Greek or as an artificer of a -ditch, but he is not likely to elbow aside numerous captains of -industry. Though unequipped with that which the proverb declares to be -the best teacher, Jim Ashe did have in its proper place inside his skull -a brain reasonably able to travel from patent cause to obvious effect, -or to reach a conclusion that birds which flock together are likely to -be similarly feathered. The height of stupidity for a man in Jim's -situation would have been not to speculate on the manifest acquaintance -between Mr. Welliver, Michael Moran, and Justice of the Peace Frame. He -was not guilty of that stupidity, and as he walked along the road whose -hot sands had cooled under the summer moon, he speculated on the -significance of their early morning meeting. His thoughts ran something -to the effect that to a man up a tree it looked as if Mr. Welliver had -allies in the very heart of the territory of the Ashe Clothespin -Company. - -Jim walked briskly past his mills, then turned into an inviting lane -which led upward toward a wood-lot. Presently he turned again, to return -cross-lots along the hypotenuse of the triangle. To do this it was -necessary to surmount the first line of defense, a five-strand, -barb-wire fence, then to climb a knoll surmounted by a lonely -hickory-tree. From the top of this knoll Jim hoped to have a general -view of the country and so to acquaint himself at a glance with the -topography of his new home. He scrambled up, and reached the top -breathless. The last dozen feet had been steep, hiding the tiny plateau -at the peak from sight. Immediately he straightened up. He was made to -feel that he was not wholly welcome--indeed, that he was decidedly an -intruder, for frowning at him with black brows and sullen black eyes was -the young woman at whom he had stared on the station platform. - -Her expression was hostile. If eyes and compressed lips can speak, that -young woman was saying peremptorily and not at all politely, "Get out!" - -"I beg your pardon," Jim panted. "I had no idea--?" - -"You must have seen me," she said, coldly. - -"But I didn't see you," said Jim. "I should not have intruded." - -"This spot is visible for a mile in any direction," she said, shortly. -Apparently she was determined to believe he had seen her and had climbed -up to her, probably in the prosecution of the common masculine ambition -to scrape up acquaintance with a stray and unprotected girl. Jim felt an -embarrassing warmth about his ears. - -"You stared at me yesterday," she said, before he could speak. - -"I did not stare at you," he replied, unguardedly. "I was staring at the -expression in your eyes--the hungry expression with which you looked -after the train." - -She bit her lips; her eyes darkened; she was startled. - -"Can people see it?" she asked, aloud, not of Jim, not of herself, not -of anybody or anything that could frame an answer. - -Jim ignored her exclamation and entered his defense. "I was walking to -pass the time till breakfast. When I got to the wood-lot there I turned -to cut across lots. I did not see you. I had other things on my mind -than unexpected young women on hilltops at unholy hours in the morning. -I am sorry I disturbed you." He did not go, but stood looking down at -her. She was looking past him down the valley toward the distant shimmer -that was the great lake. For the moment he was negligible to her; again -her eyes, her face, wore that expression as of the woman in the -bread-line--of hunger. - -In a moment her face relaxed till it spoke merely of discontent, -dissatisfaction. Jim thought she would have been homely were it not for -the graceful setting of her head on her shoulders, the splendid ease and -symmetry of her position. - -"I don't have to explain to every chance stranger why I get up early in -the morning and come here," she said, not so much sullenly as with -repression, as though she were damming up something within her. - -"Of course not," said Jim, inadequately. - -Suddenly she flashed to her feet with a beautiful litheness and stood -facing him, her hands clenched into little fists, her breast heaving. - -"I will tell you. I've got to tell somebody. It's because I hate -this"--she swept her hand over Diversity. "It's because it's horrible, -unbearable. It's because I'm chained down here like a prisoner in a -dungeon. That's why I go to watch the train--it is going away, going out -there where people live. That's why I come up here. It's my little -window to look out of. I can see beyond Diversity. Sometimes a vessel -passes. I imagine I am on it, going away--to Chicago--to New York--to -San Francisco. Here I can turn my back on Diversity and see where its -dead hand cannot reach. I hate the town, I hate the people, but most of -all I hate the children. Oh, look shocked! But sit in a room with thirty -of them ten months a year; watch their smugness; try to cram spelling -and geography and arithmetic into them; try to make an impression on -their dullness. They're a nightmare! That's why I come here--to look -away from them, beyond them, to see a spot that's not tainted with them. -I was born here." She said the last as though it were the summing up of -all evil. - -"My dear young lady," said Jim, in a tone that was ludicrously paternal, -"you're working yourself up to--hysterics or something." - -She leaned against the old hickory-tree, panting, clutching the folds of -her skirt with convulsive fingers. - -"I want to go--go--go! I want to see things--to be a part of them. I'm -smothered. This is living in a graveyard where there's a perpetual fog. -Other people live. Other people have things happen to them, and I--I -don't even dare read about them in books. I couldn't stand it." - -Jim wanted to run, yet he wanted to stay. Here was a manifestation far -outside the purview of his experience. It was a little adventure into a -human soul, and Jim's contact with the human soul had been superficial. - -"If you want to go, why--why in thunder don't you go?" he said, -boyishly. - -She flashed a gleam of scorn upon him. "I'm a girl--a girl--the most -helpless, most defenseless, most easily damaged thing under the sun. Why -don't I go?" Her tone snapped with scorn. "What would I do? Who would -take me in? What would become of me? Here I'm safe. I may die of it, but -I'm safe. It might be less hideously barren if I weren't. I'm alone. -I've been alone since I was fifteen. Some day it'll be too much for me -and I'll go. But I won't be fooled into it. I'll go with my eyes open, -knowing why I go. If I go nobody'll be to blame--except Diversity--for -I'll have made my choice deliberately. Don't look shocked. I suppose -there have been millions of others before me who had the same choice to -make. I'm not unique. You men have made the world, and when you get a -glimpse of it once in a while you're shocked." - -"Miss"--Jim paused and bit his finger in bewilderment--"I don't just -know what you're accusing us men of, nor the world in general. But I've -lived a bit more than you. I've lived enough to know this--that there's -more good than evil. There are more folks who are trying to do right -than who deliberately do wrong. I know that even in the bad ones there's -more good than bad. I believe if you were to take all the law and -machinery of the law, all the police, all the social protection out of -the world to-day, that to-morrow the force for right which is in the -world would assert itself. There is so much more good than bad in the -world that the bad would be held down by the mere weight of the good. -You hear about the evil, because the evil thing is news, something to -talk about, something to make readers for the newspapers. And it's news -because it's out of the normal. So there seems to be a lot more bad than -there is. Goodness is normal--so normal that nobody notices it." - -"Men always defend themselves plausibly." - -"I'm not defending men; I'm defending humanity." - -She fell silent, and gazed past him again to the twinkling blue of the -lake. When she spoke it was less hardily, more wistfully than she had -spoken before: - -"The world is so big and so interesting. In any direction, if my eyes -reached far enough, they would see something thrilling. To think there -is so much--and I am refused a crumb!" - -"I'm afraid something has happened to disturb you." - -She laughed shortly. "If something should I'd thank Heaven for it! It's -all so drowsy, so placid, and I'm tied to it as if to a stake, with a -slow fire lighted round me." - -"But if you want to go so badly, if life here is so unendurable, what -ties you to it?" - -"The trifling accident of having been born a girl, added to the trifling -episode of having lost my parents, added to the inconsequential -condition that the forty dollars a month I get for teaching school is -all that stands between me and starvation." - -She turned abruptly from him and started down the knoll. He followed. - -"Don't come with me," she said, stopping. "I don't know you. I don't -want to know you. After this I never want to see you again. I had to say -these things to somebody. By accident it was you, but I hate you for it. -You know. Never try to speak to me." - -She went away swiftly, leaving him to stare after her in bewilderment. -He was startled. His sensation was such as if he had picked up a pebble -and found it suddenly to be a live coal. - -Later in the day he found her name to be Marie Ducharme, daughter of a -French-Canadian lumber-lack who had risen to be a walking boss. He found -that Diversity returned her dislike, or, if it did not return it, viewed -her askance as a person who was "queer." - -To be "queer" in a village of less than a thousand souls is no -inconsiderable crime. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - -For the next fortnight Jim Ashe was too busy to give thought to his new -environment, to study the new world to which he had been translated. He -was studying the clothespin business. It is true he did not come to his -work wholly unprepared; being Clothespin Jimmy's son, that was -impossible. His father had talked it, thought it, dreamed it. Jim had -assimilated it with his meals. Also, as a boy, before his college days, -in vacation times when college days arrived, he had worked in the mills -and acquired for the business that distaste which he once vainly fancied -was to lead him down widely different vocational paths. - -As a lad he had counted and packed pins; later he had dogged in the -sawmill; one vacation he had calloused and slivered his hands feeding -the drum. He had scaled timber; he had been chore-boy for old Pazzy -Miller, the pinmaker. These various jobs were given him out of his -father's wisdom to show him the how and the why of all steps in the -manufacture. Nor was he ignorant of other branches of the business, for -clothespins were not the sole product, though they were its backbone. He -was not unacquainted with the mysteries of the veneer lathe nor with the -making of wood ashes. He understood somewhat the technic of the turner, -and the processes which went to the making of wooden spoons, -rolling-pins, drumsticks, and the like--all turned from seasoned lumber. - -Those things he knew as a workman. Something of the marketing problems -his father had been able to drop unsuspected into his mind, but this was -all incoherent, not card-indexed and pigeonholed and ready for instant -use. Jim spent his time--not occupied by immediately pressing concerns -and events--in preparing the knowledge he had, in adding to it; in -short, in preparing himself as best he could to handle and husband the -property that was his. It was surprisingly like trying to swim after a -course of twenty lessons from a correspondence school. - -A week before the machinery was ready to turn over, the office force -with its paraphernalia arrived from the old office and was installed in -the new. It consisted of one stenographer, picked by Clothespin Jimmy -wholly for efficiency and not at all for adornment; of a middle-aged -bookkeeper, who seemed to have been born with something more than the -normal quantity of organs, for there grew from his forehead a green -eye-shade, without which he was never seen, and there sprouted in his -right hand a pen. There was also an assistant bookkeeper, whose business -in life was to act and look as much like the bookkeeper, Mr. Grierson, -as possible; and a shipping-clerk, whose familiarity with freight-rates -and with the occult business of routing freight-cars so they would -arrive where they were intended to go, instead of at the other side of -the continent, was such as to arouse Jim's admiration. - -The clothespin war was as yet a minor trouble. He had one letter from -the secretary of the Club, informing him that the price he had quoted -was cut by another five per cent. This cut he met immediately. A flood -of orders came in from brokers, traveling-men, wholesalers--all rushing -to take advantage of the low market to stock up. These Jim culled over -carefully, accepting only enough to keep his plant running to capacity, -not overloading himself with orders which he would have to fill in case -of a cessation of hostilities and consequent soaring of price. - -He called into conference his superintendent, millwright, master -mechanic, and the foremen of his departments, but it was not a -conference, as the event proved. It consisted merely of a brief -statement by Jim. - -"The job you fellows are up against," he said, "is to manufacture better -and cheaper than anybody else. Prices are down. I believe we can still -show a profit. Any man who has an idea that will save a tenth of a cent -on a box of pins will find it profitable to bring it to me. What's the -best day's average you made in the old plant, Pete?" - -"Seventy-five boxes a machine," said the old pinmaker. - -"I'm expecting eighty here," Jim told him. "It costs as much to operate -a machine making sixty boxes as it does eighty. If you can make eighty, -the extra five will come close to being profit. Don't let a machine, a -lathe, a saw, waste machine hours. Everything has got to run; it has got -to run constantly, and it has got to produce the greatest quantity that -is physically possible. I'm depending on you men. We have a new crew in -large part. I want them to feel I'm depending on them. Tell every girl, -every man of the crew, that the Ashe Clothespin Company is depending on -her or on him, and that each may depend on me. If I expect them to give -me a square deal, I expect myself to give them a square deal. Tell them -that. There'll be no dissatisfaction or labor trouble here if I can help -it--and I can. I guess that's all. Now get at it." - -The men looked at one another; old Pete scratched his head and grinned, -and they filed out. Their feeling, if one was to judge from their faces, -was one of satisfaction and confidence. They believed in the new boss, -and that is the first step toward a feeling of affection. - -It was that afternoon that Zaanan Frame drove his old horse -Tiffany--named, as Jim found out, after the greatest of legal books, -Tiffany's _Justices' Guide_--up to the mill and rheumatically climbed to -the office. - -"Afternoon," said he. "Name's Jim, hain't it?" - -Jim nodded curtly. He suspected the justice of being no friend of his, -but an ally of the other camp. - -"All right, Jim. Last names was made for fellers that git to be -postmasters. Couldn't sort the mail without 'em. Hain't for every-day -use no more 'n plug hats." - -"What can I do for you, Judge?" Jim asked, offishly. - -The old fellow regarded him a moment in silence. - -"Wa-al, you might put more sugar into your coffee. Need sweet'nin' up. -Still livin' to the hotel, eh? All the comforts of home? Suits you to a -tee?" - -"The meals are all right," said Jim, unbending a trifle, "but that's all -you can say." - -"Um! What's home without a motto over the door? Hain't met Mis' -Stickney? Course not. Widder woman twice repeated. Machinery runnin'? -Um! Got her goin' quicker 'n folks expected." - -"We hurried things up a bit." - -"To be sure. Never seen sich a woman as the Widder Stickney for -house-cleanin'. Best housekeeper in the county. Mill makes a heap of -difference in Diversity. Kind of irritatin' to Lafe Meggs up to the -store. Says somebody's always comin' in and disturbin' him to buy -somethin' or other. Calc'lates he'll have to hire a clerk. Lafe's -ambitions mostly requires a sittin' posture." - -"How big is this town, Judge?" - -"About a dozen people and five hundred folks. Take in the newspaper, -Jim?" - -"I take a Grand Rapids paper." - -"Take in the Diversity paper, Jim?" - -"No." - -"Um! Comes out Thursdays. Int'restin' readin' into it sometimes. The -Widder Stickney got her second husband on the strength of her cookin'. -Calc'late she could git a third with it, but she allows husbands is so -fleetin' and funeral expenses is so high 'twouldn't hardly pay. Name of -the paper is the _Diversity Eagle_. Business perty good, eh? Keepin' up -brisk?" - -"We manage to keep from loafing." - -"To be sure. Loafin's the leadin' sport here. Calc'late Dolf Springer's -our champion jest now. Interestin' piece in the paper this week. Several -interestin' pieces. Don't take it in, eh? Early riser, hain't you? See -you walkin' 'fore breakfast." - -Jim wondered if the old justice had any ulterior meaning in this -observation. He had arisen early each morning and tramped out into the -country. Sometimes he had been close to admitting to himself that this -was not wholly for the air and exercise. Indeed, he had wondered if -something much more material and human had not been at the root of the -matter. There, for instance, was that young woman whom he had -encountered on top of the knoll. She walked of mornings, too--and she -was an interesting if not attractive individual. She puzzled him. He -even went so far as to be vaguely anxious about her, for her state of -mind had not appealed to him as one conducive to normal and conventional -behavior. He wondered if Zaanan Frame knew of that encounter, or knew of -that subsequent meeting--and passing--a week later when Miss Ducharme -had come face to face with him at a turn of the road and had gone by -with nothing to indicate she was aware of his existence except a -scornful flash of her black eyes. - -"Somebody was sayin'," he heard Zaanan observe, "that the Widder -Stickney had a spare room she was thinkin' of rentin'. Yes, sir, if I -was goin' to read the _Diversity Eagle_ I figger this week's issue'd be -the one I'd look for. Um! Calc'late Tiffany's tired of standin'. Have to -humor him. Powerful high-spirited boss. Second-floor room on the front, -it was. G'-by, Jim. _Eagle_ office is next to Lafe Meggs's store." - -The old man went out, and it seemed as if he creaked in every joint. Jim -heard him pass slowly along the hall and out of the door--and wondered -what his visit meant. He reviewed the rambling conversation as best he -could; found that in spite of himself he was attracted by Zaanan's -personality. But why had the old fellow come? What had he talked about? -Why, about the Widow Stickney and her room, and about the _Diversity -Eagle_. Jim was not yet familiar with Zaanan Frame's methods, but it did -seem clear to him that the old justice wanted him to go to board with -Mrs. Stickney; wanted him also to read the current issue of the _Eagle_. - -That evening Jim procured a copy of the _Eagle_. Its leading article -gave the news that Michael Moran had purchased a controlling interest in -the Diversity Hardwood Company, and had been elected its president in -the place of Henry W. Green, resigned. This was worth while. It was -important, for the prosperity of the Ashe Clothespin Company depended on -the Diversity Hardwood Company. It was the latter that furnished the -birch, beech, and maple from which the clothespins were manufactured. It -was with that company that Clothespin Jimmy had negotiated a twenty-year -timber contract calling for the delivery in his mill-yard of not less -than five millions nor more than ten millions of feet of timber a year. -Pursuant to this contract the new mills had been erected. Here was news -indeed. What did it signify? What would be its results that touched Jim -Ashe? And why had Zaanan Frame wanted him to be apprised--warned--of the -event? If Zaanan's hint to read the paper was of such undoubted value, -would not his other suggestion be worth looking into? Jim thought so, -and inquired his way to the Widow Stickney's. She occupied a pleasant, -maple-shaded house surrounded by riotous flower-beds and more practical -kitchen gardens. It was attractive with the flavor of home. Jim rang the -bell. - -The result of his call and inspection was that he rented from the widow -her second-floor front and arranged to be fed at her table. As he was -leaving she hesitated, hemmed, and hawed, as Clothespin Jimmy would have -put it, and finally said: - -"I got one other boarder. Jest one. Hain't no objections to that, have -you?" - -"None whatever, Mrs. Stickney," said Jim, which was perfectly true. He -had neither objections nor curiosity regarding the fact. However, as he -walked between the flower-beds to the gate some one turned in and -approached him. He looked up, felt himself draw a little sudden breath -of surprise, for the individual was Marie Ducharme. Jim knew instantly -that she was the other boarder. She passed him, cheeks slightly flushed, -eyes straight ahead, without deigning to look at him. He felt a warmth -about his ears. - -That evening he sat late on the hotel piazza, working on a puzzle. - -He could not piece it together. Why had Zaanan Frame wanted him to know -of Michael Moran's new business venture? But, even more difficult of -solution, why had Zaanan wanted him to board with the Widow Stickney? - -Marie Ducharme insisted on obtruding herself into his puzzlings. It was -absurd, he knew, but had she anything to do with the matter? - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - -On the day the mills commenced operating Jim Ashe called for a statement -of the company's condition from Mr. Grierson. As Jim expected, it proved -to be disquieting. The facts were that the mills had cost upward of two -hundred thousand dollars; there was still owing for machinery and -materials some thirty thousand dollars; there was seven thousand dollars -cash in the bank. The weekly payroll was over two thousand dollars. -Other operating expenses, with the cost of supplies and timber, brought -this sum up to five thousand dollars a week--and as yet not a penny's -worth of manufactured product had been turned out or shipped. - -"According to this," Jim said to Mr. Grierson, "we can run a week. Then -what?" - -"Then," said Mr. Grierson, his voice dry and rattling like one of the -leaves of his ledger, "we'll have to have some more money." - -"Oh," said Jim, grimly, "that's all there is to it, eh? Well, where'll -we get it? Supposing we are able to begin shipments by the end of next -week--how soon can we expect returns?" - -"Thirty days at the best." - -"And in that thirty days we'll be spending nearly thirty thousand -dollars--which we haven't got. I have heard of working capital before, -but I never comprehended what a pleasant thing it was to have. Where -does one get money, Grierson?" - -"From the bank." - -"To be sure. I guess I'm beginning to understand what father was talking -about when he said he milked the business. That fifty thousand of his -would make a fine plug to put in this hole. But that's gone. If I know -father, he took it to make me hustle. His sense of humor works that way. -Well, I'll see what I can puzzle out, Grierson." - -Jim was in a measure prepared to be helmsman of his commercial ship, so -far as the manufacturing and selling of his wares were concerned; but -when the vessel entered financial waters, with a storm blowing and a -tortuous channel to thread, he felt he ought to toot the whistle -frantically and signal for a pilot. But there was no pilot to be had. -There was nothing for it but to slow down and dodge through the reefs, -taking frequent soundings with the lead of good judgment, striving with -his eyes to pierce the vexed waters for hidden rocks. In short, the time -had arrived to spread the bread of uncertainty with the butter of -optimism. - -He must have money. Two methods of procuring it presented themselves, -but he liked the features of neither of them. The first was to -borrow--if possible; the second, to sell stock. Without hesitation he -eliminated the latter. He put on his hat, stopped long enough in the -outer office to tell Grierson he was going to the bank, and went out. - -He handed his card to Mr. Wills, cashier of the institution, and Mr. -Wills shook hands with him in the manner that cashiers shake hands with -individuals who are to deposit some hundreds of thousands of dollars a -year with them. - -"Glad to know you, Mr. Ashe. I was wondering when you'd find time to -drop in to see us." - -"I hope you've got lots of money, now that I am here," said Jim, with -specious confidence. - -"Enough to warrant us in locking the vault," said Mr. Wills. "Anything -special we can do for you to-day?" - -"Well," said Jim, "you could lend me a few dollars." - -"Your father said you might be wanting to borrow," said Mr. Wills. "He -had, as you know, of course, a conference with our board this spring, -and we stand ready to do what we can for you. We're a small bank, you -know. Some of our directors were against making a loan of any size to a -corporation, but Zaanan Frame and Mr. Moran were in favor--which wound -up that ball of string. How much will you be wanting?" - -"Thirty thousand dollars," said Jim, half expecting the cashier to jump -to his feet and call a strong assistant to escort him to the street. - -"That's just inside the limit. Need it right away?" - -"Yes." - -Mr. Wills fumbled in a pigeonhole and passed Jim a note. - -"Make this out, sign it as an officer of your company, and put your -personal indorsement on the back. It's a demand note, you observe. We -prefer that kind." - -Jim wasn't clear just what the difference was between that kind and the -other. It didn't matter. He was going to get the money he -needed--without an effort. It was a shock to him. Were money matters -arranged thus easily? Was money in considerable sums so easy to come by? -He signed the note, and was told the amount would be credited to his -accounts as of that day. - -After he had chatted a moment, and thanked Mr. Wills as profusely as he -believed it wise, he turned away. But a sudden recollection stopped him. -Mr. Wills had said Zaanan Frame and Mr. Moran had favored the loan. Did -you ever eat cherry pie, delicious cherry pie, and suddenly encounter a -pit which the cook had overlooked? Jim felt much the same way. - -"What Mr. Moran is on your board?" he asked. - -Wills looked his astonishment. - -"Why, Michael Moran, of course!" he said. - -As Jim turned off the road on to the mill lot, a man two inches shorter -than he and four inches broader accosted him. - -"You're Mr. Ashe, ain't you?" the man asked. - -Jim nodded and stopped. The man, who wore a calico shirt that, stout as -it was, threatened to rip out at the seams when the big muscles played -beneath, was an individual whose life had not fallen in places of ease. -Work, hard work, had made him. He had triumphed over it. His will and a -splendid body had triumphed, until Jim paid the tribute of his -admiration to the result of it. - -"Got any place for a cant-hook man?" - -"I think we can use one in the log-yard. Out of a job?" - -"Walked out of it. When I heard Mike Moran was goin' to run the -Diversity Hardwood outfit I quit--sudden." - -Jim waited. - -"I worked for him three year back on the South Branch." The man spat -savagely in the dust. "Self-respectin' lumberjack wouldn't 'a' stayed -twenty-four hours gittin' what some of them fellers got. Me, it wasn't -so bad. 'What was the matter?' says you. 'Plenty,' says I. First, he -starts in gittin' rid of as good a crew as ever stuck their legs under a -cook-shanty table, and filled up the woods with Polacks and Italians and -Hunkies. Just critters with arms and laigs like folks. Grub was -rotten--rotten! Them poor foreigners got it comin' and goin'. Knocked -round, fed spoiled meat--and then cheated out of their pay. Oh, -foreigners hain't the only ones that's been cheated out of their pay in -Michigan camps. I wisht I had what was comin' to me fair, Mr. Ashe. Why, -I knowed two Polacks that come out of Moran's Camp Three, after workin' -from November till April--and they come out owin' him eighteen dollars!" - -"Now, now," said Jim. - -"I'm tellin' the truth. Wanigan. Jest robbed off'n 'em. Get a plug of -tobacco at the wanigan--charged for six. Like that. And fines. No wonder -he's gittin' richer 'n hell. Gittin' out his timber don't cost him -nothin' to speak of. Men like him is drivin' real woodsmen out of -Michigan. You can go so far with robbin' an Irishman or a Norwegian or a -Nova-Scotian--and then somethin' busts. But with them lingo-talkin' -foreigners, why there hain't no fight to 'em. And he'll do the same -here. 'Fore another spring the camps'll be full of 'em--and him robbin' -'em. I've heard ugly things of Mike Moran. Not dealin's with men, I -mean. I've had stories whispered to me by men I believed. And one I know -is so. Ask somebody that knows what become of Susie Gilders. I calc'late -some girl's dad or brother'll be splittin' Mike Moran with an ax one of -these days. But I'm talkin' too much, Mr. Ashe. Didn't figger to git off -on this rig. How about that job?" - -"Report to the superintendent. Tell him I sent you. What's your name?" - -"Tim Bennett." - -"Well, Tim, I don't know you and you don't know me, but I'd hate to have -you think about me as you do about Moran. I'll try to see you don't. -These are my mills, and the crew are working for me--but that doesn't -mean any man or girl is to be afraid of me. If anything goes wrong, tell -me. Once I wanted to do something besides run a clothespin-mill. I -wanted to see if I couldn't turn in and do something for these Polacks -and Hunkies and Italians--something that would change them from being -foreigners into Americans. But I couldn't have my way. But this much I -can do--I can see that the folks who work for me get a square deal. -You'll find the superintendent back by the log-slide." - -Tim hesitated a moment, seemed to have something more to say, but to -find difficulty saying it. Finally he blurted out: "Say, Mr. Ashe, I -b'lieve you and me is goin' to get on." - -Jim recognized the compliment; it was no small one. - -"I hope so, Tim," he said. - -Jim sat down in his chair before his desk and scowled at the wall. -Michael Moran--everywhere that name obtruded itself--Michael Moran and -Zaanan Frame. The pair of them seemed to impend over the Ashe Clothespin -Company like twin thunderclouds, threatening, possessed of destructive -potentialities. They had met, conferred with Morton Welliver after that -gentlemen had delivered his ultimatum. Had that conference concerned -him? Jim believed it had. Just what harm Zaanan Frame was potent to -cause, Jim did not know; but Moran--Moran owned the little railroad, the -sole outlet for Jim's wares; he controlled the lumber company from which -came Jim's logs; his voice was preponderating in the bank to which Jim -owed thirty thousand dollars. - -A thought came to Jim: If he could buy Moran's logs and pay Moran a -profit on them--and then himself manufacture them into clothespins and -realize another profit--how great would be Moran's profit if in his own -mills he manufactured clothespins from his own logs! Jim believed that -in Moran's place he would covet the Ashe Clothespin Company. And Moran's -various activities showed him to be an acquisitive individual. But -nowhere had Moran manifested an unfriendly spirit; indeed, he had been -distinctly friendly in the matter of the loan. What then? In any event, -Jim told himself, it would not be time wasted to keep a clear eye on the -man and, if possible, to rear in advance defenses against his possible -attack. - -Presently he got up and went into the outer office, where Grierson and -his assistant were making occult entries in black and red ink on the -pages of huge books. These tomes, in which were recorded the daily -history of business transactions, always affected Jim with a feeling of -awe, and secretly he had for Grierson and his young man a profound -admiration. Anybody who could make all those entries and add all those -figures, and then, a month afterward, have the slightest idea what all -the agglomeration was about, was possessed of some divine spark akin to -genius! - -"Grierson," said Jim, "have you ever made the acquaintance of the -creature known as a demand note?" - -"Not personally, I thank Heaven," Grierson said, piously. - -"But you know its habits?" - -"You're joking, Mr. Ashe." Anything akin to humor was not to be -tolerated when it touched a thing so sacred as one of the bits of -business impedimenta. - -"I'm exceedingly serious. What can you tell me of the habits and -personal peculiarities of the thing?" - -"A demand note," said Grierson, with musty gravity, "is a negotiable -instrument running for an indefinite period. It differs from a time note -in that it may be presented and payment demanded"--he accented the word -"demanded" in a manner that Jim thought vindictive--"at any time the -holder chooses. Am I clear?" - -"Perfectly--and disquietingly. I am to understand that if you give a man -a demand note he may drop in on you casually whenever the notion seizes -him and make you--er--in the undignified language of the soap salesman, -come across? Is that it?" - -Mr. Grierson nodded, frowned, peered anxiously at his ledger as if he -feared a figure or two might sneak away from him while his attention was -distracted. - -"Can you say anything cheerful about one of them?" Jim persisted. - -"The only cheerful thing about a demand note, Mr. Ashe, is to know you -are able to pay it whenever it turns up--which most people are not." - -"That," said Jim, "is an observation made from great depths of wisdom." - -"I hope, Mr. Ashe, you have not been making any demand paper." - -"Your hope is vain, Grierson. The thing is done. The sword is suspended -over my head. I am now speculating on the possibility of certain -gentlemen cutting the hair that holds it." - -He went back to his desk again with the intention of boring into the -inwardness of the situation, but, strangely, his mind showed a -disposition to wander. It skipped offishly away from demand notes and -speculations regarding Michael Moran; was drawn again and again where -Jim did not want it to go--and where it would not be welcome. Of the -latter he was sure. For it was Marie Ducharme who obtruded and elbowed -aside more serious matters. - -Jim moved to the Widow Stickney's that night. He wondered how Miss -Ducharme would regard his coming. Doubtless it would not decrease the -ill will she felt toward him. Doubtless she would regard it as an -impertinent intrusion. What did it matter how she regarded it? He said -that to himself, but somehow he could not quite convince himself that he -said it with all sincerity. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - -The rural individual, riding for the first time on a descending -elevator, experiences a sensation that leads to a fixed preference for -stairs. It is a peculiar sensation. It may be reproduced in less degree -psychologically. For instance, the boy on his way to the woodshed with -his father and a razor-strop knows it; the young man about to announce -to her father his ambition to become a son-in-law is acquainted with it. -It comes to many people as they approach the unknown, the dreaded, the -long-sought-after. It is a mingling of excitement, apprehension, -anticipation, and the three of them do not mingle in peace. They seem, -indeed, to have a most lively and troublesome time of it in the region -known as the pit of the stomach. - -As Jim left his room to go down to his first breakfast at the Widow -Stickney's table he experienced an unmistakable attack of it. Marie -Ducharme was the cause. Doubtless they would breakfast together. He was -a bit apprehensive as to how it would go off. There was a certain amount -of curiosity-incited anticipation of a second meeting with her, a second -opportunity to glimpse her queer, disturbed, turbulent personality. Let -there be no error here--Jim Ashe was not drawn toward Marie Ducharme. -Quite the contrary. She was not at all the sort of person who would -attract him; and her present frame of mind was not such as to magnetize -any healthy young man. But she was a girl; she was a step beyond the -ordinary; she had a personality that one could not encounter and escape -unaffected. That was all. - -He hesitated for a moment in the hall, and then entered the dining-room, -where the widow and Marie Ducharme were already at the table. - -"Right here, Mr. Ashe," said the widow; "take this here chair with the -arms and the cushion into it. It'll seem sort of queer to see a man -settin' into it agin. My first used it and my second used it." - -"And you keep it in case it might be needed again," said Jim, gravely. - -The widow shook her head. "'Tain't nothin' but a memento no more. -Husbands is all right, but enough's enough. What a body can want of more -'n two is more 'n I can see. Let me make you acquainted with Miss -Ducharme, Mr. Ashe." - -Miss Ducharme nodded coldly. - -"Cream 'n' sugar?" asked the widow. - -"Some cream, a good deal of sugar, and a little coffee," said Jim, -stealing a look at the young woman. She was stirring her coffee, a -process which appeared to require concentration. Jim didn't blame her -for stirring it or for doing anything else which would bring to public -attention a hand as graceful and shapely as hers. Her face, beneath a -stack of blackest hair, was expressionless. - -"Mr. Ashe hain't goin' to bite you, Marie," said the widow, with a note -of exasperation in her voice. Jim was glad he had not taken a swallow of -coffee, for he could not have been responsible for consequences. - -Miss Ducharme raised her eyes slowly, looked for an instant into Jim's -eyes. "Nobody's going to bite me if I can help it," she said. - -"Mrs. Stickney is right," said Jim, "I'm not vicious. I almost never -bite strangers. Still, I might wear a muzzle if it would help matters." - -Miss Ducharme made no reply save a faint movement of her -shoulders--inherited from an ancestor who had served Frontenac. She -finished her coffee and toast and egg slowly, arose silently, and left -the room. The widow looked after her a moment with compressed lips. - -"Sometimes," she said, "she's that cantankerous my hand fairly itches to -come against her ear. Seems she might 'a' acted a leetle prettier, -bein's you're a stranger and this is your first meal." - -"Don't let it worry you, Mrs. Stickney." - -"Worry me! Huh! 'Tain't worry that ails me, it's bein' that provoked -with her. She's lived with me since her folks died. She was fifteen -then. I couldn't make her out as a child and a Philadelphy lawyer -couldn't make her out as a woman. She's been gittin' worse. Marie's a -good girl, Mr. Ashe--better 'n a lot of these mealy-mouthed, -bowin'-and-scrapin' ones--and Lord knows she's smarter. Too dum smart, I -call her, for her own good. But she's queer. Kind of knurly. She don't -appear to like folks, somehow." - -"Possibly, Mrs. Stickney, the trouble is that she doesn't like herself." - -"She gits on my mind. Sometimes I'm afeard she's goin' to mess up what -chances of happiness she's got. She sets and thinks too much, and some -of the things she says would fair shock you out of your shoes. If I -thought she meant 'em, old as she is I'd take her acrost my knee and see -if a slipper wouldn't change her point of view some." - -"Anyhow, I'll promise not to quarrel with her, Mrs. Stickney," said Jim, -rising. He felt it was not altogether ethical to discuss Miss Ducharme -thus freely. The widow seemed to have no such scruples. Indeed, she was -willing at all times and seasons to discuss anybody, absent or present, -and to put into frank and expressive terms her thoughts concerning them. -The widow was no gossip, no backbiter, but a woman of opinions and a -nimble tongue undeterred by fear or favor. - -"A husband's what she needs," said she. "One with enough disposition to -go so far's to lay his hand on her if she went past his patience. I mind -my first husband shakin' me once. I was young, then, with notions. -Dun'no's anythin' ever done me so much good. 'Tain't considered proper -no more--but if there was more shakin's there'd be fewer divorcin's." - -"Perhaps our men are deteriorating under the influences of modern life," -Jim suggested, with a twinkle in his eye. "The headship of the family is -passing to the other sex." - -"Then men ought to be up and doin' somethin' about it," said the widow. -"I wouldn't give shucks for a man that let a woman run him. All this -here talk about emancipatin' wimmin makes me sick to my stummick. Wimmin -don't need emancipatin'. What they need is bossin'. I've been a woman -consid'able of a spell and I calc'late I ought to know." - -"I think my grandmother would agree with you if she were living." - -"Of course. I'm grandmother to six. My idee is that wimmin don't git -settled and sensible till they turn sixty." - -"I'm in favor of giving the vote to all grandmothers." - -"It would fetch consid'able sense into elections," said the widow. -"Don't hurry off. I like to talk--maybe you've noticed it." - -"And enjoyed it," said Jim, passing through the door. - -Miss Ducharme was putting on her hat in the hall. Jim's first thought -was to pass on without pause; his second and better thought was to -parley. - -"I'm waving a flag of truce, Miss Ducharme," he said. "Can't we declare -an armistice for ten minutes to bury our dead?" - -"I have no war with you," she replied, with no interest. "I simply don't -like you. Why should we talk about it?" - -"There'll be no trouble on that score," said Jim, smiling. He rather -enjoyed her acerbity. "You see, I'm not exactly fond of you. But we're -living under the same roof and eating at the same table. If we could -agree on a truce or a pretense that we are not distasteful to each -other--merely while we're in the house--it might make Mrs. Stickney's -life a bit more joyous. I assure you that if I had known you lived here -I shouldn't have intruded." - -"Mrs. Stickney has a right to take whatever boarders she chooses." - -"I'm not asking you to be friends--" Jim stopped. He was conscious of -that feeling of sudden determination, of that urge to quick action which -had come upon him several times since his arrival in Diversity, of that -spirit which had earned for him among his workmen the name of Sudden -Jim. So he cut off his sentence and started another. - -"I'm going to be your friend, whether you like it or not. Possibly I -shall even like you. You seem to need friends, if what you said to me -the other day is an indication of what is really going on inside you. -The matter is out of your hands. You said absurd things; things -dangerous for any young woman to say, even if she knows in her heart -they're ridiculous." - -"They were not absurd. I meant them. You had no business to be there to -hear--to know. You let me talk when I was unstrung. You spied--it -amounted to that." - -"Let it stand that way. I do know and I'm going to meddle. You hate -Diversity because it isn't New York City. You talk recklessly to a -stranger. The sum of the matter is that you are steering for a big -unpleasantness. If you don't like things as they are, what is the sense -of putting in your time making them worse? Pretty soon you'll talk and -think and gloom yourself into doing something that'll smash the china. -So I'm going to meddle. Of course I don't know you, and I haven't any -personal interest in you. But I'm interested in you as a sociological -specimen. As such I'm going to be polite to you, and as entertaining as -possible while we're at Mrs. Stickney's table. I shall expect you to be -humanly polite to me. Do you understand?" - -She looked at him queerly, almost apprehensively. When she replied her -voice was low, not cold, not friendly. Jim's will had encountered her -will and been the stronger. - -"Yes," she said. - -"You'll be reasonably decent--so Mrs. Stickney won't lose her appetite?" - -"Yes. In the house. But nowhere else. And I shall hate you--hate you." - -"That's enough for a beginning." - -"And don't you dare to watch me. Don't dare to pry into my affairs. -Don't dare to interfere with me in any way." - -"Miss Ducharme, if you fell into the river it would be only human for me -to fish you out. Drowning isn't the worst thing there is. Folks who -would jump into the water after you would stand by and let trouble come -to you which would make you wish you could drown. A man has the right to -interfere. Humanity gives it to him. It's silly to think I have the -right to save your life from a physical danger, but haven't the right to -save you from the other kind. You say it's none of my business. It is my -business. What threatens any human being is the business of every other -human being, if he weren't too lazy or too hidebound or too conventional -to admit it. You have brains--or you wouldn't be in the state of mind -you are. You know logic when you meet it face to face--and that was -logic. The trouble with you is ambition that has fermented in the can." - -"You are a bumptious young man," she said, hotly. "You're full of -school-book theories. What do you know about a woman? About her -problems? What do you know about anything? You haven't lived yet. I'm a -dozen years older than you--in knowing what the world is. You talked -idealistic nonsense the other day about the good there is in the world; -you're talking idealistic nonsense to-day. You're a cub altruist. What -you think is humanitarianism is merely impertinence. Altruism is just a -word in the dictionary." - -"I knew you had brains," said Jim, "and I'll bet you disagree with Mrs. -Stickney about woman's sphere. She says every woman ought to be bossed -by a man--and shouldn't be allowed the vote till she's a grandmother." - -"I don't agree. A woman is an individual, complete--she needs no man for -a complement. Her abilities are as great, her potentialities as strong, -She has the right to own herself, to guard herself, to reach out for the -life she wants as a man does. Because her risk in life is greater she -has the right to more than equality; she has the right to special -privilege and special protection. She has the right to demand that she -be put in a condition where she can protect her treasures, material, -physical, spiritual. And how can she do it as things are? Less than half -the world--in trousers--holds the majority in captivity, exercising the -rights of conquerors. You make laws to bind us. Men make laws respecting -the peculiar problems of women--when men know less of women and their -problems than they do of the mound-builders. We don't ask to make your -laws--only men can make laws for men; but we do demand to make our own -laws. We demand that weapons be placed in our hands for our own defense. -With some of the theories I do not agree, but I do insist that women -should not be left--in the condition they are now--as the women of a -sacked city, at the mercy of the conquerors." - -"You have thought, haven't you? Perhaps not altogether healthily, but -keenly. Dinner-table conversations won't be trite." - -"Thought! What has there been to do in Diversity but think? And the more -I think, the more I comprehend, the worse the handcuffs cut into my -wrists. Some day it will become unendurable." - -"And then," Jim said, "I shall jump into the water after you. We'll take -altruism out of the dictionary for that one time, anyhow." - -She said nothing, moved toward the door. - -"Our agreement is sealed?" he asked. "We are to act toward each other -like ordinarily polite human beings while we are in the house?" - -"Yes," she said over her shoulder. - -"Are we to shake hands on it?" - -"No," she said, sharply, and went out, carrying herself lightly, with -splendid poise, eye-delighting grace. - -Jim felt a tinge of regret that her face was not lovely. With the -intellect that was hers, he thought gravely, with her beauty of line and -motion, beauty of face would have made her a miracle. But she was no -miracle. She was a small, over-burdened, vainly protesting girl who had -fought her way alone to such ideals as she possessed. With her will she -thought she had molded her own soul. She did not know that souls are -never subject to finite processes; she did not know that each soul is a -single drop from the great ocean of Divinity, coming to us in such -purity as the great ocean possesses, to be made more pure or to be -defiled by our acts--but never to be altered by our wills. One day would -come when she would call up her soul before her and know it as she did -not know it now. - -Jim's final thought on the matter was that Marie was not a modern woman, -not an advanced woman, but a primitive woman, an atavism, fighting as -her remotest mother must have fought for the very right to be. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - -The mills started as well as any new mills could be expected to start. -They did not run perfectly; minor defects developed, machines ran -stiffly, hot-boxes developed, belts required tightening; but Jim Ashe -was willing to praise his millwrights for good work done. As he walked -through the big plant between rows of machines which chugged or punched -or sawed rhythmically; as he watched hardwood logs crawl up the slide at -the rear of the mill, and pass through a multitude of processes to -emerge into the warehouse finished clothespins or dishes or bowls, he -felt a sense of pride in the thing he was doing. He was drawing straight -from Nature to minister to the necessities of man. It was no ignoble -task. - -If profits came to him, they would be honestly earned profits, the -results of labor. He was not wasting as timber had been wasted before -his day. Every scrap of wood that came into his mill was utilized. -Modern machinery made possible a saving in timber that thirty years ago -would have run into hundreds of millions of feet of pine, had the -pioneer wasters availed themselves of it. Thin band-saws turned a -minimum of each log into ashes; with them Jim got seven boards where -old-time circular saws had been able to give but six. Resaws redeemed -the slabs, took from them the finest gold of the timber which lay just -under the bark. In other days slab-piles had been known to burn -constantly for years, a savage waste. Sawdust, remnants of slabs, -edgings furnished the fuel which gave him his power. Here was nothing of -which to be ashamed; much to justify pride. Here was an enterprise a man -might defend before the court of posterity. - -But if the mills ran to Jim's satisfaction at first they did not improve -as he demanded. In ten days from the beginning there swept over the -plant a pestilence of mishaps, each mishap causing the shutdown of a -department, sometimes of the whole mill. It did not abate, but continued -maddeningly. The shrill toot of the little whistle which commanded the -engineer to stop motion became a throb in a sore tooth to Jim. Each -accident was small; the total of them reached dangerous magnitude. - -Jim called in Nelson, head millwright, and his superintendent, John -Beam. They came wearing the faces of harried men. - -"In three days," Jim said, shortly, "we've lost five hours in -shut-downs. Why?" - -"Every night," said Nelson, "we inspect every belt, every pulley, every -gear, every machine. We make sure nothing is wrong--and next day a dozen -things go wrong. - -"The last shut-down was for a split pulley on the main shaft. I went -over that shaft last night myself. That pulley was as tight and sound as -any pulley could be. And it twisted off this morning. We had to shut -down yesterday to fix the main driving-belt. Four rivets had come loose -and she'd have pulled clean apart. There wasn't a sign of a loose rivet -night before last--I'd take my oath on it." He looked gloomily out of -the window. The thing was twanging on his nerves as well as on Jim's. - -"John and I aren't trying to make excuses for ourselves. We'd be tickled -to death to take the blame if we could only fix it on to ourselves. What -makes me want to roll over and howl is that we can't fix it any place. -In spite of all we can do these things happen. It's just as he says -about what he's seen. Things I know were sound and in perfect runnin' -condition at night goes wrong in the mornin'. And how in blazes are we -goin' to explain the nails?" - -"What nails?" Jim asked. - -"In the logs. Every sawyer expects to find some nails when he's sawin' -maple. Especially in a sugar country. They was drove in to hold sap -buckets. But a man don't expect to find 'em in beech and birch--and he -don't expect to find brand-new ten-penny nails, neither. The saw-filer's -tearin' his hair. If it keeps on we won't have a saw to cut with in the -big mill. You know what a nail'll do to a saw, Mr. Ashe." - -"Why doesn't the sawyer keep his eyes open for them?" Jim snapped. - -"Keep his eyes open! Mr. Ashe, before he puts a log on the carriage now -he goes over it from end to end. You can't see a nail that's countersunk -so the head's half an inch in." - -"The way you say that sounds as if you meant something. Out with it." - -"I mean," said Nelson, doggedly, "that it looks to me as if somebody was -plantin' them nails so's we'd saw into 'em. I mean it looks to me like -somebody sneaked in here and tampered with things after we get through -inspectin'. I mean that the things that's happened in this mill couldn't -'a' happened without bein' helped to happen." John Beam nodded his head -in agreement. - -"That's nonsense," Jim said, emphatically. - -"Maybe it is. Maybe a crazy man's doin' it. But, Mr. Ashe, it's bein' -done. I know it as well as if I'd seen the feller doin' it." - -"How about the watchmen?" - -"All of 'em worked for us in the old mills. 'Tain't none of them. I'd -take my Bible oath on that." - -Jim sat silent a moment, scowling at the floor. - -"You men know what shut-downs mean," he said. "Here's five hours in -three days--half a day's time gone. That means a loss in wages alone of -a hundred dollars, which is a small part of it. It's got to stop. I -don't care whether these accidents are accidents or whether somebody is -arranging them-they've got to quit, and quit sudden. Suppose we lose a -hundred dollars every three days. That's two hundred a week and ten -thousand a year. Have you talked about this to anybody?" - -"No," said Nelson. - -Beam shook his head, - -"Is there any talk in the mill?" - -"Haven't heard any." - -"Well, keep quiet about it. If you fellows are right, we don't want to -advertise it. Now clear out of here and do the best you can. Keep your -eyes open. Don't get suspicious of anybody till you have mighty good -reason. I'd hate to think it was any of the crew." - -"It's somebody that knows the run of things." - -"Yes." - -"What possible reason could anybody have, Mr. Ashe--" - -"That'll be my job--to find out. This suspicion of yours is upsetting. I -want to think about it. Then I'll do something." - -Nelson's eyes twinkled as he glanced sideways at Beam. As they went out -Jim heard him say in a low tone: - -"You bet he'll do somethin'--and it'll come sudden and astonishin'. -Sudden Jim!" There was a note of affection in Nelson's voice as he -pronounced the name. - -Jim settled down to think about it. That some one was planning -deliberately to cripple the plant by injuring its machinery was -illogical. It affronted Jim's reason. Yet it was a theory impossible to -dismiss. It must be considered. In that case, who had an adequate -motive? Nobody, so far as Jim could see at first glance. - -He set up the possibilities, only to knock them down one by one. It -might be the work of a man with a mania for malicious destruction. -Highly improbable, thought Jim. It might be workmen or a workman with a -grievance practising sabotage. But so far as Jim knew there was no -discontent; the crew were satisfied; there had been no complaints, no -unrest. That possibility must be dismissed. It might be some individual -in Diversity with a grudge to work off against the company. But Jim had -never heard of conflict between the company and a citizen, nor had -unfriendliness developed since his arrival. This, too, was dismissed. - -Who had an interest in the failure of the concern? A thought which lay -deep in his mind, which he had hoped to conceal even from himself, -obtruded: the Clothespin Club. As an organization of men who had fought -upward through adverse conditions, against obstacles, side by side with -his father, Jim did not believe them guilty. But organizations of -honorable business men often employ underlings, concerning whose methods -their masters neglect to make close inquiry. Might this not be the case? -It was the sole possibility to stand erect before Jim's reason. - -The Club brought up speculations on Morton J. Welliver--which led to -Michael Moran and Zaanan Frame. They led to the Diversity Hardwood -Company, of which Moran was now the head. Should the Ashe Clothespin -Company fail, who was most likely to succeed it? Who would be in the -best position to take over the wreck and operate it? To that question -there was but one answer--the Diversity Hardwood Company. Now Jim became -obsessed by a real suspicion--and he would act upon it until evidence -showed him he was at fault. He would move on the theory that Welliver, -Moran, and Frame were not clean of hand. Frame! What had he to base a -suspicion of Zaanan Frame upon? Nothing but an evident acquaintance with -Welliver, a patent closeness of relations to Moran. No, the old -justice's name must stand among the suspected. - -"Where's Mr. Ashe?" roared an angry voice in the outer office. - -Jim heard Grierson's parchment voice give the direction, and heavy feet -pounded down the hall to his door. Watson, foreman of the veneer room, -burst in, a huge veneer knife in his arms--no mean weight. "Look at -that," he said, belligerently, dropping the knife on Jim's desk with a -bang. "Look at that! Two knives this mornin'." - -There was plain to view a generous nick on the cutting edge. - -"What did it?" Jim asked. - -"Nail. Twice this mornin'. Now I've got to shut down one lathe till the -other knife's ground down. What land of timber is this, anyhow, with -nails hid all over it?" - -"Nothing the matter with your eyesight, is there?" - -Watson glared at Jim, shook a grimy finger at him. - -"I kin see nails as far as anybody, but I can't look through an inch of -timber to 'em. We always look out for nails, but it's easy to see 'em. -Bolts come to us from the vats with the bark peeled, and mostly the -peelers get the nails with their spuds. But nobody kin see a nail that's -sunk an inch and the hole plugged. Yes, sir, that's what I mean. The -hole was plugged!" - -"How do you know?" - -"Strip of veneer showed it. Slice of plug was still stickin' in. And we -went over a dozen more bolts with a fine-tooth comb. We found one with a -spot in it that looked suspicious. Dug it out and it was a plug! And we -notched in and hit the nail. Now what does that mean?" - -"It means you're to keep your mouth shut about it, and tell some kind of -a story to your gang to keep their mouths shut." - -"Somebody's goin' to get hurt," Watson said, darkly. - -"Yes," said Jim, slowly, "somebody is going to get hurt--bad." - -"I s'pose I'll have to look over every bolt with opery-glasses," growled -Watson. - -"I'll give you a man who is to do nothing else. Tell Beam I said so." - -Jim put on his coat and hat and went to dinner. His physical machine was -such that it required nourishment, no matter what was happening to the -mental department. Some men lose their appetites when things go wrong. -Not so Jim Ashe. Some men drown their troubles in drink. Jim had his -drowned three times daily in hunger. - -When he had eaten his dinner--for the Widow Stickney had only vaguely -heard of a strange custom of moving that meal along till six o'clock and -having a thing at noon called luncheon; to her, luncheon was something -you put up in a basket and took to a picnic--he leaned back in his chair -for his usual midday chat with the old lady. - -"You've lived here long, Mrs. Stickney?" - -"Born in the county." - -"You ought to be pretty well acquainted with folks hereabout." - -"Don't have to live here long to be that. Everybody you meet is boilin' -over with anxiety to give you the true life history of everybody else. -You kin git to know Diversity consid'able well in a week, if you're -willin' to listen." - -"Justice Frame's lived here a long time, too, hasn't he?" - -"Him and me was children together." - -"Mrs. Stickney, I'm not asking this wholly out of curiosity. I'm new to -you all. I've got my hands pretty full, and there are people in the -world who would be glad to see me spill part of my load. It's a fine -thing to know whom you can depend on and whom you want to shy at. So I'm -asking you to tell me something about Zaanan Frame." - -"He's a stiff-spined old grampus," said the widow, promptly. "Him and me -squabbles so's the neighbors 'most come a-runnin' in to part us. He's -powerful set on havin' his own way--and mostly he gits it. He's sharper -'n a new sickle. He's been justice of the peace here since before Mary -Whittaker was born, and Mary's got a boy of ten herself. Hain't never -been nothin' more 'n just justice of the peace, but he runs the whole -blessed county out of his office. He's one of them things the papers -call a political boss; but if I do say it, Zaanan Frame does a good job -of it. But he runs it so folks git the wuth of their taxes, and so that -them that wants justice gits it. - -"About dependin' on him," she went on, after drawing a breath, "you -won't never find him dodgin' about underhand. If he likes you, he hain't -apt to show it by runnin' up and kissin' you in public; and if he don't -like you, he don't cuss you and try to hit you with a pebble whenever -you meet--but you soon git to know. I've knowed him to give a man he -didn't like all the best of a deal--so nobody'd accuse him of workin' a -personal spite. I've knowed him to refuse things to a friend he'd 'a' -done for a stranger. They say he stretches the powers of his office and -does things a justice hain't got no right to do--and I calc'late he -does. But it's in time of need for somebody. He meddles into folkses' -fam'ly affairs, and plans to marry off this girl to that feller--which -plans mostly works out to his notion. - -"He's got a sort of notion he was put here by God Almighty to be father -and mother to every man, woman, and child in the county. But there -hain't no complaints of him as a parent, though he's a -mean-dispositioned, meddlin', sharp-tongued, stubborn-minded old coot. - -"Diversity hain't given much to sayin' anythin' but meannesses about -folks; we don't speak none about Zaanan, but I calc'late there's growed -men that'll walk behind him to the cemetery with tears a-runnin' down -their cheeks, and wimmin that'll be sobbin' and leetle children that'll -know what it means to lose their pa. If there's any argument when Zaanan -gits to stand before the great white throne, he's got a right to say: -'Wait a minnit, Lord, till we kin git in a number of souls that's here -but was bound for the other place till I got my hands on the reins.' If -you're worryin' as to where Zaanan Frame stands, I kin tell you--he -stands where it's honestest and lightest for him to stand. My goodness! -but hain't I been goin' on about him! Thinkin' as high of him as I do, -it's a wonder I don't up and make him my third." - -Jim sat gnawing his finger silently for many minutes after the widow was -done speaking. She spoke as one who knew. Jim knew she would have -testified in a court of law just as she had spoken to him. Nor would she -have spoken so except from certainty. He was compelled, therefore, to -revise his judgments and suspicions. - -"If you were in a hard place, Mrs. Stickney, and needed advice, would -you go to Zaanan Frame?" - -"I'd hitch up and go at a gallop," she said. - -"That," said Jim, "is about what I think I'll do." - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - -Jim rapped on the door of Zaanan Frame's office. At the last minute he -had been of two minds whether he should go in or pass on about his -business. The sound of his own knuckles on the panel decided him. - -"Come in," called Zaanan's voice. - -Jim entered and saw the old justice sitting behind his desk, a -sheep-bound volume propped up before him. Over the top of this a pair of -sharp blue eyes shaded by bushy eyebrows, each of which would have -gladdened the heart of an ambitious young roan could he have had it for -a mustache, peered at Jim. - -"Huh!" snorted Zaanan. - -"You've made it pretty evident," Jim said, stiffly, "that you don't like -me. I can't say I have felt any uncontrollable affection for you--" - -"Whoa there!" said Zaanan, closing his book, Tiffany's _Justices' -Guide_, which he maintained to be the greatest contribution to human -knowledge, especially of the law, since Moses received the tablets of -stone. "Young feller, if you hain't too young to learn, lemme tell you -it's possible to ketch more flies with maple sugar than you kin with -stummick bitters. Jest smooth down the hair along your back and don't go -walkin' round me stiff-legged like a dog lookin' for a fight." Zaanan's -eyes twinkled. "Now, then, set and onbosom yourself." - -"I've come to see you, Judge, because I have been assured that friend or -enemy can trust you--" - -"The Widder Stickney's been flappin' her wings and cacklin'," observed -Zaanan. "Um! I figgered you'd be to see me--or else you wouldn't. -Gittin' ready to kick out, but you need a wall to lean against, eh?" - -"Kick out? What makes you think I'm getting ready to kick out? And at -whom?" - -"'Whom,'" quoted Zaanan. "I've heard of that there word. It's grammar, -hain't it, but I dun'no's I ever expected to hear it spoke in Diversity. -How's the meals to the widder's?" - -"Very good, indeed," said Jim, nonplussed. - -"You hain't the only boarder, I hear tell." - -"No; Miss Ducharme is there, too." - -"I want to know," said Zaanan, his eyes twinkling again. "Makes it -pleasanter, I calc'late--you two young folks together." - -"I think Miss Ducharme could bear up under the blow if I were to board -some place else." - -"Um!" said Zaanan. "Mill hain't runnin' very good, I hear." - -"That's what I came to see you about--that and other things." - -"Good mill, hain't it? New machines? Ought to run, hadn't it?" - -"It ought to and it's going to. But, Judge, it looks a lot as if -somebody didn't want it to." - -"Um! That might mean consid'able and it might mean nothin'. Accordin' to -my notion one of the easiest ways of givin' information is to think up -words that mean what you want to tell and then to say 'em. Beatin' round -the bush may scare up a rabbit, but you hain't huntin' rabbits. Eh?" - -"Well, then, somebody has been tampering with our machinery to make it -break down. Somebody has been driving nails into our logs to dull our -saws. Whoever it is has made us shut down five hours in the last three -days." - -"You figger somebody's doin' it deliberate?" - -"Yes." - -"Got any proof?" - -Jim laid before the old man such evidence as he had, but it was -sufficient. Zaanan wagged his head. - -"Calc'late there hain't no doubt of it. Suspect anybody special?" - -"I haven't any suspicion who is working the mischief, but I have an idea -he isn't doing it for himself." - -"Somebody's hirin' him to do it, you mean?" - -"Yes." - -"Who might it be?" - -"There are only two interests who would have any motive in breaking me. -One is the organization of clothespin manufacturers. I'm in a fight with -them now because they wanted to run my business. The other is the -Diversity Hardwood Company." - -"Hum! I figgered from what Welliver said a spell back that he wasn't -tickled to death with you and your doin's. You hain't a bit afraid who -you're suspicious of, be you?" - -"I've got to be suspicious of everybody--and I'm going to be till I know -who can be trusted." - -"Kind of suspected me a mite, eh? Figgered I was tarred with the -Welliver and Moran stick?" - -"I got to thinking pretty hard when I saw you with them the morning -after my row with Welliver. You seemed to be pretty good friends." - -"Calc'late we be. Knowed 'em a long time." - -"Judge, you don't need any more to show you I've a bad situation to deal -with. I came to you--I don't just know why I came to you. On impulse, I -expect." - -"Sudden Jim," said Zaanan, with a chuckle. - -"You've heard that, eh?" - -"Yes. You was sayin' you come to me on impulse. Must 'a' figgered I'd be -some use to you. Nobody'd climb a greased pole if 'twa'n't for the -five-dollar bill tacked on top of it. Was you wantin' advice or money or -the loan of my shot-gun?" - -"I think," said Jim, slowly, "that what brought me here was a vague sort -of hope of finding a friend. When a fellow's up against a fight he feels -lonesome. He likes to know there's somebody besides himself to depend -on. I had no reason to expect it--quite the contrary, perhaps. Anyhow, I -believe you could help me with this particular problem if you wanted -to." - -"Young feller, a justice of the peace has a heap of duties, some set -down in the statutes and some that just come nat'ral. I've been justice -more 'n thirty year, and I calc'late them duties that no legislature -ever thought up is the most important. F'r instance, I married Kitty Fox -and Pliny Hearter. That was consid'able of a transaction; but it was -consid'able more of one to git 'em back to lovin' and trustin' after -they'd started runnin' round for a lawyer to git 'em a divorce. The law -don't give me the right to do quite a stretch of the meddlin' I do; but -it sort of appertains to this here office, and I do it. You don't want -nothin' of me that's printed in law-books. So far's bein' your -friend--why, I hain't makin' no sich agreements. Friends hain't made by -writin' out contracts to that effect. I hain't seen enough of you to git -to yearnin' over you. But I'll ease your mind some on one p'int--I -hain't actively concerned to do you no harm. Also, I hain't got no -prejudices ag'in you." - -Jim shrugged his shoulders. "It was a ridiculous sort of notion for me -to come like this, without any idea what I wanted. I need help, but what -kind of help I don't know. Anyhow, I'm glad you're not with the enemy, -whoever they are." - -"You mentioned names--on suspicion. One of the onhealthiest habits a man -ever got into. I've knowed folks to die of it. You've figgered out for -yourself who's after your pelt, and why. But you hain't got no more -proof than ol' man Simpkins had when he wanted me to git leetle Georgie -Reed up before me for stealin' melons. The ol' man missed a big -melon--next day Georgie was bein' doctored for stummick-ache. 'Twa'n't -out of reason. It was evidence I was willin' to weigh and pass on in -private. I calc'late Georgie et that melon. But as a court of law I -couldn't do nothin' but declare Simpkins 'u'd have to show plainer -proofs. That's your fix. But, young feller, if I was you I calc'late I'd -kinder keep my specs wiped clean and I wouldn't let my hair grow down -over my ears to speak of. G'-by." - -Jim was astonished. Never had he been thus bruskly dismissed. He strode -out of the office; but a sense of humor came to his rescue. He turned -and bade the old justice good afternoon. Zaanan did not appear to hear. - -Zaanan turned the pages of Tiffany's _Justices' Guide_ for fifteen -minutes after Jim's departure. Then he raised his voice in a call for -Dolf Springer. Dolf, it happened, was whittling on Zaanan's doorstep. It -was his custom to do so during Zaanan's office hours, for Dolf desired -greatly to be useful to the dictator of Diversity County's politics. -Dolf's ambition carried him so high as to make him covet the office of -pathmaster. Therefore he lay in wait for opportunities to serve Zaanan. - -"Perty busy, Dolf?" Zaanan asked. "Time all took up to-day?" - -"Got a while to spare, Judge." - -"Think of takin' a drive, Dolf? Eh? Was that what you was plannin' on?" - -"I was goin' out for a spell." - -"Um! What direction, Dolf? Didn't happen to be goin' out the River Road, -did you?" - -"That's exactly where I was goin'. Had a errant out that way." - -"Take you far, Dolf? So far you couldn't git back to-night?" - -"It might, Judge." - -"Wa'n't goin' far's Gilder's, was you--up back of the Company's Camp -Three?" - -"Goin' a leetle past there, Judge." - -"Um! Know Gilders?" - -"Calc'late to." - -"If you was to see him, Dolf, d' you figger on stoppin' for a chat? And -if you do, what be you goin' to talk about?" - -"I'd mention I hadn't seen him for a long spell." - -"To be sure." - -"And I'd mention I seen you to-day." - -"Uh-huh. S'pose it would occur to you to say somethin' to the effect -that it looked like business was pickin' up and stirrin' times was -comin'? Eh? And that fellers with an ax to grind had better git out the -grindstone? Eh?" - -"Come to think of it, I guess I'd make some sich observation." - -"And would you kind of speak about the new clothespin-mill? And allude -to how the whistle's always tootin' for it to shut down on account of -somethin' bustin'?" - -"It 'u'd be int'restin' news to Gilders." - -"'Twouldn't be any more 'n nat'ral for you to wonder what was the cause -of it? Eh? Might suggest that somebody up his way could explain it. -'Twouldn't be s'rprisin', would it?" - -"Likely to be so," said Dolf. - -"G'-by, Dolf," said Zaanan. - -"G'-by, Judge," said Dolf. - -In ten minutes Dolf was driving a livery rig out the River Road. A -twelve-mile ride lay before him, and he did not lag. Some hours later he -stopped, tied his horse to a tree by the roadside and plunged into the -woods--jack-pine, scrub-oak, underbrush. Fifteen minutes' scrambling -brought him to an insignificant clearing with a log shanty in the middle -of it. He stopped cautiously and looked about. Then he called: "Steve! -Hey, Steve Gilders!" - -A man, perhaps forty-five years old, stood by the shanty door. A moment -before the space had been empty. He did not seem to come to that spot -from anywhere, but simply to be there all at once. He was what our -grandmothers would have called a "fine figger" of a man. Upward of six -feet two inches he was, and handsome of feature. The handsomeness was -marred by a somberness, a sternness of demeanor. - -The admiration he excited was chilled by the rifle he carried under his -arm--and the manner in which he carried it. It explained why Dolf had -taken the precaution to call before he ventured near. - -"What's wanted?" inquired Gilders. - -"Zaanan Frame sent me." - -The man's face relaxed. "Then you're welcome. Come in." - -Dolf followed him. "Zaanan sent a message, but I can't make head or tail -to it," he said. - -"Probably 'twa'n't intended you should," said Gilders. - -"Anyhow," Dolf said, "Zaanan he told me to come a-drivin' out here and -say to you that fellers with a ax to grind had better git their -grindstone out; and that business was pickin' up and stirrin' times was -ahead; and that the new clothespin-mill was havin' trouble with its -machinery and somebody up this here way might be able to explain what -was the matter. Don't seem like much of a message to drive twelve miles -to deliver." - -"Huh! Goin' right back?" - -"Zaanan acted like he wanted me to stay till mornin'." - -"Git your hoss then. You kin sleep here." - -Dolf went obediently after his animal. Steve Gilders shut his eyes and -smiled. It was a peculiar thing to see. Somehow it was not reassuring, -but exceedingly sinister. He had read Zaanan's message correctly. He -knew what to do. - -When Dolf came back Gilders was gone, nor did Dolf see his host again -that night. But that worried Dolf very little. Indeed, it must be said -he slept more comfortably for Gilders's absence. - -At sunrise Gilders appeared out of the woods, strode lithely into the -shanty, laboriously wrote a letter to Zaanan--which he sealed -carefully--and delivered it to Dolf. - -"I calc'late you'd better make tracks for town," he said. - -Dolf did not argue the matter. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - -When Jim Ashe returned to the mill after his conversation with Zaanan -Frame he found the machinery idle, employees pouring out of the -entrances. He walked past them and into the building in a frame of mind -that would have rendered him undesirable as a dinner companion. Another -breakdown! - -He found Nelson and Beam standing below a couple of mechanics who were -working over a pair of big gears. They only nodded curtly at his -approach, for apparently their patience, like Jim's, was close to the -fusing-point. - -"Now what?" Jim asked. - -"Core gear. Stripped the wooden teeth out of it." - -"How?" - -Nelson shrugged his shoulders, but Beam replied. "Just got started after -dinner," he said. "I was standin' not ten feet from here when I seen -that solid gear lift up into the air, it looked like two foot, and come -down smash onto the wooden teeth. Twouldn't be so bad if we had a spare -set of teeth, but we hain't." - -"Got to cut 'em out," supplemented Nelson. - -"How long does that mean?" - -"If we work all night we ought to get to runnin' by noon to-morrow--with -luck." - -"Who's to blame?" Jim demanded - -"Who drove the nails in the logs?" John Beam replied, a trifle sullenly. -"Nelson went over those gears last night. I seen him. He says there -wa'n't anythin' wrong then." - -Jim set his teeth; the urge to action came over him that had earned him -the name of Sudden Jim. He recognized it, expected himself to do -something decisive--and was surprised that he did not. Instead he found -himself reflecting coolly, choosing the better from the worse course of -action. - -"It can't be helped now, boys," he said. "Speed up and get her going -again--and keep quiet about it." - -He turned on his heel and went up to the office, where he found the noon -mail on his desk. The first letter he opened was the resignation of his -salesman for New York and New England, a man of exceptional ability, -whose sales mounted to many car-loads a year, and whose customers were -his customers, not those of the Ashe Clothespin Company. Winkleman could -take them with him to whatever firm he had sold his services. Jim knew -well Winkleman had not abandoned the woodenware trade--he had gone over -to Welliver or some other of the enemy. Here, Jim recognized, was the -shrewdest blow of the war. - -Jim went on opening his mail. Another letter was from Silvers, his -Chicago representative. This man handled the product of Jim's mills as a -part of his brokerage business. He was able; no week passed that did not -see at least one car-load consigned to him or to his customers. - - What's up? (the letter said). Welliver wants me to drop you and - come over to him. Says your goose is cooked and offers me an - extra two and a half per cent. commission. Says you started this - clothespin rumpus. Had a contract ready for me to sign, and - wanted me to drop you unsight and unseen, I wouldn't do it, but - his offer is tempting. - -There was more to the communication, but here we have the heart of it. -One blow followed another. The attack had commenced in earnest and Jim -was on the defensive. He had declared war, but had not struck a blow. -Now he must act swiftly, intelligently, efficiently. First he wired -Silvers: - - Won't meet Welliver's offer. We're sound. If you can't stick by - us in fight don't want you anyhow. Want men can depend on. Wire - answer. - -Next he called in Grierson. - -"What percentage of our business is in New York and New England?" he -asked. - -"A quarter, maybe." - -"Who sells heaviest there?" - -"Plum and Mannikin." - -"One of them has hired away Winkleman." - -Grierson made a crisp, crackling sound with his lips. It indicated -dismay. Jim smiled grimly. - -"We're going to increase our Eastern business," he said. "We haven't -pushed it as we might, just as those Eastern factories haven't pushed -for orders in the West. But we're going to. We're going after all we can -get anywhere we can get it. It's three o'clock. I want you to catch the -six-o'clock train for Buffalo. Then New York and Boston. Go and pack. By -the time you're back here I'll have your instructions ready for you." - -"But, Mr. Ashe--" - -"Hustle," said Jim. It was Sudden Jim speaking now. - -In an hour Grierson was back, dubious, flustered. - -"Grierson," said Jim, "you know the personnel of the woodenware business -better than I. Here's what I want you to do: Land the best woodenware -broker in Buffalo to handle our line for the city and western New York. -Get him! Give him seven and a half commission, if necessary. Have him -sign a contract like Levine's in Cleveland. Then hit for New York. -There'll be soreness somewhere over this Winkleman business. It must -have cut into somebody's territory. You know who to go to. We want the -biggest--somebody with a sales organization. Offer them all New York and -all New England outside of Boston. If they hang out for Boston, give it -to them, too. If they don't insist on it go to Boston and repeat the -dose. I want somebody who will sell our goods--and keep us hustling to -fill orders. We'll put a dent in Plum and Mannikin. Now you'll want to -bury your young man in directions for his guidance while you're gone. -Get at it. And don't come back here unless you've got what I want." - -Grierson was blinking. "Your father was a swift mover when he was -r'iled," said he; "but for suddenness, and for landing a hard punch, I -guess you are a little ahead of him. I'll do my best, Mr. Ashe." - -Jim's next move was a wire to Philadelphia. Pennsylvania was the home -ground of the Jenkins mills, and Jim was determined to hit as many heads -as he could. Any woodenware man worthy of the name was familiar with the -house of Sands & Stein, of the Quaker City. Jim's wire said: - - If interested handing our whole line Pennsylvania exclusive - territory wire. - -These things accomplished, Jim entered upon the routine of his work, -which occupied him until six o'clock was near. Just as he was leaving -the office a telegram arrived from Silvers. - -"I'm no quitter," it said, tersely, and Jim knew that he had found at -least one dependable man. - -As Jim approached he saw a man seated on the Widow Stickney's porch. He -wondered if the widow was entering on a campaign to conquer her "third," -and had invited him to supper as an opening gun. Jim was not familiar -enough with Diversity's citizens yet to identify an individual by his -legs, and this one's face was concealed by the climbing vine. If Jim had -been a native of the village he would have experienced no such -difficulty, for Diversity's male inhabitants were as easy to distinguish -by their pants as by their faces. We recognize a man by his face because -that is the face he has always worn. The same rule held true of -Diversity's trousers. Old Clem Beagle still went to church in the -garments that covered him when he was married sixty years before. - -When Jim climbed the porch he was convinced that the widow had nothing -whatever to do with the visitor. It was Michael Moran, and Jim wondered -just who in that house was responsible for his presence. - -"How do you do, Mr. Ashe?" said Moran, rising and extending his hand. "I -just learned you were boarding here. Glad to hear it. Makes it more -interesting for Miss Ducharme, I imagine, and she needs cheering up -considerable." - -Jim responded to the greeting, experiencing at the same time a dubiety -as to Moran's sincerity. Indeed, without any adequate reason for his -belief he was of the opinion that Moran was not pleased with his -presence. - -"Sort of protegee of mine--Miss Ducharme. Father was walking boss for -me. I always take supper with her when I'm in town, if I can manage it," -Moran explained. - -Jim nodded. He was remembering that it was on the morning following a -visit of Michael Moran's to Diversity he had first encountered Marie, on -the top of a knoll from which a view might be had of far countries. Her -reckless mood, reckless words, were fresh in his mind, and he would have -been glad to know if Moran had anything to do with the matter. - -"Everything starting off well at the mill?" - -"Very well, indeed," said Jim. - -"I see you've started shipments. Hope you've been getting cars as you -wanted them. If you ever have any difficulty, just let me know." - -"Thank you," said Jim. His mind was only casually on what Moran was -saying; it was striving to penetrate to what he was thinking. From the -morning of his first sight of the man Jim had been repelled by him. -That, of course, was to be laid to the fact that Moran was first seen in -company with Welliver. But since then Jim had been led to suspect him as -an active enemy. Stories--gossip, perhaps--that came to his ears led him -to set Moran down as a shifty individual, a man who looked to the right -and unexpectedly threw his brick to the left. Also he had heard from Tim -Bennett and others hints regarding Moran's attitude toward women. But -there was proof of nothing. Jim was fair enough to admit this. All was -hint, rumor, or deduction from flimsy bases. - -"You know, of course, that I've taken over the control of the Diversity -Hardwood Company?" - -"I had heard it." - -"That and my railroad will bring us in touch considerable. Before long -we ought to hit on some sort of basis so we can work together for the -benefit of both of us. We're in a position to help each other in a dozen -ways." - -"By driving nails in each other's logs," Jim thought, but he smiled and -agreed that co-operation seemed advisable. - -"Conditions in the county aren't what they ought to be," said Moran -after puffing briefly on his cigar. "You and I--with the influence we -can exert--ought to be able to do a lot to remedy matters." - -"As how?" Jim asked, really curious to know what Moran was approaching. - -"You and I represent practically the whole of the county's business -interests. We ought to have more of a say in running things than we -have. As it is now--well, we haven't much of anything to say. Zaanan -Frame says it all, and he's a stiff-backed, hard-headed old scoundrel if -there ever was one. Talk about your city political bosses! Zaanan could -show them things they won't be finding out for another twenty years." - -"Pretty strong politically, is he?" - -"Just this strong, Mr. Ashe, that he appoints the officers in this -county. Appoints 'em. Of course there are elections, but if Zaanan told -these farmers and what-not to vote for his horse Tiffany for President -of the United States, that horse would come close to carrying the county -unanimously. That's how strong he is. The circuit judge is his; the -sheriff is his; the prosecutor is his. What chance has money in such a -nest? The worst of it is, the old man's pretty well off and you can't -reach him." - -"Never can tell till you try," said Jim. - -"I'm in a position to tell, all right. It's no go. The only thing is to -get rid of him. If he could be beaten out of his own job I guess he'd be -done for. And I think I can manage it with your help." - -"I'm not aching to meddle with politics any." - -"You will be when he hands you a dose of his medicine. Look at us. -Probably a dozen little suits in the justice court every week come -before him. What protection have we?" Moran spread his hands in a -gesture of helplessness. "Any Tom, Dick, and Harry that wants to goes -ahead and sues--and Zaanan sees to it we get the worst of it. Anywhere -else we could appeal, but here the circuit court belongs to Zaanan, and -it spends as much of its time playing to the gallery and coddling the -poor, downtrodden working-man at my expense as Zaanan does." - -"Pretty tough," said Jim. He told himself that here was first-class -evidence to support the Widow Stickney's praise of Zaanan Frame. It was -being admitted he was honest, that influence did not subvert justice. He -was a boss, perhaps, but his virtues seemed to stamp themselves on the -men his power put in office. Theoretically a boss is bad, Jim thought, -but this case seemed to demonstrate there might be exceptions. Suppose -Zaanan were absolute monarch of Diversity, what had made him so and what -kept him in his place? Apparently it was the fairness, the rugged -squareness, of the old man. Apparently he possessed the love and -confidence of his people to the point that they were willing to delegate -their powers to him in the belief that he would work better for them -than they could for themselves. - -"You bet," said Moran. "If we could get in a justice of the peace we -could stop all these petty suits right there. Let a couple of dozen of -these fellows find out they were going to get beaten, and the whole mess -of them would quit. I hate to think how much money Frame costs me a -year." - -"Or how much he benefits the man who couldn't help himself without -Zaanan's court," Jim thought. "It means much to the poor man to know -that his court--the justice's court--is honest; that he can carry his -wrong to it and see it righted! What's your idea?" he asked aloud. - -"We'll have to get him in the caucus," said Moran. "Couldn't beat him at -the election. I don't suppose there are a dozen votes cast against him -in the whole county. But that's quite a while off. I just wanted to -mention the matter to you and find out how you looked at it. I'm glad -you agree with me." - -"We can do more together than we could separately," Jim said, -jesuitically. - -The widow appeared in the doorway and announced supper. Jim waved Moran -to precede him, and he walked to the table feeling more sure of his -ground than he had been an hour before. His suspicions of Moran rested -on a surer foundation--the man was not honest. He was the sort of -business man who has brought stigma on his kind by bribery, by conniving -at injustice, by seducing officers of justice. He was ruthless. The -rights of others only represented something to be overridden. To Jim it -seemed that the day when Michael Moran replaced Zaanan Frame as dictator -of Diversity would be a black day indeed for the county. - -Further, he made up his mind to win that friendship which Zaanan Frame -had denied him. In his difficulty he felt a flood of gratitude to good -fortune that such a man as Zaanan Frame was at hand and in power. When -he took his seat at the table he was more cheerful than he had been for -many a day; his face was lighter, his eyes brighter. The widow noticed -his changed expression and was deeply curious to account for it. The -widow was a motherly soul. Of late she had taken to coddling and -worrying over Jim. Hers was a heart that could not be inactive--if man's -persistent mortality discouraged her from taking another husband, she -could, at least, secretly adopt a son. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - -"Our school opens Monday, doesn't it, Marie?" asked Moran. - -She turned her black eyes on him and allowed them to rest a moment -before replying. Jim Ashe was aware of the somber glow of them. - -"Yes," she said, shortly. - -Moran chuckled. "You're tickled to death over it, aren't you?" - -The glow of her eyes became a flame--such a flame as might eat its way -through plates of steel. Jim Ashe would have drawn back from such a fire -disconcerted; Moran was unable to meet it with his eyes, but he was not -disconcerted. Instead, it seemed to give him satisfaction. He chuckled -again. - -"Well," he said, jovially, "you know you can leave it when you want to." - -Jim was startled; looked quickly at Marie. The flame lay dead in her -eyes; she seemed merely tired, very tired. Moran spoke again, this time -to Ashe and the widow. - -"I've offered her a place in my office back in town," he said. "I guess -she don't hate Diversity as bad as she says she does, or she'd take it. -But the offer holds good, Marie. Any time. Any time." - -The widow ruffled her feathers. - -"Marie's goin' to stay right where she is. Maybe Diversity hain't a -suburb of heaven; maybe teachin' school's a long ways from strummin' a -harp in Paradise; but Marie's got too much sense to go flutterin' off -like a blind owl in the sunshine, not knowin' what she's like to bump -her head against." - -Marie turned slowly on the widow. - -"When the time comes to choose I'll choose," she said, speaking, it -seemed, not to the widow, but to herself. - -The widow looked puzzled; even Moran seemed not to understand; but Jim -understood. In the light of his first meeting with Marie on the knoll he -comprehended the significance of her words, the rashness, the worldly -wisdom of them. Hers would be no blindfold journey. If she spread her -wings for flight it would be with eyes wide and seeing; it would be on a -calculated course, and the cost would be itemized. He saw that she read -Moran better than he had done, and in the light of her knowledge the -page of Moran's soul became more legible to him. Before Moran had been -an adversary--no chivalric adversary; now he felt a cold hatred for the -man, a personal, throbbing hatred coupled with a stinging, physical -aversion. From that moment Moran became a snake to be scotched. - -"There's a lot less choosin' in this world than folks think there is," -said the widow. "Folks spends a heap of time separatin' in their minds -what they're goin' to do from what they hain't--gen'ally choosin' the -pleasant and throwin' out the disagreeable. But when they git along -toward the end of things and look back at the figgerin' they done, they -mostly find that the good they chose wasn't the good they got, and the -bad they chose not to have was the very thing that pestered them. Most -folks meets up with about so much good and bad, about so much joy and so -much trouble; but the joys hain't the ones they looked forward to and -the troubles hain't the ones they feared." - -Moran smiled and shook his head. - -"I can't agree with you, Mrs. Stickney. We get what we plan for. Set -your mind on a thing and then plan and wait and work toward it every -chance you get. Don't give it up. Keep your mind on it. Don't let a -chance slip to move nearer to it. What I want--if I want it bad -enough--that thing I get." - -Suddenly Marie spoke--to Jim. - -"What's your opinion, Mr. Ashe?" she said. - -"I? As old Sir Roger de Coverley said, 'There's much to be said on both -sides.'" Jim had no desire to be drawn into argument with Moran. - -Her lip curled. "We used to have a Congressman here who was called -Mid-channel Charlie because his attitude toward every question was like -yours now. He was never Congressman but once." - -"Well, then," said Jim, perceiving that for some reason she really -desired his opinion, "I believe that if you don't choose and work to get -the thing you have chosen, you miss one of life's finest games. I do -agree with Mrs. Stickney that if you drift along and take what comes the -chances are that good and ill will run a fairly even race. I agree with -Mr. Moran that the man who visualizes his desire and sets it up before -him as a lighthouse--and then rows his boat to it with all the strength -of his oars--stands at least a moderate chance of getting there. But for -me, I do not believe a man should be too set on a desire, that he should -steer a course for his lighthouse regardless of everything else. If I -have a plan of life it is to row for my lighthouse, but not to miss the -scenery along the way. My boat may carry me past something better than -my lighthouse. If I should suddenly find myself floating over an -oyster-bed I should stop to hunt pearls. I believe that as a man pushes -forward to his desire he should stand ready to pounce on the treasure -that chance or circumstance floats in his way; he should be ready to -repel the evil he fears, but he should keep his ammunition dry and his -weapons loaded for trouble he doesn't in the least foresee--which is not -likely to happen, but which sometimes does happen. I believe that a plan -to arrive at one's choice should be modified by the happening of every -moment, and that one should be ready to abandon his boat, abandon his -lighthouse, to dive over the side after the chance-sent mass of floating -ambergris." - -"Yes. Yes, that's it. The moment determines. The mood of the moment -determines," said Marie. - -"And," said Jim, carried onward by the flow of his thought, "meetings -with other voyagers determine. One's course is sure to cross the courses -of others. At some point those moving at right angles to each other may -meet bow to bow, when there will result collision, or else one or both -the travelers must modify their courses for a time. It may even be that -the adventure of one traveler will cause the other to abandon his quest -and follow. If you're going to look ahead, Miss Ducharme, and plan and -choose, you must not forget to estimate the chances of contact with -other planners and choosers, nor the modifications contact may cause." - -Moran shrugged his shoulders, his jaw set. - -"If another man's path crosses mine, or his boat gets in the way of -mine, I let him look out for himself or be run down," he said, crisply. - -"In such collisions," said the widow, "I've knowed both boats to be -sunk." - -Jim felt Marie's black eyes upon him, but he did not look at her. She -was studying him, appraising him. He was conscious of it, yet endeavored -to appear unconscious. He felt she was more inclined toward friendliness -with him than ever before, and because he perceived that she needed -friendship--not because of any leaning toward her--he feared to show -even by a glance that he was aware of a better understanding between -them. It would be so easy to frighten her away. - -Moran pushed back his chair. - -"I must catch my train, Mrs. Stickney. I always enjoy my suppers with -you. They remind me of suppers I used to eat at grandmother's farm." - -"It's a good thing for men to git reminded of their grandmothers once in -a while," she answered, cryptically. - -"You're coming to see me to the door, Marie?" Moran said. It seemed to -Jim more a command than a question. Marie obeyed, and the man and girl -left the room. - -Jim emptied his coffee-cup, which was not a thing to do quickly when the -widow had made the coffee. Indeed not! One sipped and tasted and stopped -betweenwhiles to think on the aroma of it. Presently Jim set down his -empty cup. - -"More?" asked the widow. - -"Thank you, no." - -Jim moved back his chair. He was frowning at the tablecloth -abstractedly. - -"Hum!" said the widow. It was a very significant, expressive hum, an -eloquent hum, but, withal, a hum that needed further elucidation before -it became wholly and perfectly clear. - -"The difference between girls," she said, "is that most of them is just -ordinarily foolish." - -"And the difference between men," said Jim, "is that some of them are -like Michael Moran." - -"I calc'late from that," she said, "that your heart don't flow out to -him in love and admiration." - -"It's men like him that make murder a virtue." - -"Hum!" said the widow. "I'll say this for you, you don't leave folks -fumblin' round to understand your meanin'." - -"I said exactly what I meant. Mrs. Stickney, Miss Ducharme is in a -dangerous humor. I can't make her out. Probably it is because I'm too -young. But you ought to understand her--whether she means some of the -reckless things she says. I believe she does. She has intelligence and a -will, which makes the condition more dangerous. She talks about choosing -her course when Diversity becomes unbearable. Michael Moran is planning -to be present when that time comes. Possibly his plans include making -Diversity unbearable. At any rate, he plans and plans, and because he is -what he is, because she knows he is what he is, he offers her an -opportunity of escape. He offers her what she thinks is an opportunity -to choose. But it won't be any such thing. When she chooses--if ever she -does choose--to go to him, it will be because he has planned it and -forced the choice." - -"Hum!" said the widow again, eying him with eyes that age had not robbed -of their brightness. "Hum!" - -This was no startling contribution to the conversation. But the -exclamation "Hum!" uttered by an old woman who has buried two husbands -and kept boarders is not to be despised. There is more wisdom in such a -monosyllable than in all the pages of the valedictory of a girl emerging -from college--which is generally credited with being an erudite message. -Two husbands and a succession of boarders may teach things that even -professors of sociology have not had called to their attention. - -"She's so infernally alone," said Jim. - -Marie stepped into the dining-room again--one might almost say pounced. -Her eyes glittered, her hands were clenched. - -"I am infernally alone. Oh, I heard! I heard what you said before that, -I listened. What business have you to discuss me and my affairs? I -suppose it's your meddlesome notion to help me. I don't want help; I -don't need help; and what help could you give? What do you know about -me--or about life? What do you know about a woman? I will not be -discussed by either of you. I have the right to order my own life--to -make it good or bad as I want to--and it's nobody's business. Do you -think I don't know Michael Moran? I tell you I see into the farthest -corner of his soul. I'm not demanding happiness. I doubt if happiness is -the best thing life has to give. But I do demand to live. Nobody can -compel me to rot. What if I do suffer? What if there is pain and -suffering and remorse? That is part of life. It is living. And you would -meddle! I tell you again that I see what I am doing; that I am not -deceived; that I have weighed consequences. If the time comes when -Michael Moran is the stepping-stone I need, I shall use him. Nobody can -prevent it--" - -"I calc'late there's somebody might prevent it, Marie," said the widow, -quietly, "and I calc'late there's somethin' would fill you up with a -kind of regret you ain't anticipatin' if it was to happen afterward." - -"Who?" demanded Marie, passionately. "And what?" - -"The man you loved might stop you--and comin' to love a man afterward -might bring that kind of remorse that would make dyin' better 'n -livin'." - -Marie stared at the widow, then after one might slowly have counted a -dozen she sank into a chair and gazed fixedly downward. Nobody spoke, -Jim felt extremely uncomfortable. - -Presently Marie lifted her eyes, first to Jim, then to the widow. - -"Yes," she said, "that is possible. I could love, but it would be better -that I shouldn't. Better for him. If I loved it would be no pretty -bill-and-coo. It would be love. I should give much, but demand much. I -do not think it would be comfortable to be loved by me. If I loved it -would be the one great concern of my life. I should have room for -nothing else. I have studied myself. And if he did not love me as I -loved him I should make him unhappy, for I do not believe men like to be -bothered by too much love. I should make him hate me. I should be no -sweet domestic animal to greet him with a kiss, and fetch him his -slippers, and sit by placidly while he read his paper. Men like comfort -and coddling. There would be no comfort with me. I should be -jealous--jealous even of the food that gave him pleasure. What man wants -such a love! What happiness can come from it? Would you want to be loved -that way?" She turned abruptly to Jim. - -"I do not believe one can love too much. I don't believe you know what -love is, Miss Ducharme. If love is what I believe, it is not fierce, not -a fire that burns beyond control. I think it is gentle; I think love -forgives; I think real love manifests itself not by clawing and -scratching its object, but by spending itself to procure his -happiness--or her happiness. I believe the true love of a man for his -wife, or of a woman for her husband, has much in it of the love of -father or mother for their child. I do not think love threatens; it -shelters. No, Miss Ducharme, the thing you have been talking about is -not love at all. I don't know what it is, but love it is not." - -She looked at him wide-eyed, startled, curious. - -"When you love," he said, "you will see that I am right." - -"I should like to believe you, Mr. Ashe," she said. "It would be -sweet--sweet. But you are wrong. How could you know? Have you loved?" - -"No." - -Mrs. Stickney spoke, her old eyes twinkling. - -"It don't seem scarcely possible," she said, "but I've been in love. It -was some number of years ago, but I hain't forgot all about it yet. -Shouldn't be s'prised if there was times when I remembered it right -well. So I'm speakin' from experience. When I was in love 'twa'n't -exactly like either one of them things you've been describin'. I'll go -so far's to say that both of you'll know consid'able more about it after -you've ketched it." - -Jim felt a sense of relief. There had been a strain; the moments that -had passed were tense moments. Possibly Marie, too, was relieved. At any -rate, she stood up, and as she walked toward the door she spoke icily: - -"Bear in mind, please, Mr. Ashe, that I and my affairs are not to be -discussed, nor have you a right to interfere in whatever happens." - -"Miss Ducharme, I have that right. If I see a man ill-treat a dog, I -have the right to protect that dog--more than that, it is my duty. How -much more is it a man's right and duty to interfere in behalf of a woman -who is in danger!" - -"Duty!" exclaimed Miss Ducharme. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - -Jim found Zaanan Frame at his desk, Tiffany's _Justices' Guide_ open -before him as it always was in his moments of leisure. Zaanan nodded. - -"Set," he said. - -"Judge," said Jim, "I've been invited to help beat you at the next -election." - -"Um!" - -"They tell me a corporation hasn't a chance with you." - -"Some hain't," said Zaanan, briefly. - -"And that a laboring-man gets all the best of it." - -"An even chance is the best of it for a poor feller," said Zaanan. -"Calc'late you was fetchin' me news?" The old man's eyes twinkled. -"Moran's a convincin' talker," he observed, after a brief pause. - -Jim made no reply. - -"Thinkin' of throwin' in with him?" Zaanan asked. - -Jim started to speak, but stopped, startled. It seemed to him for an -instant that Marie Ducharme sat before him. He could see her move with -the wonderful grace that was hers; he could see the sure, graceful lines -of her figure; he could see her face, mobile, intelligent, with -possibilities that would have made it interesting, even compelling, but -for the expression of sullen discontent that masked it. So real, so -material did she seem, that it seemed to Jim he could stretch out his -hand and touch her. Then she was gone. - -Jim's teeth clicked together, and his good, square-cornered jaw set. - -"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," he said, with that sudden -resolution which seemed to have become a part of him. "I'm going to -chase Michael Moran out of Diversity County." - -"Um! Hain't you perty busy savin' your own goods from the fire?" - -"I'll keep mine and add something of his," Jim said, grimly. - -"Wa-al, sich things has been done. Ever hear tell of Watt Peters and his -bear? Watt he was campin' with a crowd back in the timber, huntin' bear. -One day he was cruisin' round and come on to a old he-bear consid'rable -more sudden than he calc'lated on. Watt he never got famous for -boldness, so this time he clean forgot he was huntin' bear and turned -and run for all was in him. Seems like he irritated that bear somehow, -for he turned to and chased Watt 'most to camp. Watt he tripped over a -root and like to busted his neck. Old bear he kept a-comin'. Wasn't -anything for it but to shoot, so Watt he up and shot. Dummed if he -didn't kill that there bear deader 'n a door-nail. Fellers in camp came -a-runnin' out. - -"''Most catched you, didn't he?' says a feller. - -"'Catched me!' says Watt. 'What you mean, catched me?' - -"'He was a-chasin' you, wasn't he?' - -"Watt he looked scornful-like and answered right up: - -"'Think I want to lug a bear two mile into camp?' says he. 'No, sir, I -lured this here bear in so's I could kill him handy to where I wanted -him. I jest figgered to make him carry himself into camp,' says he. -Wa-al, young feller, things does happen that way sometimes, but it looks -to me right now like the bear was chasin' you." - -"I know Moran is in with Welliver and his bunch. I know Moran is at the -bottom of the trouble we're having at the mill. He's having our logs -spiked, and a man of his is tampering with our machinery. I know it, but -I can't prove it even to myself. The first thing I do is to make -certain." - -"If I was goin' to take a drive," said Zaanan. "I'd take the River Road. -Calc'late I'd drive till I come to where a beech and a maple's growin' -so clost it looks like they come up from one root, and I'd up and hitch -there. Then I'd walk off to the right, takin' care to make plenty of -noise so's not to seem like I was sneakin'. About that election, Jim, I -calc'late I'm obleeged to you. G'-by, Jim." - -"Good-by, Judge," said Jim. - -He went to the livery for a rig and presently was driving out the River -Road according to Zaanan's directions. It seemed like a long time before -he discovered Zaanan's landmark, but it appeared at last, and Jim was -interested to see that another horse had been tied there not long ago. -The marks of its pawing hoofs were visible in the soft soil; the work of -its teeth showed on the bark of the tree. It was here that Dolf Springer -had tied not many hours before. - -Jim looked about him for some indication of man's presence that would -show him how to proceed, but there was none. Away from him on all sides -stretched a growth of scrub-oak and jack-pine, with here and there the -grayed and splintered shaft of an ancient pine that had been riven by -lightning or broken off by wind or age. There was no path, no sign of -human usage. - -Forgetting Zaanan's caution to proceed noisily, Jim walked slowly, -almost stealthily, through the underbrush. He did so unconsciously; it -was the natural impulse of one walking into the unknown. At times he -stopped to look about him, dubious if he had not alighted at the wrong -landmark. - -Presently he fancied he heard voices and stopped to listen with -straining ears. Unquestionably there were voices. Jim drew nearer -softly, and in a few moments reached a point where words and tones and -inflections could be distinguished. There was a man's voice and a -child's voice. Jim stopped again and listened. The conversation he -overheard was not a conversation; it was a ritual. As the words came to -Jim he knew it was but one repetition of what had been conned and -repeated many times before. Yet there was fire in it, fire and fierce -determination. - -"Where is your mother?" asked the man's voice. - -"Dead," answered the child's. - -"Who killed her?" asked the man. - -"She killed herself," said the child. - -"Why?" - -"On account of me." - -"Did she do right?" - -"Yes." - -"Who do you hate?" - -"Michael Moran," said the child. - -"What have you got to do?" - -"Pay Michael Moran." - -"You won't ever forget?" - -"I won't ever forget," said the child. - -"See to it that you don't," the man said, fiercely. - -It was evident the ritual was at an end; that this last was an -admonition, not a part of it. Jim shivered but he knew he had not gone -astray, that here was the man Zaanan had sent him to see. He retired -softly a hundred feet, then called aloud and floundered toward the spot -where the ritual had been spoken. - -Jim had not traversed half the distance before a man stepped from behind -a mound. It was the same big, handsome, somber man whom Dolf Springer -had called upon; it was Steve Gilders. Under his arm was the rifle that -had sent a shiver up Dolf's spine. - -"Lookin' for somebody?" he demanded. - -"Yes. Judge Frame sent me." - -"What's your name?" - -"Ashe." - -"Own the new mills down to Diversity?" - -"Yes. Are you the man I came to see?" - -"Calc'late so. Names is handy in talkin' to folks. Mine's Steve." - -Jim thought it best not to ask additional names. - -"What was you wantin'?" Steve asked. - -"Somebody's playing hob with my machinery and driving spikes into my -logs for me to rip off sawteeth on. I think Michael Moran is at the -bottom of it, but I want to prove it to myself." - -"If you kin prove it--what?" - -"I'll have a better conscience to go after the man." - -"Not after him personal. You won't lay hands on him? You hain't -figgerin' on doin' anythin' to his body, be you? 'Cause I can't have -that. That hain't your concern. It's a job for somebody else." - -"No. But I'm going to drive him out of Diversity." - -Steve smiled. "If you was to take his money away from him and his power -away from him, why I'd be glad. It 'u'd hurt him mighty bad. But I -calc'late he hain't goin' to be drove out of Diversity. I figger he's -goin' to stay here permanent--permanent as them in Diversity's -graveyard." - -Jim wondered if the man were not off the mental perpendicular; but a -glance at his fine if stern face, his clear eyes, his bearing, argued -strongly in favor of his sanity. Perhaps the man was possessed of some -Old Testament spirit of vengeance; perhaps here was a Northern relative -of the blood feud of the Kentucky mountains. In spite of himself he felt -apprehensive for Moran's sake. - -"You want proofs, eh? Be you enured to walkin'?" - -"I'll do my best," said Jim. - -"Seven miles to the loggin'-road," said Steve. - -"I'd better care for my horse then." - -"I'll see to him. You set right where you be." It was a command. Jim -recognized it as such and obeyed. - -It was not long before Steve returned. He did not take Jim to his shanty -as he had taken Dolf Springer, but led him straight through the woods -toward the southeast. Steve tramped silently. The things his eyes saw, -the things his ears heard, and the thoughts moving in his mind were -company enough for him. As for Jim, he had difficulty enough maintaining -the pace without wasting breath in unnecessary words. - -After an hour's steady going Steve stopped suddenly. - -"Set," he said. "You hain't used to this." - -Jim sank down without a word. Steve leaned against a maple trunk, for -they were now getting into the edge of the hardwood, and took out his -pipe. Neither spoke for fifteen minutes. Then Steve straightened up and -nodded. Jim got to his feet and followed. - -In another hour Steve spoke again: "Road's right over there. First -landin's half a mile up." - -They turned to the left and shortly were in last season's slashings. -Narrow lanes among the trees, uneven, impassable to teams at this season -of the year, marked the tote roads, which in winter would be cared for -more skilfully than many a city boulevard, iced, kept clear of refuse, -so that heavily ladened sleds might pass smoothly, carrying logs from -cutting to landings. - -Jim heard the toot of a locomotive whistle and looked at his watch. - -"Must be the empty trucks up from the mill," he said. - -Steve nodded. - -The engine with its trail of trucks passed them at their right, whistled -again, and at last came to a stop. Jim knew the stop was at the landing -from which came his logs. - -"Where's the camp?" he asked. - -"T'other side of the track." - -In a moment they were at the edge of the clearing and Jim could see the -landing, its skidways piled high with hardwood logs, beech, birch, -maple, with here and there a soft maple, an ash or an oak. The train -crew had already disappeared in the direction of the camp; only one man -was visible, standing in the doorway of the sealer's shanty. He looked -after the trainmen, then emerged and mounted a skid way. With a big blue -crayon he marked log after log. These, Jim knew, were being selected to -go to his mill in the morning. Then the man returned to his shanty. - -Presently he appeared with a blacksmith's hammer. He mounted the skidway -again, knelt upon a marked log, and drove a spike into it near the -middle. This he proceeded to sink with a punch. - -Steve did not so much as turn his head toward Jim. He merely watched the -man with a curious intentness. The man repeated the operation five times -on different logs, then returned his tools to the shanty and sauntered -away toward the camp. - -Jim felt a hot flame of rage. With characteristic impulse he started to -his feet and would have demanded a reckoning of the man there and then, -but Steve caught him by the arm and drew him down. - -"Hungry?" he asked, in a matter-of-fact tone. - -"Maybe I am," snapped Jim, "but I'm too mad to notice it." - -"Spring back here. I put a snack in my pocket." - -"What's that man's name, Steve?" Jim demanded. - -"Kowterski--one of Moran's Polacks," said Steve, with bitterness in his -voice. "Them cattle is drivin' good woodsmen out of the State. Moran's -fetchin' 'em in 'cause he kin drive 'em and abuse 'em and rob 'em. There -was a day when a lumberjack come out of the woods after the drive with -his pockets burnin' with money. These fellers is lucky if they come out -even. I knowed one that come out last spring with fifteen dollars to -show for his winter's work. Sometimes Moran gives 'em half a dollar on -Sundays--for church!" He stopped suddenly. - -"Kowterski's brother's night-watchin' for you," he said, shortly. - -"Thank you," said Jim. "Now let's go back." - -"Better eat a bite," Steve said, and, taking Jim's assent for granted, -led the way to the spring. - -It was an hour before he consented to begin the backward tramp. It was -completed as silently as had been the coming. Steve led Jim past his -shanty, but not in sight of it, and to the road where the buggy stood. - -"Wait," he said, and shortly reappeared, leading the horse, which he -helped Jim to hitch. - -Jim climbed to the seat and extended his hand. Steve made no movement to -take it. - -"I'm more obliged to you than I can say," Jim said. - -"G'-by," Steve said, briefly, and, turning his back, strode out of sight -among the scrub-oak and jack-pine. - -The horse Jim drove was not intended by nature to travel rapidly from -place to place. He possessed two paces, one a studious walk, the other a -self-satisfied trot that was a negligible acceleration of movement. So -it was dusk when Jim reached Diversity. Slow as the progress was, it did -not give Jim time to cool down from the boiling-point he had reached; -instead, it irritated him, brought him where explosion was inevitable. - -He returned his horse to the barn and started down the street toward the -mill, forgetful that he had eaten nothing but Steve's snack since -breakfast. As he passed the hotel he saw Moran on the piazza--Moran, who -had taken a train yesterday to the city. - -Jim stopped, gripped his temper with both hands, as it were, to hold it -in check, and spoke. - -"You're back soon," he said. - -"Didn't get to the city at all. Wire met me halfway and called me back." - -"That's good," said Jim, with another of his sudden resolutions. "I'm -glad you're here. Can you walk down to the mill with me? I want to show -you something." - -"Glad to," said Moran, rising. - -The older man attempted casual talk as they went along, but Jim's -answers were monosyllabic, even brusk. Moran studied the young man's -face out of the corner of his eye, wondering what was in the wind. He -was puzzled, uneasy, and he ceased his conversation and speculated on -possibilities. - -Jim led him round to the rear of the mill. At the fire-room door he -paused and called, "Kowterski!" - -Presently a bulky figure emerged from the gloom that was beyond the -doorway. The man was big, with a clumsy bigness, not so tall as Jim, but -heavier by fifty pounds. He came forward slowly. - -"Here," said Jim. "Come here." - -Kowterski recognized Jim and ducked his head. - -"Evenin', boss," he said, then looked into Jim's face. Something he saw -was disquieting, for he halted, took a step backward, started to raise -his hands. - -Putting the weight of his body into the blow, Jim struck him. Kowterski -stumbled, went down. He lay still an instant where he had fallen, then -wallowed to his knees and remained in that position, mumblingly ridding -his mouth of blood and teeth. - -"Git!" said Jim. - -Kowterski rose, wavering, turned, and ran stumblingly away into the -darkness. - -Jim turned to Moran. "Good night," he said, shortly. - -"You had something to show me," said Moran, thrown from his habitual -poise. - -"That was it," Jim said, and disappeared into the fire-room. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - -That night Jim patrolled the mill in the place of the watchman whose -resignation he had accepted in front of the fire-room door. Through the -long, dark hours he had time and quiet for reflection. His mind was -stimulated by the occurrences of the day; he was aware of a clarity of -vision, a straightness of thought, a satisfying concentration. His -problem, in all its intricate difficulties, lay plain before him. He -fancied he had read astutely his enemies' plans; his own plans began to -take form. - -Against Welliver and the Clothespin Club he would have to defend himself -by business makeshifts and financial strategy. Them he did not -underestimate nor did he exaggerate their menace. To defend himself -against Moran his best course was to attack. It would now become his -business to seek for a point of weakness, and there to deliver his first -blow. - -It was common talk that Moran was reaching out ambitiously. His former -holdings had been considerable; now the affairs which he seemed to -control were of magnitude. He had traveled from the one to the other in -a short space, a space so short that Jim felt sure it had not been -sufficient to multiply his fortune. It forced itself upon Jim that Moran -must have spread himself out thinly to cover so much ground. In that -case there must be a point where he had spread himself with dangerous -thinness. That area, Jim thought, he must find. There, he said to -himself, he must strike. - -It was daylight when he left the mill and trudged wearily toward his bed -at the widow's. On his way he met John Beam, who regarded him with -amazement. - -"Up kind of early, ain't you?" asked Beam. - -"No, just a bit late to bed," Jim said, with a grin of boyishness. "By -the way, you'll have to get a new watchman to take Kowterski's place. I -took it last night." - -"What's the matter with him?" - -"When he left," said Jim, a trifle grimly, "I thought of advising him to -go to the dentist's." - -He looked down at his bruised, abrased knuckles. Beam's eyes followed -his employer's and the man grinned with sudden comprehension. - -"It was him, eh?" he asked. - -Jim nodded. "I won't be down till afternoon." - -Beam walked on his way, chuckling. Presently he encountered Nels Nelson -and recounted what he had learned, with certain amendments and surmises -of his own, ending with a special word regarding Jim. - -"Some boss," he said, delightedly. "I've had a few bosses, but Sudden -Jim he's the boy for my money." Which would have pleased Jim exceedingly -had he overheard it. - -Jim devoured the breakfast the widow had ready for him, and went off to -bed. He went to sleep with the satisfying consciousness that it was now -open warfare between him and Moran. What he had done last night was both -a declaration of war and an eloquent expression of his opinion of the -man. He knew Moran would be able to translate it correctly. - -It was after one o'clock when Jim awoke, but he found the widow had kept -his dinner warm for him. - -"'S my experience," she said, severely, "that folks gits more for their -money sleepin' nights than daytimes." - -"I was behaving myself, Mrs. Stickney. Honestly I was. At regular rates -I earned two dollars watching in the mill." - -"I was kind of disap'inted in you when you didn't come home at all. But, -'Boys will be boys,' says I, 'which won't prevent my speakin' my mind to -him if he hain't ready with a good excuse, which mostly young men is -ready with and ain't usually believed; but what kin a body do about -it?'" - -"I hope you'll do nothing rash," Jim said, with specious soberness. "You -won't put me out in the street, will you?" - -"If it had been any of my husbands I'll bet I'd 'a' knowed the reason -why," she said, and disappeared into the kitchen, with an aggrieved air. - -Jim went out smiling; somehow the widow's threatened scolding put him in -a better humor with the world. It was good to know that somebody in -Diversity had a real, friendly, motherly interest in him. - -His way led past Zaanan Frame's office. Zaanan was standing on the step. - -"Afternoon," said the old justice. "Hain't much battered up as I kin -see." - -"I'm practically intact," Jim said, gaily. - -"Folks round town has it there was consid'able trouble to the mill last -night. You was reported laid up in bed with grievous injuries. -Calc'lated I'd come round to see you." - -"Nothing much. I just took Moran down to point out a circumstance to -him." - -"Moran? What's he got to do with it?" - -"Why," said Jim, "I met him when I got back to town and invited him down -to the mill with me. I--er--rid myself of Mr. Kowterski in his presence -and left him to think it over. Haven't seen him since." - -"He hain't got any misgivin's as to how you stand then, eh? You kind of -rubbed his face in it, didn't you? Leetle bit abrupt, wasn't you?" - -"If there's going to be a fight," said Jim, "I want it to be a fight. No -sneaking under cover." - -"Call to mind that British general--what's his name? -Bradley--Bradish--some sich thing. Didn't pay no heed to a young feller -named Washington when he was goin' to fight the Injuns. He come right -out bold to fight like you're aimin' to do. But did the Injuns? Wa-al, -accounts says not. They done consid'able sneaking and prowlin' under -cover, and this general got all chawed up." - -"I didn't want the man to think I was a fool." - -"Um! Shows you're young, Jim. Hain't no better way of gittin' a strangle -holt on to a feller than by lettin' him think you're a fool. The s'prise -of findin' out sudden that you hain't comes nigh to chokin' him." - -"Anyhow, it's done," said Jim. - -"No argyin' that p'int. I notice Moran didn't leave town this mornin' -like he calc'lated to. What you figgerin' on next? Looks like you run on -to some facts up the River Road." - -"I'm going to look for some more facts." - -"What kind of facts, son?" - -"Moran's got a thin spot. I want to find it." - -"Um! Thin spot. Calc'late I understand you. Figger he's been spreadin' -his butter so thin that the bread won't be covered enough somewheres, -eh? Maybe so. Maybe so. Ever see a map of the Diversity Hardwood -Company's holdin's?" - -"No." - -"I got one. Had the Register of Deeds fix it up for me, thinkin' it -might come in handy." - -Zaanan went to a cupboard and brought out a rolled map which he spread -on the table. It was marked off in sections. Those owned by the company -were blocked in with red ink. - -"Nigh forty-five thousand acres," said Zaanan. - -Jim bent over the map. The Diversity Company's property ran in two -irregular, serrated strips. Between the two portions was a sort of -strait nowhere marked with red. - -"They're cut in two," said Jim. "Who owns the stuff between? Timbered, -is it?" - -"As good hardwood as ever growed. B'longs to old Louis Le Bar. Run -between twenty and twenty-five thousand to the acre. And that's -consid'able hardwood, son." - -"Logically the company ought to own it." - -"Logically it wants to, but old Louis won't sell. Anyhow, he wouldn't." -Zaanan emphasized the last word significantly. Jim looked across the -table into the old man's twinkling eyes, shrewd, kindly eyes belonging -to a man who had learned humankind by scores of years of meeting with -them in their adversities. Zaanan said no more, but rolled up his map. - -"I take it," said Jim, "that you've shown me a fact. One of the kind I -was looking for." - -"Folks says Opportunity knocks on a feller's door," said Zaanan. "Maybe -so, but more times it goes sneakin' past his house quiet in the dark. -And sometimes it's hard to catch as a greased pig." - -"Much obliged," Jim said. "Where will I find Le Bar?" - -"Stiddy, now. Stiddy. Before you pick up that animile be sure it's a cat -and not a skunk. You're one of them pouncin' kind of young men. This -here's a time to study first and jump afterward." - -Then an unusual thing happened. Dolf Springer burst in without knocking. -He was excited, greatly excited, or he never would have ventured, for -Zaanan's office was sacred. - -"Judge," he panted, "what d'you think? They've up and done it. Didn't -b'lieve they'd dast, but they did dast. They've up and announced Peleg -Goodwin to run ag'in you for justice of the peace." - -Zaanan eyed his henchman. "Git a breath, Dolf. Git a breath. Like's not -you'll suffocate. Hum! Peleg, eh?" He turned to Jim. "Seem like old -times," he said; "hain't had no opposition for the nomination in more 'n -twenty year. Peleg Goodwin, deacon by perfession." - -"I told you," said Jim. - -Zaanan peered at him briefly and grunted. - -"I hain't so young as I was wunst," he said. "Maybe my powers is -flaggin'. Maybe this here is a spontaneous uprisin' of the folks, -thinkin' maybe it's time I was put on the shelf. But, son, I don't -hanker to go on no shelf--anyhow, not to make room for Peleg. But it was -bound to come some day. Folks likes change, and I've been mighty -permanent." - -The old man leaned back in his chair and looked beyond Jim and Dolf; -forgot them as his thoughts carried him back over the years. When he -spoke it was not to them, it was to the people, to his people, whom he -had served and ruled for more than a quarter of a century. - -"Yes, folks," says he, "what some of you is sayin' is correct. I -calc'late I'm a boss. But if you was to look at my bank account or -search out my property you'd see I wasn't that kind of a boss. I've run -things in this county 'cause I was more fitted to run 'em than you. I'd -have liked it if you'd 'a' had the spunk and gumption to run things -yourselves. I've let you try it sometimes, and then had to clean up the -mess. - -"Don't think, folks, that all these years has been pleasure for me, nor -what I'd 'a' picked out to do. No, siree! When I was younger there was -things I had ambitions about. I wanted to git somewheres and be -somethin'. But I hain't had no time. I hain't had no time to spare to -look after Zaanan Frame, owin' to matters of yourn that was always -pressin'. Diversity wa'n't no heaven when I took holt of it, but now -it's a good place for man to live. I've made the laws respected and -obeyed; since I've been justice one man's had as much chance in this -county as another. - -"The days and nights I might 'a' spent buildin' up Zaanan Frame I've -spent buildin' up you. But I guess you're tired of it. If it was a good -man and a true man and a man worthy of trust I calc'late I could step -out of the way. There's times when I git mighty tired. But not for -Peleg. Dolf," he said, sharply, "I guess we'll have to show Peleg and -the feller that's puttin' him up to this some real politics." - -"You bet!" said Dolf. - -"It's Moran," Jim said; but the statement was half a question. - -"He's the citizen," said Zaanan. - -"They'll try to get you in the caucus." - -Zaanan nodded. "Dolf," said he, "if you was goin' out to talk about -this, what would you be sayin'?" - -"That we was goin' to roll up our sleeves and lick the pants off'n 'em," -said Dolf, belligerently. - -"Don't calc'late you'd say I was perty hard hit? Eh? Sort of insinuate -the blow bore down on my threescore and ten year? Nor that there didn't -seem to be scarcely any fight left in me?" - -"Dummed if I--" began Dolf. Then he stopped and looked at Zaanan. "Guess -maybe that's about what I'd say," he responded, presently. - -"G'-by, Dolf," said Zaanan. - -"G'-by, Judge," said Dolf. - -"Tain't only me," said Zaanan, after a time, "it's the sheriff and the -prosecutor and the circuit judge--the whole kit and b'ilin' of us. There -won't be a decent official left in the county. Law and justice'll be -bought and sold and traded in like so much farm produce." - -"I want to help if I can," said Jim. - -"Calc'late I'll need what help I kin git. Moran don't usually start a -job he can't see his way to finish. I'll call on you when you're needed. -Louis Le Bar lives four mile to the west. How's things at the widder's? -Do consid'able cacklin' over you, does she?" He stopped and scratched -his head and appeared to ponder. "Say, young feller," he said, in a few -moments, "what's your special grudge ag'in Moran? Tain't jest his -business dealin's with you. It's him you want to git at, ree-gardless. -What's he done to you?" - -"There's a girl up at Mrs. Stickney's--" Jim began, slowly. - -"Um!" grunted Zaanan, and his eyes twinkled. "Moran hain't in no -position to cut you out with a girl. He's got more wife 'n he knows what -to do with now." - -Jim felt himself flushing. He had not connected Marie Ducharme with -himself in the way Zaanan connected her. He had not considered his -hatred of Moran as prompted by jealousy, nor had he looked on Moran as a -rival. It was a new idea to him. He considered it. What interest had he -in Marie? Did he even like her? He had fancied he disliked her for her -sullenness, her rashness, for the bitterness of her temper toward the -world. She was all somber shadows or lurid flame; there was no rosiness -of dawn, no brightness of noontime, no peaceful, pure light as of the -stars. - -When Jim had thought of the woman who was to share his life he had -pictured her as bright with star-brightness. He would stand something in -awe of her, yet her brightness would not be cold, aloof--not cold moon -rays. It would be tender, glowing, throbbing, but, above all, pure, -inspiringly pure. Marie knew evil. Her discontent had seen its beckoning -finger; she had felt the persuasive touch of its hand on her arm--and -had not fled in horror. She eyed it cynically, plumbing its -possibilities. Jim's girl would have felt herself indelibly smirched by -thoughts that Marie gave willing housing to. Withal, what did he think -of her? What was his interest in her? He could not answer. He dared not -answer himself, for he found himself contemplating her with fascination. -There was an appeal to her. Her possibilities were magnificent. He found -himself wishing for her presence, for the sight of her movements of -grace, the sound of her voice, the vivid life desire that lay in her -eyes. - -"Moran takes her to the top of a high mountain and shows her the -kingdoms of the world," he said, in a hard voice. "He offers them to -her." - -"And you're afraid she'll accept?" - -"She hates Diversity; life discontents her. She is bored. Moran plans -deliberately, adds lure to lure. If he catches her in the mood--" - -"Interestin' girl, eh? Talk intelligent? Good company?" - -"She can be if she chooses." - -"Ever try to git her to choose?" - -"She doesn't like me." - -"Huh! Hain't much in the way of excitement in Diversity, but pleasure's -where you look for it hard enough. I call to mind enjoyin' buggy rides. -Ever try to make things pleasant for Marie?" - -"No." Jim said it with a guilty feeling. - -"My experience," said Zaanan, "is that the run of girls prefers a -decent, entertainin' young man to a bad old one. In gen'ral my notion is -folks'd rather be good than bad, rather pick out right than wrong. Buggy -hire don't come expensive." The old fellow eyed Jim with a twinkle. - -Jim returned Zaanan's look; comprehension came to him. - -"Judge Frame," he demanded, "did you send me to Mrs. Stickney's because -Marie Ducharme was there?" The twinkle in his eye answered Zaanan's. -"Was I just a checker you were moving in your game?" - -"It's my policy," said Zaanan, "to git as many young checkers as I could -moved safe into the king row of marriage." - -"But she dislikes me." - -"Hain't heard you say you was prejudiced ag'in her. Ever ask her if she -disliked you? Um! Better try a few buggy rides first. Kin you drive with -one hand?" - -"I believe," said Jim, "you'd try to regulate the sex of Diversity's -babies." - -"If I calc'lated it'd benefit the town I dun'no' but I'd kind of look -into the matter. G'-by, Jim!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - -As the days went by Jim Ashe acquired a marked aversion to the upper -right-hand drawer of his desk. For it contained the unpaid bills of the -Ashe Clothespin Company. When Jim came the drawer had been empty; now it -looked as if he would have to add an annex to care for the overflow. -There were supply bills, machinery bills, stock bills. And Jim did not -dare to pay them, for his account at the bank was running perilously -low. Bills may be put off, but the pay-roll must be met on the minute. - -From nothing the unsecured indebtedness climbed to five thousand, to ten -thousand dollars. Much as it grieved Jim to see discount days pass with -discounts not taken, it grieved Grierson more. He had served the company -for many years. Never before in his experience had it failed to discount -its bills--and to a bookkeeper of Grierson's type discounts are sacred. -Grierson's type of mind would borrow money at six per cent. to take a -two-per-cent. discount. - -Finally statements began to arrive, some accompanied by letters setting -forth in the polite verbiage of the business world that the creditor -would be glad to have the company's check "for this small amount at its -convenience." Dunning letters! Grierson was shocked. He blushed as he -bent over his ledgers. The Ashe Clothespin Company had to be dunned as -if it were a dubious individual with an overlarge bill at the corner -grocery. - -Jim was not yet the complete business man, but he did discover that -certain larger creditors were willing to accept notes for the time, -notes bearing interest at six per cent. Somehow it relieved his anxiety -to issue this paper. At any rate, it postponed the day of reckoning in -each case for three or four months. But Grierson was bitterly ashamed. -He regarded it as such a makeshift as an unstable enterprise would avail -itself of to ward off insolvency. Jim caught the old bookkeeper looking -at him accusingly. Such things had never come to pass in his father's -day. - -Yet these were the very things Clothespin Jimmy had predicted. He had -told Jim there would be sleepless nights and anxious days; he had -confessed to milking the business. Now Jim appreciated what his father -meant. With the fifty thousand dollars which Clothespin Jimmy had -subtracted from the assets the company would be as sound as the Bank of -England. - -What worried Jim more than the accumulation of bills was the failure to -make shipments as rapidly as the necessities required. Where he should -have shipped a car-load a day he had been able to bill out an average of -less than four cars a week. Customers clamored to have their orders -filled; cancellations were threatened; yet the mill failed to produce as -it should produce. Somewhere something was wrong. Clothespin-machines -that ought to have made their eighty five-gross boxes a day did not -climb above sixty. Total shipments that should have amounted to thirty -thousand dollars a month faltered and failed at fifteen or sixteen -thousand. In short, he was spending every week a great deal more money -than he was earning. - -Much of this, he knew, was due to breakdowns caused by Kowterski; some -of it to poor timber; some to timber spiked by Kowterski's brother. But -aside from that, changes had to be made in machines; the mill did not -run smoothly. Where construction should have ceased to lay its expense -on the company it continued to demand its thousands of dollars every -month. - -But Kowterski was gone. Jim did not believe Moran would venture to send -down more spiked timber. The mill was slowly but surely rising to a -point of efficiency. Jim was confident in it; he placed full dependence -on Nels Nelson, his millwright, on Beam, his superintendent. He knew -they were doing their intelligent best and that their worries stood -shoulder to shoulder with his own. Given time, he would be firm on his -feet; given capital to carry him through this dubious period, and the -company would pay bigger dividends, reach a more stable credit than it -had ever before enjoyed. But the time and the capital! - -In his heart he knew that if one creditor lost faith and brought -pressure to bear, the whole edifice would come down in ruin. -Construction, rebuilding, repairs, had devoured the money that should -have paid bills. Bills had multiplied by reason of supplies necessary -for construction. One thing was essential--construction must cease. Men -employed in construction must be laid off. - -"Grierson," he said, "make me a statement of our condition--a full -statement; one that will show everything and show it truly. I'm going to -see if there isn't somebody in the world who will appreciate being told -the whole uncolored truth." - -With this statement in his pocket Jim went to the city to its largest -bank. - -"I'm Ashe, of the Ashe Clothespin Company up at Diversity," he told the -president, "and I'm in a hole. I've got to have some money." - -"We've got lots of it," the president said, genially, "if you can show -us. Let's look into the hole you're in and see." - -Jim gave him the statement; it was fully, minutely itemized. Every debit -was shown in full; no credit was inflated. The banker studied it half an -hour, nodding now and then. - -"Would you attach your name to that statement?" he asked. - -"Yes," said Jim. - -"You believe you can make money?" - -"I know it." - -"Show me," said the banker, and Jim showed him for an hour. He gave -production figures, costs, prices, profits. - -"It's a good statement, a sound statement," the banker said. "You have -no quick assets--that's bad. That demand-paper I don't like; but -otherwise--otherwise it is a very creditable statement." - -Jim was astonished. - -"How much do you want?" the banker asked. - -"Twenty-five thousand dollars," Jim said, hesitatingly. - -"I guess we can fix that up. The board meets at noon. Can you come in -and tell them your story?" - -"Certainly." - -"You believe twenty-five thousand dollars will bring your mill to -efficiency and carry you to a point where your own sales will take care -of expenses?" - -"I'm sure of it." - -"Come in at twelve, then, and we'll see." - -Jim returned at twelve and repeated his facts to the assembled board. -Before they broke up Jim had given them the company's note for -twenty-five thousand dollars, had that amount on deposit in the bank, -and a book of blank checks under his arm. - -"We've passed this loan," said a white-haired old gentleman, "because we -like the moral risk. Your statement was fair; what you have said to us -was spoken as an honest man speaks. You seem to have gotten a dollar of -value for every dollar you have put into this mill, and we hope you'll -win out. We believe you will or we wouldn't be lending you our money. -You haven't evaded a question; you haven't held anything back. You've -confessed to us that you thought you were in a bad hole, which is a poor -argument for a borrower to bring forward. Maybe we'd have lent you on -the security of the mills; maybe not. What we've done is to lend it on -the security of you. I say this to you because it must give you pleasure -to hear it and because it gives me pleasure to be able to say it. I -cannot say such things as often as I wish. Now go to it, young man, and -lick the stuffing out of that other crowd." - -Jim went out, his head in a pink cloud, his feet treading something -lighter than mundane pavement. Why, they had not thought he was in a -hole at all! The things Grierson and he had looked on as scarcely -creditable makeshifts were approved as sound business, and they had -given him money. How easy money was to get! It astonished him. Thirty -thousand dollars he had borrowed from the Diversity Bank, with no -difficulty; twenty-five thousand more poured into his purse from the -City Bank, with compliments attached. His policy had won. He had found -some one who appreciated being told the whole uncolored truth. After -all, the world had not trampled its ideals into the mire of -money-chasing. Even to-day the sound things of life commanded a market -value. Business men, in high places of trust, business men of tested -capacity, placed the moral before the material risk. - -The president of the bank had said, "I would rather lend a known -honorable man money on doubtful security than to venture a loan to a -dubious man on Government bonds." - -So Jim brought back from the city more than money. He brought back a -renewed, an increased faith in the virtue of mankind. It was an asset -not to be despised. The mighty hand of business reached out to -encourage, to help with concrete aid, the honest man. It withheld its -support, even though ample security were offered, from the man whose -honor was dubious. Therefore, this modern god of business was a virtuous -god. If evil were committed in its name the god itself was not smirched -save in the eyes of the ignorant; if false sacrifices were offered to it -by charlatans and liars and cheats, by jack priests of commerce, the god -was not more dishonored than is the God of Israel by horrors that have -been committed in His name. - -As Jim rode home on the train his first feeling of elation dwindled. -Doubt returned. He weighed the sides of his ledger against each other -and determined all was not yet secure. How could it be secure when he -had but added to his liability the not inconsiderable sum of twenty-five -thousand dollars? Part of his debts he could pay. The balance must wait, -for he could not divest himself of ready money, nor would the reserve he -could set aside last forever. - -The demand-note of thirty thousand dollars reared itself as a threat, -assumed the guise of a poised bird of prey biding its moment. No, he was -not free from the chains of his difficulties. His competitors--he -thought of them as enemies--were as yet strong, untouched, unready for -peace. They were capable of striking, would strike if a telling blow -could be launched. There was Michael Moran. - -The task of defending his own was just begun; the feat of bringing his -enemies to overtures of peace was distant from accomplishment; and again -there was Michael Moran. It was Jim's first contact with that black -spirit called hatred. He hated Michael Moran because it was inevitable -he should do so, because Michael Moran was the exponent of all things at -the remotest pole from Jim's ideals. - -With something like consternation he admitted to himself that he hated -Michael Moran because the man's life orbit had touched with pitch the -life of a woman who had assumed preponderating importance in Jim's -universe. - -As he alighted from the train at Diversity he saw Marie Ducharme as he -had first seen her weeks ago. She stood motionless, a statue with lines -of loveliness surmounted by a face of hopeless discontent. In her eyes -was the look of hunger, like that of the starving woman in the -bread-line. She gazed after the departing train as one might gaze after -a hope dispelled. - -Jim walked toward her. She saw him and nodded coolly. - -"School's out early," he said. - -"It's Saturday," she replied, shortly. - -She turned away from the depot, no cordiality in her manner, but Jim was -not to be rebuffed. He kept at her side. - -"Since I have been here," he said, "I have never driven out along the -lake shore. They tell me it is a beautiful drive." - -"Yes," she replied, without interest. - -"The train was warm, the dust got into my throat. Seems as if I were -filled with it. All the way I kept thinking of expanses of clean water -and of breezes off the lake. Won't you extend our truce to a drive out -there with me this evening?" - -She turned to him with a queer, abrupt, birdlike, startled movement. -There was no pretense about it, she was surprised, jolted so that one -peeped for an instant through her mask of sullenness to the loneliness, -the yearning within. The crack closed instantly. - -"Why do you ask me?" she demanded. "You don't like me." - -"I asked you because I want very much to have you go. And I do not -dislike you." - -"Everybody does." - -"I can't speak for everybody, but I doubt it. You--you have a way of -shouldering folks off, of retiring behind the barbed wire. Folks would -be willing enough to like you if you'd let them." - -She pondered this and shook her head slightly. - -"Part of what you say is true. There aren't many people here I want to -like me. Haven't you lived here long enough to see that the people who -stay here are the culls, the weak ones? Is there a young man or a young -woman here with gumption? Just as soon as a boy amounts to a row of -pins, gets an education or has ambition, he goes away. It is the same -with the girls. The desirable go, the other sort stay. This is a -backwater of life with nothing in it but human driftwood." - -Jim appreciated the insight of her words. She spoke with some -exaggeration, but with more sound truth. Her words might be a true -arraignment of the average small town, secluded, with insufficient -outlet or inlet. They might apply to a thousand villages in Michigan, in -Vermont, in New York, in Tennessee. He understood her better than ever -before--indeed, here was his first step in comprehension. - -"You're lonesome," he said, more to himself than to her. - -"Yes," she said, simply. "Lonesome--and bored, horribly bored." - -"I am lonesome, too. Lonesome, but not bored. I have too much on my mind -to be bored, which is better for me, probably. So won't you mend my -lonesomeness for one evening by driving with me?" - -"If you will say on your honor that you want me to," she said. - -Jim listened for a note of wistfulness in her voice; fancied he -distinguished it; was not certain he did. - -"On my honor," he said, half-laughingly, "I do want you." Then, "Might -we not ask Mrs. Stickney to put up a lunch for us and start right away?" - -Again she looked at him, for there had been a note of boyish eagerness -in his voice, and she smiled a very little. The smile was a revelation; -while it lasted her face was not the face of a discontented woman, -versed in the unpleasant things of the world, but of a girl, an eager, -wistful girl. - -"I should like it," she said. - -How was Jim to know this was an event in Marie Ducharme's life? How was -he to know it was her first social invitation from a man whom she cared -to have as a companion, who was fitted by intelligence, by ideals, to be -her companion? How was he to know that she had never driven with a young -man as other country girls drive with neighboring boys? She was excited. -Something welled up inside her that made breathing difficult, but that -was delightful. - -Jim, too, was young. His experience had not taught him how hard is the -problem of the girl in the village--how marriage looms before her as the -sole end to be desired, and how difficult is a suitable marriage to -attain. He did not know how many girls with brains, with ideals, with -ambitions, have, to escape spinsterhood and its dreariness, allowed -themselves to be married to bumpkins, whose sole recommendation was -their ability to provide support. Nor did he know how many such girls -wore out their souls and their hearts in bitterness through lengthening -years. Such a fate Marie Ducharme was determined to escape. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - -Jim and Marie Ducharme took the north road out of Diversity. There were -eyes that saw them and tongues that wagged when they were gone. Many -supper-tables were supplied with a topic of conversation that had been -barren without. - -"Some day," said Jim, "I'm going to have a farm, and raise red pigs and -black cows and white chickens." - -"Horrors!" exclaimed Marie; but there was just a note of playfulness in -her voice, the first Jim ever had heard there. "Some day I'm going to -have an apartment in a hotel, where there's a Hungarian orchestra at -dinner, and servants to answer pushbuttons, and taxicabs in front that -take you to theaters. And I'm going to raise--well, not pigs and cows -and chickens." - -"I shall come in off my farm twice a year to eat with you while the -orchestra plays and the pushbuttons buzz and the taxicabs click off -exorbitant miles on their meters as we go to those theaters. Pigs and -cows and chickens wear, they're durable company; the other thing is too -heady for me. Like champagne once in a while. But one prefers water as a -steady diet." - -"I've only read about champagne," she said, the sullen mask dropping -across her face for an instant. - -"I'm going to have my farm near the lake," he said, "so I can lie with -my back against a tree and watch it. It is a hundred different lakes -every day, and I'd like to get acquainted with all of them." - -"And I'd like to be aboard the most palatial steamer that floats, and -ride past you, on my way to great cities." - -"I'd be happiest," he said. - -"I'd be--most excited," she replied. - -"The most pitifully bored faces in the world are to be seen in Broadway -cafes after midnight." - -"But don't you like to be where things are flashing? Where life is -moving so fast you can hardly follow it? Doesn't it spell happiness for -you to be where a new thrill is always at hand for the asking?" - -"That sort of thing is bully for dessert, but I want it after a long, -satisfying meal of quiet contentment." - -"Such as you have in Diversity?" - -"Such as can be had in Diversity," he replied. - -"What makes contentment? I should like to have it." - -"Contentment," he said, slowly, selecting his words cautiously, "means -to me the quiet feeling of decency and satisfaction and restfulness that -comes to a man who is busy with a worth-while job. To have it fully -there must be a home, a real home with a wife in it, and lads, and a dog -and cat. All of them must be glad to see you come home at night, and -sorry to see you leave in the morning. To have it your wife must believe -in you more than you deserve, and you must trust her, and confide in -her, and advise with her on all your concerns, sure of her interest. -Yes, I think that is the indispensable element--marriage. The right sort -of marriage--the sort the majority of folks are blessed with." - -"It all sounds rather tame," she said. "Marriage. Must I marry to be -contented?" - -"To be so perfectly." - -She laughed shortly. "I shall depend on a steady routine of excitement -to make me forget I'm not contented," she said. "Marriage!" She spoke -almost savagely. "Of course marriage is the solution of everything. -Women are taught to look forward to it from the cradle as--as their -means of support. We're trained to please men; we're dressed to attract -men; our whole lives are aimed at men. We catch one at twenty or at -twenty-five, and our career is over. We've succeeded in life. Then we -live on till sixty." - -"You've read only the introduction to the story," he said, soberly. "The -book doesn't begin to get interesting until you pass that." - -"Very well, then. I must marry to be contented. But whom? Diversity -isn't swarming with husbands of any sort. Among the few available male -inhabitants, how many would you pick out as welcome husbands for a girl -with ambitions above turnips and the number of eggs a day? If you were a -girl, with reasonable intelligence, reasonable capabilities to -appreciate what we consider it cultured to appreciate, what man here -would you pick out from Diversity's young men who wouldn't be a constant -horror to you?" - -"You're not limited to Diversity." - -"But that is exactly what I am." - -There was no obvious answer to this, and Jim drove on in silence. He -sensed something of the girl's position; appreciated, as he had not -before appreciated, the feeling almost of despair that came over her as -she looked into the future and found it gray, without gleaming lights or -frightening shadows. She was a bird imprisoned among frogs. - -Presently they came to a little bridge over a stream which added its -little flow to the volume of the lake. It was one of those reed-bordered -streams which travel with a soothing lilt, winding along leisurely, -contentedly. - -It was not such a boisterous stream as the speckled trout loves; it was -the sort where tiny turtles sun themselves on root or log, to slide off -with a startled splash as you approach. Cows would have loved to wade in -it of a hot day. - -"Wouldn't you rather be a stream like that," Jim asked, "than to go -plunging and leaping and bruising yourself down the rocks of a -mountainside?" - -She smiled, but did not answer. The picture had soothed her; it lay -gently on her spirit, softening her mood. - -"There's a cat-boat," Jim exclaimed. "Wonder if we can't borrow it. -It'll be just a cat-boat to me, but you can turn it into your palatial -steamer, if you want to. Shall we try?" - -"I'd love it," she said. "I have never sailed." - -Never sailed! Yet she had spent her whole life in sight of Lake -Michigan. - -"Then," said Jim, "you'll sail now if I have to turn pirate and steal us -a craft." - -But the transaction went smoothly. The little boat was rented, the horse -unharnessed and stabled; they embarked their provisions, and with a -brisk sailing breeze headed out for distant, invisible Wisconsin. - -Jim handled sheet and tiller; Marie half reclined at his side. And -because she was happy, for the hour she seemed beautiful to him--she was -beautiful. Jim felt the force of her, not exerted in futile rebellion, -wasted, but to be reclaimed by a wise hand and directed to the great -work which falls to the lot of all good women. He saw her superior in -mind to the women he knew; quickened by ambition. He saw her as she -might be, indeed as she was at the moment. Her appeal was powerful. He -compared her with women he had known; she made them seem faded, -colorless. He glanced at her; his glance became a scrutiny of which she -was unconscious. She seemed very desirable to him. It came over him -suddenly that he must have her; that she was the necessary woman. It was -as if he had known it always. - -It was Sudden Jim who spoke. - -"Marie," he said, and at the sound of his voice, the tremor in it, she -turned, startled. "Marie," he repeated. No other word came for a moment, -but his face, his eyes, were eloquent. The color left her face, left her -lips first. "Marie, won't you be a part of that contentment? Won't you -help me to it--and let me help you to it? I want you. I--love you, -Marie. I want the right to love you always--and to take care of you and -make you happy. I want you to love me." - -She sat stiffly erect, unbelief in her eyes. Her hands gripped each -other in her lap. She was amazed; not frightened, but something akin to -it. - -"I want you to let me try to make you smile, always, as you have smiled -once to-day. I want to make the world sing for you, so that you will -love the world, too. I want to take that look, that hunger look, out of -your eyes forever, and put something else in its place. I want every act -of mine, as long as I shall live, to add something to your happiness. -You! You! Just you!" He held the sheet and tiller with one hand, -stretched the other to touch her fingers gently. - -"Marie, can't you--won't you--take me into your life? Will you marry -me--very soon?" - -"Marry you!" she said, in a whisper. - -She looked about her as if searching for a way of escape. Then she stood -up abruptly and ran forward to the very peak of the little craft, and -crouched there on her knees, her chin in her hands, her eyes closed, or -opening to peer off across the reaches of the lake. Jim could see her -shiver now and again as though a chill wind blew over her. She did not -speak. - -After a time he called to her. - -"Marie, I did not mean to frighten you. I--I was abrupt--" - -"You did not frighten me," she said. - -He plucked up heart. "I can't come to you," he said, yearningly. "I -can't talk to you so far away. Won't you come back to me?" - -She shook her head. "Not now," she said. "I--Oh, let me think. Let me be -quiet." - -He was patient. That much wisdom was given him in this hour. It grew -dusk. Jim could only see the dark huddle of her body beyond the mast. It -stirred. She was at his side again. - -"You don't love me. You can't love me. I am not lovable, I know." - -"Your word shall be my law--except for this one time. I do love you." - -"No! No! It is pity, sympathy, something. I told you once what love -would be if it came to me. It would be no gentle thing. It would make -you hate me. You do not want my love." - -"It is the one thing I want." - -"I mustn't," she whispered to herself. "I mustn't." Then to Jim: "I -don't love you. You would repent it if you had made me love you. While I -was up there"--she pointed to the bow--"I thought of marrying you--to -escape from Diversity. Yes, I thought of that--without love. But it -would be no escape. You are tied to Diversity. It would be the same as -before. I hate Diversity. It smothers me. If I loved you I wouldn't -marry you. Diversity would stand between us." - -Jim sat quietly. He had no hope on which to base expectation of any -other answer. How could she love him? He had not tried to win her love; -had pounced suddenly with talk of love. - -"How could you love me?" he said, repeating his thought. "But won't you -let me work for your love? I should try to earn it. If love came you -would forget that Diversity was hateful to you. It would be a garden to -you as it is to me--for my love had blossomed there." - -"No," she said, sharply. "If I worshiped you, and you asked me to live -in that miserable town, with its miserable people, I should refuse. It -would torture me, but I could not live there." - -"Think," he urged. "Take time to think. This has come to you -unexpectedly. Wait before you set your will against my love. Give me my -chance." - -"No. You must not speak of it again. I am only an incident in your life. -Set me aside. Forget this afternoon. You must forget it." - -"You won't consider? You won't wait for another day's judgment?" - -"No." - -Jim turned away his face, turned it away from her lest the embers of the -sunset should show how gray, how tired, how discouraged it was. - -"I--I'm sorry," she said, softly. - -He turned and smiled. "I am glad," he said. "Glad I love you, no matter -what comes between now and the end. I shall not worry you again with it, -but I want you to know, to be sure in your heart, day by day, every -hour, that I do love you and am longing for you. I have spoiled your -evening." - -"No," she said. "It has been--sweet. So sweet!" - -He was startled to see her burst into tears, and sob with great, -wrenching sobs that shook her small body. - -Presently she became calm, dried her eyes, smiled, and her smile was the -ghost of a spirit of wistfulness. - -"If only," she said, tremulously, "I were like other girls. But I'm not. -I'm me. I'm selfish. I despise myself." - -"No, no," he said; "don't remember this with a thought of pain. And do -not withdraw from me altogether. Let us cancel to-night to start -to-morrow on a new basis--as friends. You are lonely; I am lonely. I'll -not worry you with love. But I'll try to be a dependable friend to you. -Can we do that?" - -"It sounds impossible," she said, "but we can try." - -Love finds encouragement in trifles. The weight of Jim's heaviness -became less. He hoped. If Pandora had not loosed hope into the world the -lovers' portion would be miserable indeed. - -It was late when they reached the Widow Stickney's, but she was waiting -for them in her parlor. Her old eyes with their years of seeing were not -to be deceived. She saw what she saw. - -Marie went quickly to her room. They said good night at the foot of the -stairs. Jim extended his hand, held her little one in his grasp. - -"Good night, friend," he said, and smiled into her face. - -She sat beside her window without undressing, motionless, even her eyes -seeming without motion. She was wrestling, even as Jacob had wrestled, -with an angel. But her angel had no divine touch of the finger to -conquer her as the patriarch had been conquered. - -The angel met defeat. - -Marie lay face downward on the bed, tearless, passing through the agony -she had brought on herself. - -"I love him," she whispered. "I love him. But I can't. I can't." - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - -Between the fall of darkness Sunday night and the breaking of dawn on -Monday industrious persons had beautified Diversity by nailing to tree, -fence, and barn half-tone productions of a photograph of Peleg Goodwin, -wherein Peleg was shown wearing a collar of the Daniel Webster type and -an expression like a slightly soured Signer of the Declaration. Peleg's -beard was neatly trimmed; there was a part in his bushy hair. Somehow it -did not impress one as authentic, but as a bit of trick photography. It -excited some argument. People were disinclined to believe it really was -Peleg, but some more glorious being who chanced to resemble Peleg -somewhat. - -"That there Peleg!" snorted Dolf Springer. "You couldn't pound Peleg's -face into no such noble expression with a sledge. That there's Peleg's -twin brother that died and went to heaven 'fore Peleg got him into bad -habits." - -"If that's Peleg," said old man Ruggles in a voice like a wheezy tin -whistle, "then these here blue jeans is broadcloth weddin'-pants." - -"I don't see but what it resembles him close," said a supporter of -Goodwin's. - -"That," said Dolf, "is prob'ly 'cause somebody's give you a dollar to -think that way." - -"My vote hain't for sale," shouted the virtuous citizen. - -"Neither does a mortgage draw int'rest," said Dolf. - -Jim drove on, chuckling. One thing was apparent--somebody was spending -money to defeat Zaanan Frame. It was not all going for printing, either, -Jim felt certain. How would Zaanan meet this attack? Had he money to -spend in a campaign? A worry lest the old fellow had passed his -fighting-day oppressed Jim. He stopped at Zaanan's office. - -"I see the campaign has opened," he said. - -"Peleg's a handsome critter, hain't he?" Zaanan said. - -"Moran's going to dump a lot of money and a lot of dirty politics in -here," Jim said. "What are you going to do about it?" - -"Me? Not much, I calc'late. I hain't what you'd call a political -campaigner. Don't go in for no hip-hurrah just 'round election-time. -Keep reasonable busy the whole twelve months." - -"Aren't you going to do anything to offset Moran's money?" - -"Dun'no's I be," said Zaanan, placidly. - -"They'll beat you in the caucus as sure as you're a foot high," Jim -said, anxiously. "They've got to do it there. I don't believe they could -worry you in an election." - -"Caucuses is uncertain," said Zaanan. "Delegates and sheep is close -related. Can't never tell when or where they'll run." - -"Do you need money?" Jim asked, a shade diffidently. "I thought if you -did--" - -"Young feller, if I had a million dollars I wouldn't spend a cent. If -folks elect me to office it'll be 'cause they want me, and not 'cause -they're paid to vote for me. But I calc'late I'm obleeged to you. It was -a right friendly offer." - -"Is there anything I can do?" - -"Yes," said Zaanan, with a chuckle; "go 'long and tend to your own -business. Git your own neck out of the noose 'fore you reach out to help -me over a fence. G'-by, Jim." - -When Jim got to the mill he found Grierson ready with his weekly report. -The old bookkeeper had put in a happy Sunday preparing it. From morning -till night he had scratched and crackled in figures and computations--a -regular debauch. - -"She's coming. She's coming now," Grierson said, his face wrinkling -dryly as if the skin were ledger paper. "Shows sixty-five boxes to the -machine." - -"But shipments are less than ever," Jim said as he glanced over the -sheet. - -"Cars," said Grierson, shortly. "Goods are in the warehouse, but the -railroad won't set in cars to ship them out." - -Moran's railroad would not set in cars. This was not altogether -unexpected. The railroad could hamper him, delay him--and escape under -the plea of a car shortage. Crops were moving. The excuse would hold -good. Jim knew he was powerless against this new aggression. - -Then came a telegram from New York, driving temporarily from Jim's mind -the matter of freight-cars. It was a long telegram: - - German steamer _Dessau_ sunk 50,000 boxes pins aboard, bound - Bremen to Argentine. Agents Argentine firms offer 70 cents on - dock here. Have order 15,000 boxes if can ship ten days. Money - on dock. Welliver fill order you cannot. - -Seventy cents for pins with the New York market at forty-four cents or -thereabouts! A clean killing of nearly fifty-five hundred dollars! - -Jim snatched up Grierson's report. It showed seven thousand boxes packed -in the warehouse, and estimated twelve thousand boxes unpacked in the -bins. He did not wait to weigh consequences or to offset difficulties. - - Accept order. Will ship 15,000 boxes pins ten days this date - seventy cents New York. - -This message despatched, Jim rushed out into the mill in search of Beam; -told him the fact. - -"How will we get them packed out?" he asked. - -"If you was to ask me serious," said Beam, with a frown, "I'd say you -couldn't." - -"We've got to. How many are we packing out a day?" - -"Close to a thousand boxes. These packers are the limit. They can't get -up speed." - -"We've got to make some regular shipments. That means about fifteen -thousand boxes to pack out in ten days. Put on a double force of -packers." - -"Where'll I git 'em? We're short now, and no place to go for more." - -"Get boys, then," said Jim. "And tell the men--any of them that are -willing to work evenings--to come in and pack. We'll run that -packing-room twenty-four hours a day if we have to." - -"You're the boss," said Beam, dubiously. - -Jim went in person to the freight department of the railroad. He made -requisition for eight extra cars to be set in within ten days. - -"Can't be done," said the freight-agent. "We haven't and won't have the -cars." - -"You mean you have orders not to set in cars for us, don't you? Well, -Mister Freight-Agent, I'm going to have those cars. You see to it -they're set in or things'll happen round here." - -"You can't bulldoze me," said the man. "I know what I'm doin'. You'll -get what cars I set in, and no more. And if you talk too much maybe you -won't get any." - -Jim glared at the man, half of a mind to haul him over the desk and -argue with him physically, but thought better of it and slammed out of -the office. He had to have those cars. It was equally clear the road -would not give them to him. What then? - -To reach the office again Jim had to pass through the yard where dry -lumber for turned stock was piled. There was, he noticed, a reasonable -supply, but no heavy stock. More would have to be bought within the -month, for his own sawmill had not yet been able to cut out for drying -sufficient quantities to carry on operations. Drying, air-drying, -requires time. Until his own boards could dry, lumber must be purchased. -Thence came the idea. - -He hurried to the office and sent wires to Muskegon, to Traverse City, -to Reed City, to the big lumber-mills of the section. - - How much two-inch stock can you ship at once. Must come - box-cars. Price. - -In two hours he had replies, irritated, humorous, bewildered. - -"Box-cars? Are you crazy?" one said. Jim grinned. He knew it must sound -like lunacy to be ordering lumber of the class he wanted in box-cars. He -replied to all, reiterating his demands. - -"Fifty cents extra per thousand for loading," came back replies. - -"How many cars?" Jim countered. "When?" - -Muskegon could ship two cars next day and one the day after. Traverse -could ship three cars within three days. Reed City could ship four, on -four successive days. - -"O. K.," wired Jim. "Let them come hustling." - -He had solved his car problem. Moran's road could not stop cars shipped -through. They would be set in on Jim's siding and unloaded, and because -Jim had requisitions in for cars as yet unsupplied, he could reload them -and ship them out again filled with his product. - -He called in Grierson. - -"I've accepted an order for fifteen thousand pins for Argentine -Republic. Price seventy cents New York. To be shipped in ten days." - -Grierson threw up his hands. "We haven't the pins. We can't get the cars -to ship them." - -"We've got the pins, and the cars are on their way to us. Send your -young man out after Beam." - -The superintendent came in presently. - -"I've got ten box-cars of two-inch maple and birch coming in within the -next three or four days. Have a gang ready to take care of it. Put on -enough extra men in the shipping department to load as fast as the cars -empty," he said. - -Beam gaped at Jim. Then his eyes brightened, he grinned, he threw back -his head and roared. - -"Mr. Ashe," he said, when he could speak, "you're a regular feller, and -sudden!" - -The cars arrived. On the eighth day fifteen thousand boxes of pins were -on their way to New York in eight box-cars, and the freight-agent of -Moran's railroad looked at Jim with the light of admiration in his eyes. -Jim had met a sudden emergency suddenly and efficiently. He was tempted -to sit down and describe the feat to his father, who would have -delighted in it. But he did not. He remembered Clothespin Jimmy's -admonition not to bother him with his business. - -But Clothespin Jimmy learned of the matter, which Jim did not know. He -learned of it promptly, as he learned most of the details of what went -on in the mill, from a source Jim was far from suspecting. - -The day after the last car was on its way Zaanan Frame stopped Jim on -the street. - -"Hain't forgot that strip of timber of old Le Bar's?" he asked. - -"No," said Jim. - -"Nice afternoon for a drive," said Zaanan, "out toward Le Bar's." - -"Very," said Jim, smiling at the old man's manner of handling a -situation. "Would you like to go with me?" - -"No," said Zaanan, gruffly, "but if I was drivin' that way and come to -Bullet's Corners and there wa'n't nobody there, I calc'late I'd slack -down and wait till somebody come. G'-by, Jim." - -After dinner Jim drove out toward Le Bar's. At Bullet's Corners, waiting -in the shade of a big hickory, were Zaanan Frame and his horse Tiffany. - -"Howdy," said Zaanan. "Goin' somewheres?" - -"Thought I'd call on old man Le Bar," said Jim, playing the game -according to Zaanan's rules. - -"Goin' that way myself," said Zaanan, with surprise that seemed real. -"Calc'late I'll git there 'bout a quarter of an hour first, seem's I've -got the best horse." - -"You have a fine animal," said Jim, without a quiver. - -Zaanan looked over at him suspiciously; gazed at Tiffany's ancient and -knobby frame; opened his mouth as though to make an observation, but -decided on silence. - -"G'-by, Jim," he said, in a moment. - -"G'-by, Judge," said Jim. - -In an honest fifteen minutes Jim drove on until he saw two old men -sitting on the door-step of a house at the roadside. It was a little, -weather-beaten house, not such as one would expect to find the owner of -a fortune in timber housed in. But one of the men was Zaanan Frame, so -Jim stopped and alighted. - -"Jim," said Zaanan, "meet Mr. Le Bar. This here's Mr. Ashe, Louis." - -"She's yo'ng man," said Louis, with a twinkle. - -"Mr. Le Bar figgers he's gittin' on in life," said Zaanan. "He sort of -wants to git his affairs settled up on account of maybe bein' called -away sudden--" - -"When le bon Dieu say," Louis interjected, softly. - -"He owns quite a piece of timber," said Zaanan, "and figgered you might -have some use for it. Hardwood." - -"Yes," said Jim, not knowing what was expected of him. "How many acres?" - -"Twenty t'ousand-odd acre," said Louis. - -"It'll run twenty to twenty-five thousand beech, birch, and maple to the -acre," said Zaanan. - -"Diversity Hardwood Company dey hoffer me twelf dollar an acre," said -Louis. "But me, I not sell to heem for twenty. I sell not at all till -comes dat time w'en I'm ready. Now dat time she's come." - -"How much are you asking?" - -"First price--twelf dollar and a half; last price--twelf dollar and a -half. No dicker." - -Jim looked at Zaanan, who nodded. - -"I'll take a sixty-day option at that price, if you're agreeable." - -"How much for dat option?" - -"A thousand dollars," said Jim. - -"Ver' good. We make trade, eh? Now Zaanan she write for us a paper." - -Zaanan completed the legal details; they smoked and ate of Louis's honey -and doughnuts, and started on the return to Diversity. - -"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars," Jim said to Zaanan as their -buggies came abreast on a broad stretch of road. "It's a lot of money." - -"Um! I've knowed fellers to do a lot with an option down to Grand -Rapids." - -"What ought I to get for this land?" - -"Some folks might go as high as thirteen dollars. But if they was apt to -lose it I shouldn't be s'prised if this Diversity Hardwood Company was -to go fifteen. It's wuth it to them--or anybody else. But I calc'late -I'd git a bonyfidy offer from some other feller 'fore I went to Moran's -crowd." - -"I calculate so, too," said Jim. Then after a pause: "Why didn't you go -into this yourself. Judge? You could have handled it." - -"Young feller, I'm past seventy. I got enough so's nobody kin starve me. -I hain't chick nor child nor relative on earth. What d'you calc'late I'd -do with more 'n I've got? It's come too late for me, Jim. I've sort of -give up my aims and ambitions for Diversity, and hain't got none left. -Diversity's used me up, sich as I be, and it's welcome to what it got. -And me, I guess I got my pay all right. I've seen marryin's and -christenin's. I've seen young folks happy and old folks comforted. I've -stuck my finger into folkses' pies, and seen 'em with tears in their -eyes that was better 'n thanks. No, son, I've had my investment and my -profits. You're welcome to yourn." - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - -It was the following Friday that Jim's attention was called to the scant -stock of logs on the skids. He knew that the mill had been eating up -more timber than before, and of course was pleased, for that meant an -increased production. He knew, too, that the Diversity Hardwood Company -had missed sending down a train of logs once or twice when they should -have been sent; but other matters had filled his attention to the -exclusion of this. - -John Beam saw Jim staring at the logs and stepped over to his side. - -"I was comin' up to see you about this to-day," he said. "Them folks is -givin' us the worst of it, plenty. Look at the logs they're sendin' -down. Mostly beech, and dozy at that. For a week we've been short of -maple for veneer. And they've been holdin' back on us. We're usin' twice -what they're sendin' down. I asked the boss of their train crew what was -the matter, and he just grinned at me so's I wanted to land him one, and -says we was lucky to be alive." - -"Do you think they're trying to tie us up?" - -"I don't _think_ it," said John. - -Jim turned on his heel and strode back to the office. He called the -Diversity Company on the telephone. - -"We're running short of logs," he said. "You've been cutting down on -shipments. When can we have another train-load?" - -"Things aren't going just right in the woods," said a voice. "I don't -believe we can get you more than a small train-load before Tuesday or -Wednesday." - -"We'll be shut down Saturday if we don't get logs." - -"I'm sorry, Mr. Ashe, but we're doing our best." - -"Is Mr. Moran there?" - -"He'll be in on the afternoon train." - -Jim hung up the receiver. He had been feeling too fine; he had grown -cocky at his recent successes; now he had a taste of the opposite -emotion. His mill was running better--but what good did it do if the log -supply failed? He had been able to borrow money to pay bills and to -operate--but that only made matters worse if he were unable to get out -his product. He had an option on Le Bar's timber. This might or might -not be a profitable matter, but it was of no present help. He must have -logs. - -That afternoon he was at the depot as the train pulled in. Moran -alighted and Jim fastened upon him instantly. "Mr. Moran," he said, -"your men are not getting logs to us." - -"Um! What seems to be wrong?" Moran's voice was irritating. Jim fancied -it was deliberately irritating. - -"I'm not here to tell you what's wrong. That's your lookout," Jim said. -"Your business is to supply us with logs according to our contract--and -if anything interferes it's your job to see it doesn't interfere." - -Moran's eyes glinted. - -"You'll get logs as we're able to ship them. Our first business is to -supply our own mill. You're a side issue." - -"That's your attitude, is it? The obligation of contract means very -little to you." - -"That contract was none of my making, Ashe. And if you don't like the -way we carry it out, you have your redress. Go to the courts." - -"I guess I've smoked out the reason we aren't getting what we're -entitled to," said Jim, his voice rising with his anger. "Its name is -Moran--a pretty unsavory reason, from all I gather." - -Moran glared. - -"You can't talk to me like that, young man. You can't bulldoze me." He -started to move away. Jim reached out swiftly, caught the man by the -shoulder, and slammed him against the side of the depot. - -"I'm not through talking with you," he said, evenly, his eyes beginning -to glow. "When I want to talk to a man I don't consider it good manners -for him to walk off. Now, Mister Man, you stay put till I've mentioned a -few things to you. If you budge I'll fetch you back again." - -Moran struggled, cursed, and struck at Jim. - -"I don't want to thrash you, Moran," said Jim, "but I can--and I may -have to. It depends on you. Stand still!" - -Moran turned his savage eyes on the young man's face. What he saw made -him hesitate. He ceased to struggle; stood glaring venomously. - -"Now listen," said Jim, unconscious of the knot of Diversity's citizens -who had gathered about. "You've been needing to hear a few facts and -opinions, and to-day's the date of delivery. You and your railroad have -been a blight on this county. You're trying to turn the Diversity -Company into another blight. So far as I can learn you haven't a decent -hair on your head. You're never guilty of a fair and decent act if hard -work will show you a crooked way out of it. You've gouged citizens and -shippers with your railroad; you've robbed your laborers in the woods. -If you have any associates I expect you've cheated them. - -"Now you're trying to grab all Diversity and run it as you run your -business. You're trying to steal a well-governed, honest town, and turn -it into the sort of thing you admire. You came to me and asked me to -help you. You want to make this county a little principality, with you -as the autocrat. It would be a sad day for Diversity. If the people of -this town have the sense the Almighty gave doodle-bugs they'll see what -you're up to. You want the courts. You want the machinery of the law, so -you can sack the place. Not a man here, not a man in your woods, would -be safe in life or property. You could wrong without fear of redress. So -far you've been able to get away with it, but I'm thinking the folks -here will wake up in time. If you've been a crook with men you've been a -miserable brute with women." - -Moran cursed again, but Jim quelled his struggle promptly. - -"It's astonishing," he went on, "that some woman's brother or father -hasn't seen to it you got what you deserve. Some day one of them will." - -Jim was surprised into a moment's silence by the sudden grayness that -shaded Moran's face, by the expression of furtiveness, of fear, that -crept into his eyes. - -"Oh, you're a bit afraid of that, eh? You ought to be. Now for personal -matters. You think the Ashe Clothespin Company would be a fine property -to add to your holdings, so you mixed up with Welliver and his gang to -break me. You hired the Kowterskis to spike my logs and to tamper with -my machinery, and you saw what happened to one Kowterski. You've tried -to hold back cars so I couldn't ship; now you're planning to cut me off -on timber. Well, you aren't going to do it." He thought of Marie -Ducharme. "And there's another matter, which we won't discuss publicly. -If you think hard perhaps you'll guess. That's what made me despise you -first. I don't suppose it matters to you how many decent folks despise -you, Moran, but it gives me some satisfaction to tell you there are a -lot of them. I guess that's about all, except that I've got to have -logs--and I'm going to have them." He loosened his hold. Moran moved his -head in his released collar, drew a long breath. - -"Through, are you? Well, Ashe, see if you're man enough to listen to me -without using the strong arm. You've made your talk. Maybe you think you -can talk that way to Michael Moran and get away with it. I've a few -things to settle with you, and this isn't the least." His partially -restrained passion burst its bonds in fury. "I'll get you!" he shouted. -"I'll bust you if it takes every dollar I own. Logs! See how many logs -you get. Where'll you be by the time the courts give you damages--and by -that time the courts will belong to me. You've started in to crowd me, -too, you infernal fool. What good do you think that Le Bar option is -going to do you? Do you think I'll buy from you? Don't you suppose I can -stop a sale to anybody else? You just lose your thousand, that's all. -And that last thing that you didn't describe. I know what it is, Ashe, -and take a warning from me. Change your boarding-house and get out of my -way." He turned, pushed his way violently through the little crowd, and -almost ran down the street. - -As Jim followed more slowly he heard a man say: "Gosh! I wouldn't be him -for consid'able. Wait till Moran gits at him." - -Jim rather longed for that moment. He went at once to Grierson's desk. - -"Where's our log contract?" he asked. Grierson got it from the safe. Jim -jerked it open, read it quickly. His eyes lighted, his teeth clicked. -"Listen to this," he said. "Does it mean what it says--legally? 'If for -any reason the said Diversity Hardwood Company shall fail to deliver to -the said Ashe Clothespin Company logs according to the terms of this -contract in sufficient number to fill the requirements of the said Ashe -Clothespin Company, then the said Clothespin Company shall have the -right to go upon the lands of the Hardwood Company at the most -convenient place to them, and to cut timber, take logs from skidways, -make use of all tools and appliances belonging to the Hardwood Company -which shall be necessary to such logging operations, and this shall -include the use of camps, railroads, teams, tools, and any equipment -which is available. The cost of such operations shall be faithfully -noted and shall be deducted from the contract price of the timber taken -in such manner.'" - -Grierson peered at Jim through his glasses. "It's a usual clause in such -contracts," he said, "and I guess it's legal. But that's as strong a -clause as I ever saw. I don't know as I ever heard of one that was -enforced." - -"This one is going to be," said Jim, shortly. "Go out to the log-yard," -he said to Grierson's assistant, "and send Tim Bennett here." - -"Tim," said Jim, when the cant-dog man appeared, "there was a time when -lumberjacks would fight for their boss." - -"Who says I won't?" Tim demanded, belligerently. - -"Just wanted to find out," said Jim, with a smile that Tim answered -broadly. "Know where there are any more like you?" - -"Lumberjacks--real ones--is leavin' this county as fast as they kin go. -But there's some left. Shouldn't be s'prised if I could dig up a couple -of dozen." - -"I want clean men--no boozers--on duty. I want men to depend on in a -pinch, who will keep their mouths shut. And I'd just as soon they -wouldn't be friends of Michael Moran." - -"Mike Moran, is it?" Tim asked, his eyes gleaming. "Are you goin' after -him? 'Tis a glad day for Tim Bennett. Friends of Mike's--there hain't no -sich animal, Mr. Ashe." - -"Find all you can. Don't tell 'em what's up--because you don't know," -Jim said, with a twinkle. "Don't get 'em together in a gang, but have -'em meet to-morrow night in that bunch of cedar this side the red -bridge. If they happen to have peavey handles they might bring them -along." - -"To use for canes where the walkin's bad," grinned Tim. "I'll have them -there." - -Jim was not satisfied. He wired a friend in the old home town: - - Go down Patsy's have him send twenty good boys. Ten on - afternoon, ten on morning train to-morrow. With peavey handles. - -He knew this would be enough; that Patsy Garrity would send him the men -he needed. - -Jim wanted advice, but hesitated to ask it. He knew Zaanan Frame was his -friend, but the old man was on the side of law and order. He might frown -on Jim's intention, for, lawful as it was, it might, probably would, -turn out to be anything but orderly or peaceful. Still, he decided to -go. - -Zaanan listened to him quietly, let him finish without comment. - -"Blood's young," he said at the end, and wagged his head. "But this time -I calc'late there hain't no other way. Moran hain't got no use for law, -but he'll go rushin' off for a temp'rary injunction. That'll tie you up -till he kin collect his army. If I was doin' this I calc'late I'd git -there first. Eh? See young Bob Allen that's runnin' for prosecutor. -He'll draw the bill for you. You're startin' in on a real job, Jim. -Better be reasonable sure you're ready to finish it 'fore you start in. -G'-by, Jim." - -Jim went to Bob Allen. The young lawyer's eyes shone as he listened. - -"It's coming to him," he said. "Moran's been needing somebody to handle -him without tongs. Mr. Ashe, if I get to be prosecutor, and you'll back -me, I'll chase him round in circles. I'll do it whether you back me or -not. We want to handle this right. When do you plan to land your -invasion?" - -"About midnight to-morrow." - -"Then Judge Scudder's due to have his rest broken. I'll be at his house -at midnight with the papers--and a deputy. He'll issue the injunction, -all right. By that time you'll be in full blossom. The deputy will slide -off to serve the restraining order. Gosh! I'd like to be along with -you." - -"I'd like to have you," said Jim, heartily. "We've never had time to get -acquainted, but I guess we're going to. Eh?" - -"You bet you!" said Allen. "This place has been drifting along to the -graveyard. It's a godsend to have somebody come along that's sudden. -From what I hear you're sudden enough to suit anybody--judging from your -little love-feast with Moran this afternoon." - -"I suppose the citizens are holding a funeral over me." - -"Yes. But they're thinking, too. You mentioned a few things that gave -them something to think about. I don't figure you did Peleg Goodwin's -campaign a heap of good. It's going to be a fight, though. Moran's -spending money." - -"The next prosecutor ought to have legal evidence of it," said Jim. - -"By Jove!" Allen exclaimed, "that's something I overlooked. If evidence -is to be had I'll get it." - -Jim went back to the office to study a map of the section and to lay the -plans for his campaign. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - -That night Tim Bennett's lumberjacks began to drift in. There were -Danes, Frenchmen, Irish, a sprinkling of Indians. They did not linger in -Diversity, nor did they congregate, but passed quickly through with a -cheerful air. There was exhilaration, anticipation, in their eyes, -whether of Scandinavian blue or of aboriginal black. Old times were back -again. For a moment a decadent age of which they despaired was returning -to better manners, and there was to be a fight. Peavey handles! There -was joy to be had from the very sound of it. In the morning a scattering -of big men, predominantly Irish, got off the train and straggled away. -In the afternoon another group arrived. They came so quietly, so -unostentatiously, that Diversity was hardly aware of them. A full fifty -were on hand--fifty fighting-men such as no other set of conditions has -produced, men who fought and worked for the joy of it. A race of men who -worked, not for pay, but because they loved the work, is worthy of -chronicle. They live no more. Men whose highest wage was the knowledge -that their camp or crew, or they individually, had done more and harder -and better work than some other camp or crew or individual have resident -in them something that should be handed down through time for other -generations to admire. They possessed vices, but they were brief, -flaming, roaring safety-valve vices, almost epic in themselves. For -months they were accustomed to live austere, laborious, loyal lives in -the ramps. Then for a day, a week, they appeared among their fellows, -and their fellows received them and robbed them and plied them with -liquor and directed their splendid energies into ways of debauchery. On -the scales of justice the robust virtue of them outweighs their brief, -primitive descents into the depths. They were men. - -Tim Bennett reported to Jim Ashe. "They're here, fair bustin' with the -thought of it. The taste of a fight is in their mouths and they're -rollin' it under their tongues." - -"Good men?" - -"Mr. Ashe," said Tim, joyously, "I'd undertake to drive logs through -hell with 'em--and the devil throwin' rocks from the shore." - -"Any talk in town?" - -"Not a peep. Them boys sneaked through like the shadow of a flock of -hummin'-birds. They're keepin' quiet where they are without even a bit -of a song. By night there'll be so much deviltry penned up in 'ere -lookin' for a place to bust out, that when it does come Moran'll think a -herd of boilers is blowin' up round him." - -"Go out, then, and keep them quiet. I'll be along by ten to-night." - -It was not Jim's intention to descend upon the Diversity Hardwood -Company with his men blindly and to seize what might by good fortune -fall into his hands. He had planned well, as a good general plans. -Simultaneously he would strike at several points, so that in a single -moment, if all went well, the machinery he needed to move logs would be -in his hands. He was ready. - -Satisfied he had done all he could do to make success certain, Jim went -home to the widow's to supper. He was excited. Appetite was lacking. He -felt inside very much like a countryman descending for the first time in -a swift elevator. It was not fear; it was not excitement; it was all the -nerves of his body setting and bracing themselves, making ready to -respond to strain. - -He scarcely touched his food; sat silently reviewing his plans to make -sure every point was checked up, that there would be no omissions, no -mistake. The widow watched him out of the corner of her shrewd eye; -Marie Ducharme watched him, too, less shrewdly, with a different sort of -glance. Marie's eyes were dark with much brooding; were circled by drab -shadows drawn by the finger of mental anguish. If Jim had looked at her -he would have seen again that hungry look with which she followed the -departing train--but now it was bent upon himself. - -The widow withdrew to the kitchen, not obviously, but with sufficient -pretext. She sensed a quarrel; she saw in Jim's silence and lack of -appetite an ailment of the heart, not a business worry. She fancied -Marie's face spoke of willingness to be reconciled--and eliminated -herself to give the difficulty a chance to right itself. Widows have a -way of seeing more love-affairs than are visible to other eyes--more, in -fact, than are in being. - -Presently Marie spoke: - -"Jim," she said. It was the first time she had called him by his first -name. "Jim, I want to go somewhere, do something, to-night. I want to -get away from this house." - -Jim looked at her a moment, and she was hurt to see he was not thinking -of her, had hardly understood her words. Perhaps she, too, had put on -his silence the same interpretation as the widow. - -"Go somewhere?" he said, vaguely, then flushed at his awkwardness. "I'm -sorry, Marie. I was a long way off when you spoke. It was rude, wasn't -it? But I've had such a heap of things to think about these last days -that some of them insist on hanging round outside of business hours. Has -something happened? Any trouble with Mrs. Stickney?" - -"No. No trouble. I just want to get away. I want you to talk to me and -keep me from thinking about myself--and some things. I--I'm afraid -tonight, Jim." - -Jim bit his lip boyishly. - -"Confound it!" he said. "I simply can't get away to-night. Business. But -don't I wish I could go with you some place--and talk to you. There are -things I wanted to say to you the other night, Marie, that--well, I -guess it took time for me to think of. I want to talk to you about the -same thing, for I've been thinking about the same thing. I was too -abrupt. You were right to give me the answer you did--but I've got some -more arguments now, a lot of them." - -Marie's face softened. How boyish, how eagerly boyish he was! - -"You mustn't talk about that," she said, gently. "I can't change. Your -work is here. You're tied to it. And I must get away from it--to stay. -Can't you understand? Don't misunderstand me, Jim. It wasn't to give you -a chance to ask me to reconsider that I asked you to go out with me. No. -No. It was to have you to talk to. To have the consciousness that I was -with a man--a man who--was--a human being." Her voice faltered. "I -wanted you to say to me some of the things you have said before--about -people being good, about the world being good, about faith and -trustworthiness and honor. I don't know those things, but I want to hear -about them--to-night. Because I'm afraid." - -"Afraid of what?" - -"Afraid of--myself. I talked to you that first day we met--more than I -should. So you know me. I am the same girl I was then, but I am not the -same girl. Then I knew it would be possible for me to choose the--bitter -way. To choose it deliberately as a way of escape. But I did not know -then how bitter that way would be. Now I know I should not choose it -deliberately, but be forced into it by--by myself." - -"You mustn't talk that way, I won't have you say that sort of thing -about--my girl." - -"It's true, and I am afraid. Can't your business step aside for -to-night?" - -"It can't, Marie. If it were an ordinary night or an ordinary matter -that calls me, I would stay." He stopped, considered. It was his nature -to speak little of his affairs, to offer few confidences. To tell Marie -the truth seemed his only honorable way of escape from the dilemma. -"I'll tell you about it," he said, with sudden decision, "and you will -understand." - -Then he told her, from the beginning in his father's library. He -described his difficulties, his war with the Clothespin Club, his -bitterer war with Michael Moran. He told her what Moran had done and was -seeking to do. He told her his measures of defense and of -counter-attack, and particularly the plan for to-night. "And so you -see," he ended, "I must go." - -"Yes," she said, slowly, "you must go. And Michael Moran has done those -things? You must hate him!" - -"Yes," said Jim, "but not for what he has done to me. I hate him -because--" He hesitated, unable to bring himself to utter the thought in -connection with Marie. - -"Because?" Marie questioned. - -"Because," said Jim, between his teeth, "he is planning and working to -make you take the choice you have talked about without appreciating what -you were saying." - -"Yes," said Marie, her eyes shut as though to hide from her a painful -sight--"yes, he is doing that. And I have known what I was saying, Jim. -I know what I am saying now. I wish you could have stayed with me -to-night, Jim. I'm afraid--afraid." She arose and ran from the room. - -When Jim left the house it was with a troubled mind. He did not -understand Marie; she was not fathomable by him. The evening's zest of -adventure lay cold within him. - -Shortly after eight o'clock he drove away from the livery barn. As he -drove past the Widow Stickney's street he glanced toward the house and -saw Michael Moran entering the yard. What he did not see was Marie -Ducharme leaving by the back way, hurrying as though pursued, making her -way to the edge of town and beyond--beyond until she arrived at the -hummock where she and Jim had first spoken. And there she crouched, -looking off to the southwest where a silver gleam of the great lake was -visible between the trees. It grew darker, but she did not move; dew -fell upon her shoulders, chilling her; the lake breeze penetrated her -thin garments, but she replied only with a shiver. Her hands were -clenched on her breast. "Help me! Help me!" she whispered her soul -crying to a Power outside herself. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - -The moon lighted Jim Ashe to the spot where Tim Bennett and his company -of lumberjacks waited. It must be confessed that Jim's thoughts on the -way had more to do with Marie Ducharme than with the enterprise of the -night. He thought of Michael Moran, too; hoped in a vague sort of way -that the night might bring him face to face with Moran in not peaceful -circumstances, for he was young enough to feel the need of settling -scores in a physical manner. - -Bennett and the men were awaiting him impatiently, though he arrived a -full half-hour before his time. They crowded about him, appraising him -as a leader, for many of them had never seen him before. He satisfied -them. Bennett had told them stories of Sudden Jim which they approved. -The result was that they were willing, eager to follow wherever he might -lead, careless of consequences to themselves. - -"I worked for your dad," shouted a huge Irishman. "Then you worked for a -better man than I," said Jim. - -"It's a proper son that admits the same," replied the man. - -"Boys," said Jim, "we may have a tough job this night and we may have an -easy one. We'll figure it at its toughest. You came without knowing why -you were coming. I'll tell you. We're going to seize the Diversity -Hardwood Company's logging railroad; we're going to take charge of the -rolling stock. We're going to capture Camp One with all the logs we can -get, and enough standing timber to cut what we need. There's a fair gang -in Camp One, but mostly Poles and Hunkies and Italians." - -"L'ave us at 'em!" bellowed the big Irishman. "Shut up and listen," said -Jim, sharply; and the Irishman grinned delightedly. That was the way to -speak up to a man. - -"The engine is in the roundhouse. Ten trucks stand on the siding near -it. There are twenty more trucks at the landings by Camp One. Can -anybody here run a locomotive?" - -"Me," said a stocky Dane. - -"There'll be nobody there but a watchman or so. Take ten men and make -for town. Land on that roundhouse at eleven o'clock. Hitch on to the -trucks and scoot for the woods with them. Pick your own men and start -now. The rest of us hike across lots to Camp One. You didn't forget -peavey handles, I see." Jim grinned down at them and leaped from his -buggy. - -The parties separated, one moving townward, the other into the woods in -the direction of the Diversity Company's cuttings. With the latter went -Jim. - -They marched through the moonlit woods gaily as to a merrymaking, but -withal as silently as such men could march. They jostled one another, -slyly tripped one another, found delight in holding down springy -saplings so they would spring back to switch the ears of the man coming -behind. It was a picnic of big boys--which would be no picnic when they -stripped and got down to business. - -For half an hour they stumbled along. An unexpected voice called from -the obscurity ahead. - -"Mr. Ashe." - -"What is it?" Jim demanded. He knew here was none of his own men; -wondered who else was abroad in the woods at that time of night. "Who is -it?" - -"Gilders," said the man, stepping into view. The rifle, which seemed as -much a part of his usual costume as his floppy hat, was under his arm. -He stopped, was surrounded by Jim's lumberjacks. - -"What are you doing here at this time of night?" Jim demanded. - -"I am here--many places--at what time of night is best," said Gilders. -"Night or day--what's the difference?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I cut -across from town to catch you. Moran's warned. He's got a dozen men at -the roundhouse. They've telephoned the camps." - -Moran warned! It seemed impossible. Who could have given warning? Jim -named over mentally those who knew what was afoot. Zaanan Frame--he had -not talked. Allen--he, too, was a safe man. Grierson--oxen could not -have drawn a word from him. Marie Ducharme? She knew. Jim had seen Moran -going to her but an hour before. Marie Ducharme. He would not believe -she could be guilty of such a betrayal of confidence. It was not in her -to commit such an act. Yet she had not seemed herself. Something had -happened. She had been afraid. Jim closed his eyes, bit his under lip. -No one else who knew could have given the warning. The opportunity had -been hers. The logic of events bore against her. - -Jim turned to Gilders. - -"Can you lead me to town the way you came?" - -"Yes." - -"Tim Bennett, you're boss of the gang that goes to the camp. I'll take -ten men away from you. You'll have thirty--it ought to be enough. -You"--he pointed to a man--"come with me, and you and you and you." He -selected his men. "On the jump," he said to Gilders, and at the heels of -their guide they plunged headlong to re-enforce the party that had gone -before. - -Jim held a match to his watch. It was fifteen minutes past ten. They had -three-quarters of an hour to reach a point that could not be reached in -less than an hour. When they arrived the battle for the roundhouse would -have been on a quarter of an hour. If Moran's party were strong enough -that quarter of an hour might spell defeat for the whole enterprise. If -the first attacking party could hold out until Jim arrived-- - -"Hustle," Jim said, briefly, and saved his breath for the exertion -before him. - -The men went silently now, grimly. The smell of imminent battle was in -their noses. Ahead of them were comrades facing uneven odds. It was not -simply to fight that they hurried, but to succor their friends. Jim's -legs, untrained to woods travel, cried out for rest, but his will -compelled them on. - -At last lights shone below them, the black tube of the Diversity -Company's smokestack lifted into the star-shimmering sky--ten minutes -would take them to it. They heard a sudden, distant shout, other shouts, -a babel of sounds subdued by distance. The fight for the roundhouse was -on. The attacking party had struck, had met surprising resistance. - -"Run!" shouted Jim. - -They ran, stumbling, falling headlong. Men's breath came pantingly; -bruised shins were paid for in brief oaths. Each man sought to -outdistance his fellows, to be first to add his weight to the tide of -battle. - -Down the last gully they charged, across the flat before the mills, over -the tracks. Before them loomed the roundhouse, now bright with electric -light. Before the big doors swayed and writhed a group of men. Other -dark figures, two and two, quaintly intertwined, moved and struggled and -smote like living silhouettes. Hoarse shouts arose; the thud of blows; -the shuffling of feet came to Jim's ears. Then he was in the midst of -it. - -Even with the addition of Jim's reinforcements his party was -outnumbered; but Moran's men, under the shock and surprise of the -charge, gave way, but only for an instant. Inside, Jim saw the engine, -steam up, a man in the cab. They were getting ready to bring it out. -Why? he asked himself, even as the sight of it was shut out and he was -hemmed in by fighting men. - -It was Jim's first real fight. It came to him suddenly that he could -fight, that he was worthy to stand side by side with these lumberjacks, -to give blows where they gave blows, and he was glad. - -Again he caught a brief glimpse of the interior of the roundhouse as a -man before him went down under a blow from his fist. On the tender he -saw Michael Moran--not fighting, but watching, directing. He saw a man -break away from the melee and leap toward the engine, recognized -Gilders. His teeth were bared, his hands empty. Jim struggled forward, -shot another look, saw Moran, his face distorted with rage, raise a -chunk of coal above his head and hurl it. Whether it found its mark or -not Jim could not tell. - -Jim's men were holding their own. Though outnumbered, they were trained -to battle of this sort, with inherited talent for it, against men not -bred to fight with their hands. But Moran's men fought, and fought well. -Numbers made them even, if not superior. - -It was apparent they had been told to guard the big door, for as best -they could they remained solidly before it. They were not men to take -the offensive on their own initiative, nor, Jim thought, would they -assume it under orders unless the enemy were in actual retreat. It was a -point to be taken advantage of. He wormed and wriggled out of the fight, -marked the Dane who could drive an engine, and hauled him out, -struggling. At random the two of them separated two others from the -confusion. - -"The engine," Jim panted. "Side door. Come on!" - -They scurried to a small door left unguarded, and plunged through. The -engine was before them, Moran still on the tender. On the ground lay -Gilders. Moran's missile had flown true. The Dane with his companions -stormed the cab. In an instant they had hurled down the engineer, hurled -him so ungently that he did not rise. Jim dodged a lump of coal which -Moran hurled, and himself threw a peavey handle which he had picked up -somewhere in the fight. It caught Moran amidships so that he crumpled up -on the coal, the breath knocked from his overnourished, undertrained -body. Jim scrambled to his side, lifted him and dumped him off with -scant regard for how or where he fell. - -"Toot the whistle!" he yelled. "Back her out." - -The whistle screeched, and in that confined space its voice was the -voice of many demons. The wheels began to turn. - -"One man up here," Jim ordered, and when the man came he set an example -by lifting his voice in battle-cry, by hurling lumps of coal at the -backs of the defenders. - -They turned. Taken in the rear by a new enemy, menaced by a down-bearing -locomotive, their morale departed, they scattered to each side, broke, -some even turned in sudden flight. Jim's lumberjacks did the rest. - -The locomotive moved out on a clear track, backed to the switch where -stood the empty trucks. It was Jim who coupled them to the engine. - -"We've done the job here," he said to the big Irishman who was his -companion on the tender. "Collect the boys and load 'em on the trucks. -We're off for the woods. Maybe Bennett's gang is chewing on more than it -can swallow. Somebody see to Gilders inside there." - -A few moments more saw the little army perched precariously on the -trucks. They were bruised, bleeding, clothing was in tatters, eyes were -draped in black, clearings appeared where once had grown strong white -teeth. But they were jubilant, for victory had been theirs. They -celebrated it noisily. - -Slowly, with great rattling and jangling, with song and cheer, they -moved away from the roundhouse, out of the yard and out upon the -narrow-gauge track which led back into the woods. Five miles of -uncomfortable travel lay between them and Camp One, but its discomforts -were not detectable by them. They had won. It had been a fight worth -while, and they had won. Another fight lay before them perhaps. They -hoped so. - -Perhaps Jim Ashe did not know it, but he had tied these men to him with -bonds of admiration. From this day they were his friends, would work for -him, fight for him. He had fought shoulder to shoulder with them. His -quick thought had turned the day in their favor. He was a man who dared, -a man who stood on his two feet and wielded fist or peavey handle like a -man--he was one of them. - -"What's the matter with Sudden Jim?" somebody yelled. - -"He's all right," answered back a tumultuous shout, and Jim was more -than pleased. He had been tendered an honor which he knew how to -appreciate. - -"Look out for Crab Creek Trestle," the Irishman said. "If Moran was on -the job he'd jerk a rail and treat us to a drop into the marsh." - -"Slack down at Crab Creek," Jim shouted to his engineer. He scrambled -forward to the cab, and sat looking forward where the headlight peered -ahead, illuminating the track. - -"She's bane joost ahead," said the engineer. In a moment the trestle -came into view. As the light rested on it two black figures emerged from -the underbrush to run out upon the structure, where they stopped. The -sound of sledge striking steel came back distinctly through the clear -air. - -Jim leaped from the engine, half a dozen men at his heels. Out upon the -trestle they ran, all undesirable risks for an accident insurance -company at the minute. The sledge continued to rise and fall, but when -Jim was within fifty feet of the men they dropped their implements over -the edge and ran. Jim stopped to appraise the damage. His men kept up -the pursuit with success, for in a moment he heard a shout of glee and -saw a man performing antics in the air as he descended into the marsh -muck below. - -Moran's men had been too slow. Another minute or so and a rail would -have been loosened, but their few blows had not sufficed. The trestle -was safe to pass. - -"Four men stop here," Jim said, and motioned the train on. - -Ten minutes more and they were at Camp One. There were noises of frolic, -but none of battle. - -"Get cheated out of your fight?" Jim asked Tim Bennett as the cant-dog -man hurried up to the engine. - -"Not what you could notice," grinned Tim, displaying a split lip and -barked knuckles. "But they was Wops or somethin'. We chased 'em into the -cook-shanty, where they bide in fear and tremblin'." - -"Is there enough moon to load those trucks?" - -Tim looked at Jim and grinned broadly. - -"There wouldn't be for anybody but you, Mr. Ashe, but these here boys -'u'd work for you if it was so dark you couldn't feel a pin stick into -you." - -"Leave enough men to hold the gang in the cook-shanty. Take the rest and -load. How many trucks can that engine haul down?" - -"Twenty, on a pinch." - -"Pick as much maple as you can," said Jim. "You're boss." - -Given landings, twoscore men who know how to use cant-hooks can handle -an astonishing number of logs in an hour. Twenty trucks were not filled -in sixty minutes, but the train was ready before dawn--twenty trucks -carrying thirty-five thousand feet of hardwood logs. - -"Now the cook-shanty," said Jim. "We need it." - -The crew rollicked to the log house which was cook-shanty at one end, -bunkhouse at the other. Jim parleyed. - -"Come out and we'll let you go," he called. - -Thoroughly frightened, the foreigners emerged. - -"Hit for town," Jim told them. "Your job's gone. Start walking and keep -it up--we'll be behind you and it won't be healthy if we catch up." - -Half an hour later Jim's crew were breakfasting on Moran's coffee and -salt pork. It was a species of humor they could enjoy. The night, with -its incidents, had furnished them a story to be told on many evenings in -diverse places. - -"Fifteen men on the train," Jim ordered. "The rest load the other ten -trucks. We'll be back for 'em if Moran doesn't eat us somewhere along -the road." - -Jim rode back in the engine cab, tired, but filled with a notable -satisfaction. He knew he had scored heavily, though his victory was by -no means permanent. Altogether, perhaps, he was more pleased with -himself than the state of affairs quite warranted. The engineer reminded -him of this by asking what they were to do for coal when the supply in -the tender was exhausted. Jim could give no reply. - -However, he gave his reply after the train of logs had passed the -Diversity Company's mills, passed them to an accompaniment of cheers and -jeers from the men riding on the trucks. For Jim had seen two cars of -coal standing on a siding. - -"There's our coal," he said to the engineer. "We'll borrow it on the way -back." - -And borrow it they did, calmly, under the noses of the enemy. - -One more trip to Camp One and return Jim made that day. Another -thirty-odd thousand feet of timber was unloaded in his log-yard. He left -Tim Bennett in charge, directing him to handle logs as he had never -handled them before, and himself went to his office. - -Beam and Nelson followed him gleefully. But the surprise of the day was -supplied by Grierson, who emerged from his bookkeeping lair, his eyes -not free from a moisture the origin of which was open to suspicion, and -grasped Jim's hand. - -"I wish your father could have been here to see it," he said, and -retreated hastily behind his barrier again. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - -Diversity chattered and gesticulated, surmised and prophesied. It did -not know exactly what had happened, but was able to relate much more -than had happened. The one protruding fact was that Michael Moran had -the worst of the affair. The Ashe Clothespin Company was sawing logs -which Moran had intended they should not saw, and young Jim Ashe bounded -to local fame--not altogether admirable. The character assigned him was -a patchwork of daredevil, Machiavelli, business genius, general, -pugilist, bandit, patriot. It depended on whom you talked with which -attribute was set foremost. - -By night some credit had been subtracted from Jim to be piled up before -Zaanan Frame's door as censure. The idea had been circulated subtlely. A -reign of lawlessness was to be inaugurated. Zaanan Frame, the county's -dictator, winked at it, even lent his aid to it. He had debauched the -courts themselves, so that, instead of giving their protection to Moran, -assailed in his sacred rights of property, they actually issued -injunctions forbidding him to interfere with men who, to all intents, -were stealing his timber. - -Peleg Goodwin made a speech about it from the steps of the hotel, and -many good citizens believed him. Jim discovered suddenly he had become -an important part of the political issue. - -When supper-time came he walked down the road, hesitated in front of the -hotel, half of a mind to eat there, for he did not want to meet Marie -Ducharme yet. In his office he had been thinking of her, had been trying -to argue himself into a belief in her fidelity; but it had been futile. -The evidence seemed proof incontrovertible to him. He believed she had -betrayed his confidence to Michael Moran. - -His hesitation was brief. With a shrug of his shoulders he went on to -the widow's. As well have the meeting now as any time, he thought. He -was young; he had given his heart, his faith wholly, and his spirit was -sick with the shock of disillusionment. Where he loved he had been -betrayed--wantonly, it seemed to him. So he went grimly to the widow's -table. His face might have borne a far different expression could he -have known Marie Ducharme had not closed her eyes through the night, nor -till mid-morning brought assurances of his safety. Tenderness and pity -might have mingled in his heart could he have known of her struggle on -the little hilltop under the moon. But he did not know. - -"H'm!" said the widow, as he entered. "Fine carryin's-on! I've had -boarders and boarders, but I don't call to mind none been as like to get -hauled out from under my roof by the sheriff as you. What you mean by -it, anyhow?" - -"I don't think the sheriff will interfere with me," said Jim, -humorlessly, forgetting or neglecting to greet Marie with even a nod of -the head. - -"Them that lives by the sword shall die by the sword," the widow said, -seeking the support of the Scriptures. - -"And those who live by logs must have logs," said Jim. - -"Folks is sayin' Zaanan Frame was back of this caper of yours. 'Tain't -so, is it?" - -"No." - -"Knew he wouldn't be lendin' his countenance to murderin' and killin' -and maimin' and injurin'." - -"There would have been no fighting," said Jim, his eyes on the -tablecloth, "if my plans hadn't been betrayed to Moran." - -"Who done that, I'd like to know?" said the widow, quick to change her -front. "Who'd 'a' done such a miserable, sneakin', low-down thing as -that? You ought to ketch him and teach him sich a lesson he wouldn't -forgit it in a hurry." - -"I can't," said Jim, dully. "You see, it wasn't a man." - -"H'm! Serves you right, then, for lettin' a woman find out what you was -goin' to do." - -Jim made no reply, did not lift his eyes, so he was unconscious of the -look Marie bent upon him. Her eyes were startled, dark with -apprehension. His manner toward her, what did it mean? Did he suspect -her? She bit her lip and pretended to eat. Presently she excused herself -and left the room with lagging steps. - -Jim finished his meal silently. He, too, went out, his feet heavy as his -heart as he descended the steps and walked along the bricked path to the -gate. Marie was waiting for him. - -"Jim," she said, "what did you mean? You acted so--what you said--" - -"I meant," said Jim, dully, "that within an hour from the time I told -you what I was going to do, Moran was warned." - -"You believe that I warned him?" - -He was silent. - -"No!" she cried. "No! I didn't see Moran last night, Jim. I didn't see -him. I didn't tell him." - -"You only make it worse," he said. "Moran was here. I saw him turn in -the gate." - -"I wasn't here, Jim. I didn't see him. I ran away from him because I was -afraid. You don't know how afraid of him I am, Jim. I begged you to stay -home last night--but you couldn't; so I ran away. He comes, Jim, and -shows me the world--out there. He offers it to me--and I want it, I want -it! He doesn't put things into words; but I--I understand him. I--I hate -him! But the longing; this awful place--You said you loved me, Jim, and -I wouldn't accept your love. You didn't love me, you couldn't love me, -or you wouldn't believe--" - -"I loved you and I trusted you. I would have trusted you with everything -a man can trust a woman with. And you--you hardly waited till I was out -of sight before you told him." - -She looked at him with agony in her eyes. - -"I'll tell you. Yes, I'll tell you, and then you must believe. I--I did -love you, Jim, even when I refused you. It is true. You make me tell -you. And last night--out there on that knoll--I found I couldn't go on -without you. I saw things clearly. I understood what love meant. And my -fear of him went away, because I was going to let you know, and then I -would be safe--safe with you. Oh, Jim, I was not with him one second. I -was out there, sending my heart after you. Now you believe me, don't -you, Jim?" Her voice was pitiful. - -Each word Jim uttered seemed a bit torn grimly from his heart. He did -not believe her. Now that his trust in her was gone, his unbelief grew -and multiplied. - -"I am a new-comer in your life," he said. "Moran has been there for -years. You--he saw you attracted me. That became useful to him. Last -night shows how useful. Why do you say these things to me about love? -Love is not a thing to lie about. I know what love is, because you--some -one I thought was you--had made it live in me. I don't believe you now. -I shall never believe you again. The thing you have just said is not -true. I believe you have said it--in obedience to him. So he might have -an eye which would look into my very soul." - -He stopped. She stood silent, pale, her lips parted as in horror. One -hand crept upward flutteringly, stopped at her breast, moved outward -toward Jim. - -"Jim!" she whispered. "Jim! You didn't say that. Tell me I didn't hear -that. Tell me! Tell me! You don't know what you're saying, what you're -doing. I had won. I had struggled and won. Don't send me back to him." -Suddenly she gave way and threw herself on a bench beside the path, her -hands over her ears as though to shut out some dreadful sound. "It's a -lie!" she panted. "A lie! A lie! A lie!" - -Jim felt himself near the breaking-point. He turned and hurried, almost -ran, out of the widow's garden, but even as far as the gate he could -hear her voice repeating: "A lie! A lie! A lie!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - -All next day train-loads of logs came down from Camp One to be decked in -Jim's yard. Thirty-five thousand feet had been rolled off the first -night and day; upward of forty thousand feet were added to it the -second. It was enough to supply the saws for a week. Moran had made no -visible move; no attempt to interfere with the men in the woods or with -the running of trains had been made. This did not reassure Jim. Moran -was not the man to be beaten so easily. He knew he would strike -back--that the Clothespin Club would strike back--for Moran and the Club -were as one in this war. - -The blow came from the Club--one not altogether unlooked for. It was -their logical move, but it would be costly to them. News of it came in -telegrams from Jim's agents, telling him that Welliver and Jenkins and -Plum were offering clothespins at a further cut of ten per cent. in -price. - -Jim figured rapidly. He knew that now his mill was running efficiently, -his crew of operators were trained, each machine was showing its -production of seventy-five boxes of pins or better a day, he was making -pins more cheaply than any other manufacturer in the country. He knew -they could not make pins at such a price; that every box sold at such a -figure represented a loss. It represented a loss to Jim of something -like a cent and a half a box. Probably it meant from three to five cents -to the Club. But they could stand it for a time. They had capital in -reserve. Jim had none, or very little, to carry on an extended war. But -fight he had to, whether he had the money or not. - -Perhaps he could borrow more, but he very much doubted it. One resource -he had--the option on old Louis Le Bar's timber. That must be sold at -once. - -He determined to take the afternoon train to Grand Rapids to go over it -in the big lumber offices. His immediate action was to wire his -representatives generally to take no orders at the new price. To New -York and Chicago he gave directions to sell one car-load each at a drop -of five per cent. under the Club's last figure. This would serve further -to demoralize the markets in those centers and to compel the Club to -protect its customers on the additional decline. It would cost Jim a few -hundreds of dollars. How much more expensive it would be to the Club he -did not know. - -The morning found him in Grand Rapids. The lumbermen received him with -suspicion. It was apparent they were aware of his existence, had -expected his arrival. They were willing to talk, but not to deal. They -knew the Le Bar tract, of course. It was desirable, but none of them -cared to undertake it. - -Their attitude was difficult to understand until one old gentleman -bruskly informed Jim he did not care to spend his good money buying a -lawsuit. - -"Why a lawsuit?" Jim asked. - -"We were tipped off to you, young man. From a dependable source we know -there's something wrong with that tract, and we're taking no chances on -it." - -"Have you investigated it? Will you investigate it?" - -"No. It's a desirable tract, but it's not necessary. We can get along -without it, and just now we're too busy to go fooling round with a -doubtful title." - -"You can easily investigate the title." - -"What's the use? We know your option is disputed. We know we'd take on a -lawsuit with it, and we don't need any lawsuits." - -At last Jim understood. Moran had taken his steps, as he said he would. -He had promised that Jim would be unable to dispose of his option, and -had made good his promise. The task had been simple. He had notified all -possible buyers that he would contest Jim's option; that he claimed some -lien or title. Jim knew when he came face to face with the impassable. -He put his option in his pocket and returned to Diversity. - -Neither magazine nor newspaper could hold his attention on the train. -His mind could not be made to forget the weight that lay upon it; his -heart could not be numbed to pain by anaesthetic. Jim was young. -Suffering was new to him, and experience had not showed him how best to -endure it. - -It was not the ruin that hung over his business that clouded with -anguish the eyes he fixed on the scudding landscape. It was not the -knowledge that he was in a corner, fighting for his financial life with -his back to the wall. It was Marie--only Marie. Youth can look forward -to the building of another fortune; the losses of to-day will be wiped -out in the gains of to-morrow. But when love crashes down in sordid ruin -there is no to-morrow. Youth cannot see that the unguent of time will -close the wound; it can see only that hope, the sweet anticipations -which make of the future a magical realm almost within the grasp of the -extending hand, has been swept away beyond recall. - -Marie was not true, steadfast, as he had believed; her soul did not -shine clearly, purely, with the guiding light he thought he had seen. -Marie, the wonderful, the womanly, was erased from the picture; replaced -by one sordid, despicable, treacherous even. Perhaps the bitterest pain -is rending asunder of the trust of youth. - -What remained? Work, feverish exertion, the comfort of facing an -antagonist, of straining breast to breast with him. - -At the junction Jim changed to the Diversity railroad. In the smoker -when he entered was a sprinkling of Diversity folk, who, as the train -got in motion, edged together to talk politics. Politics in Diversity -was a topic of conversation as it had not been for twenty years. Zaanan -Frame had taken the zest from it. He had been the county's politics so -long. In the eyes of the inhabitants the present condition assumed -almost the importance of a revolution. - -"Zaanan's beat, and he knows it," was an opinion boldly expressed. "He -hain't even makin' a fight for it. Calc'late he's too old." - -"Calc'late," replied a gesticulating individual, "he's plum disgusted. -Who's the best friend Diversity folks has had, eh? Zaanan Frame; that's -who. And now, because a dollar for a vote is easy money to earn, men -that ought to think shame is turnin' against him. It hain't that he -can't fight. Don't git sich an idee into your head. It's that he's too -disgusted to fight." - -"He's run things long enough. Nobody kin call his soul his own. He comes -perty clost to sayin' who shall marry who, and which kind of a baby -they'll have after they're married. We hain't goin' to stand that kind -of thing much longer. No, sir; we're a-goin' to run our own affairs like -we want to--" - -"You're a-goin' to swap Zaanan Frame for Michael Moran, that's what -you're goin' to do--and you're welcome to your bargain. Wait till Moran -gits the power Zaanan's got now. See how he uses it. Has any feller here -got a word to say ag'in Zaanan's honesty? Eh?" - -Nobody replied. - -"Kin anybody here lay his hand on a wrong Zaanan's done? Kin anybody -p'int to a case in court that hain't come out as near fair and just as -human men kin make it? No, you can't. But wait. Why d'you calc'late -Moran is reachin' out for Zaanan's place? It's so he can chase the law -out and put Mike Moran's will in. That's why. It's so he kin make of -Diversity what Quartus Hembly made of Owasco a few years back. He'll rob -you and git his courts to back him up; there'll be wrongs done and -nobody punished. Diversity is run by Zaanan Frame because we've turned -over the job to him. But it's run like an American town. Moran'll run it -like a town in Roosian Siberier. Mark me!" - -"I call to mind the times 'fore Zaanan got his office first," piped up a -toothless octogenarian. "Diversity and Hell was first cousins. Sich -things as I've seen! Wa-al, Zaanan he turned to, and 'twa'n't long 'fore -there wa'n't a quieter, better-behaved town in the timber. He's deserved -a heap of this town." - -"He's gone too far. Kind of figgers he's king, or somethin' like that. -We hain't goin' to stand for it no more." - -"Go ahead," squeaked the old man; "whatever you git is comin' to you. -'Twon't be a year 'fore you're on your knees prayin' for Zaanan Frame to -come back, and it'll be too late, 'cause this Moran'll have the power -and nobody'll git it away from him." - -"Zaanan's beat," repeated the first speaker. - -"Looks so," admitted the old man; "but money done it. Votes has been -bought, lies has been told. He hain't beat fair." - -Jim was interested in spite of himself. Here was a fight, one more fight -for him to get into. He, clearer than these men, saw what it would mean -to the town and county for Moran to become its dictator. He welcomed -another task; it would coax his mind away from Marie. If the new task -was also a high duty of citizenship it was so much the more welcome. He -sat erect in his seat; again he was Sudden Jim. He addressed the men -within hearing. - -"Zaanan Frame isn't beaten," he said. "Maybe he won't fight for himself, -but there are folks who will fight for him, and I'm one of them. The -time's short, but, you men who are against him, take this thought away -with you: If you've taken money for your votes or influence, begin to -worry. If there has been crookedness you may carry word from me to the -man who is to blame for it that he shall answer for his crookedness. The -time's short, as I said, but a lot of fighting can be done in a short -time. It isn't too late." - -"And you're some fighter, Mr. Ashe," grinned a little Irishman. "When -you come into the car I says to my friend, says I, 'There's an illigant -lad wid knuckles to his fists.'" - -"Thanks, O'Toole. Tell the boys I'm against the man who robs his -woodsmen in the wanigans. Tell them I'm against the man who would steal -away their chance to get justice. Tell them I know Zaanan Frame is their -best friend, and beg them to vote for him." - -"Have no worries about the b'ys wid corked boots," said O'Toole. "Think -ye we don't know Mike Moran?" - -"But Zaanan won't help himself," said the old man. - -"I'll see Zaanan the minute we get to town," promised Jim. - -He kept his word. From the train he walked straight to Zaanan's office. -Dolf Springer sat on the door-step, his head hunched down between his -shoulders, a very picture of disconsolation. He scarcely looked up as -Jim passed him. - -Zaanan, as always in his leisure moments, was reading Tiffany's -_Justices' Guide_. Jim fancied that the old man's figure was less erect -than formerly, that it drooped with discouragement, with disappointment -over the crumbling of the work of his life. Jim could mark on Zaanan's -face the effects of the blow he had received when it became plain his -people were turning against him. To realize their ingratitude, how -little they appreciated the expenditure of his life in their behalf, -must have grieved the old justice sorely. - -He greeted Jim with his usual brief phrase, "Howdy?" - -"Judge," said Jim, breaking impetuously into the subject of his coming, -wasting no time in preliminaries, "we've got to get up and stir -ourselves." - -"Um! What's been happenin' to you now? Worried 'cause you couldn't sell -your option?" - -Jim was a bit startled at Zaanan's knowledge of the failure of his -errand, but brushed aside his curiosity to know how the old justice came -by his information. - -"It's not myself I'm worrying about; it's you, Judge, and Diversity. -Even your friends admit you're beaten. They say you admit it yourself. -They think you're too old to get out and fight." - -"Heard me admittin' I was beat, Jim, eh? Heard me sayin' any sich -thing?" - -"No." - -"Think I'm too old, Jim, eh? Past my usefulness?" - -"You're the best man of all of us. That's why--" - -Zaanan's eyes twinkled for a moment, then he bent his head in an -attitude of weariness, "Folks is tired of me, Jim. They calc'late I've -outstayed my welcome. Noticed that, Jim, eh?" - -"They've been bamboozled into thinking it, or paid to think it." - -"But they think it, all the same. Any reason I shouldn't give 'em a -chance to run their logs without me? See why I shouldn't git a minnit's -peace and quiet at the tail end of my life, eh? Specially when folks is -anxious I should?" - -"Yes, Judge, I do see a reason. These are your people. You've made them -what they are. You've looked after them for years and, maybe, because -you've looked after them so thoroughly and well, they are less able to -look after themselves than they should be. You're responsible for them. -Nobody but you can save them and this town from passing into a condition -that will be intolerable. You aren't entitled to rest. You've got to get -into this fight--and win." - -"Perty late, hain't it, Jim? Perty late in the day?" - -"We'll just have to work that much harder." - -"Dun'no's I kin agree with you, Jim. Seems to me time's too short. Maybe -I should 'a' fought, but there wa'n't much encouragement. Folks was -flockin' to Peleg. Shouldn't wonder if a dose of Peleg 'u'd be the thing -to cure 'em." - -"You mustn't leave them in the lurch. It's natural you should feel hard -against them, but they-they've been fooled. It's not their fault." - -"Somehow, Jim, I don't feel as able to undertake things as I did once." -Zaanan's voice was weary, old. "Looks to me like it would be wastin' -time to stir things up now. Calc'late I'm done for, Jim." - -"All your friends haven't left you. But they need you to lead them. They -don't know what to do." - -"There hain't nothin' to do, Jim, against Moran and all his money." - -"But won't you come out and try? Go down fighting, anyhow." - -"Hain't no occasion for it, Jim. Better save up what strength I've got -left. No use wastin' it in vain efforts." - -A surge of sympathy for the old man welled up in Jim. Sitting there in -the latter end of his days, deserted by friends, abandoned by those for -whom he had striven for a score of years, he could not be contemplated -unmoved. In his discouragement he was pitiful indeed. - -"Judge," Jim said, impulsively, "I wish I could drop everything and jump -into this thing for you. I can't do that, but I can do something. Until -caucus day I'm going to give every possible minute to this election, -whether you help or not." - -"Much obleeged," said Zaanan, without enthusiasm. "What's your special -int'rest in this thing, eh? Seems to me like you was consid'able wrought -up over it." - -Jim hesitated. - -What was his interest? Was it merely hatred for Moran, or was it -something worthier? He paused to search his soul for the answer. - -"Before my father induced me to take over this business I had other -plans. I had been a newspaper man in the city. I had seen things, and it -seemed to me that there was room for somebody who wanted to help. The -people--the people at the bottom of the heap--need help, Judge. They -don't belong. They pay their dues in money or labor, but they're not -members. They have none of the privileges. Perhaps they aren't entitled -to the privileges; perhaps they wouldn't know what to do with them if -they got them, but they're entitled to something. Our Declaration of -Independence says something about all men being born free and equal. In -theory that may be true. In practice only those are free and equal who -are strong enough to force others to recognize their freedom and -equality. I wanted to do something--one man could do only a -little--toward helping the bottom of the heap out from under to where -the weight of the top of the heap wouldn't crush them." - -"Um! One of them newfangled socialists, eh?" - -"I don't know. I don't know just what a socialist is, but if what I've -said makes me one, then I'm guilty of the charge." - -"Hain't jest normal for a feller employin' men and women like you do." - -"That is one of the things that moved me to accept father's proposition -when he turned things over to me. I could do my small part here. I could -at least see that my bottom-heapers got a fair trade from me, who was -their top-heaper. And I guess that's why I'm interested in this -election. You've kept things spread out so the bottom was not smashed by -the top. Moran wants to take your place so he can crush the bottom as he -wants to." - -"Um! No pers'nal spite?" - -Jim flushed. - -"I hate Moran." - -"Not astonished to hear it. Now, abandonin' the election for a minute -and takin' up your affairs: I bought me a couple shares in the Diversity -Hardwood Company t'other day. Had the chance. Thought maybe you'd be -wantin' to take 'em off my hands. Figgered you might find a use for 'em. -Think you kin, eh? Annual meetin' of that corporation comes day -follerin' caucus. Better git them shares properly transferred on the -company's books right off. Here they be." - -"But--" began Jim. - -"Hain't I said them shares might come in handy? Paid two hundred dollars -for 'em. Gimme check." - -Zaanan's methods were now more or less familiar to Jim. He knew the -justice would not have bought this stock for him without some good -reason. He scented some plan that Zaanan was working out. - -"All right, Judge." - -"Git that transfer made right off." - -"Without fail," said Jim. - -"G'-by, Jim." - -"Good afternoon, Judge. But I wish you--" - -"G'-by, Jim," repeated Zaanan, with a convincing tone of finality. - -From that day for the week that remained before the caucus Jim talked, -argued, pleaded with the voters of Diversity. He even essayed public -speaking; hired the local opera-house for the purpose, and there -publicly denounced Peleg Goodwin as Moran's cat's-paw; publicly -excoriated Moran. But he came to perceive his was a hopeless task. - -He could not arouse the people. Zaanan himself might have stirred them, -but no stranger could. Especially no stranger could stir them to fight -for Zaanan when Zaanan himself acknowledged defeat. - -Some there were who fought shoulder to shoulder with Jim. Dolf Springer -did what was in him, and when he saw the futility of it his watery eyes -grew more watery still. Dolf was faithful; Zaanan was his great man. His -faith in the goodness of God was shaken. - -Moran did not abate his exertions. He himself, his agents, his -hirelings, traversed the township, the county. Ceaselessly they worked, -and tirelessly, efficiently. Their faces wore no looks of -discouragement; their bearing was jaunty. Any man with half a political -eye could see the victory was theirs. On the eve of the caucus Jim -grudgingly admitted it, too. - -That night--the hour was not quite nine--the young man who was -Grierson's assistant in the bookkeeping realm--his name was -Newell--rushed up to Jim on the hotel piazza. Obviously he was in a -state of high excitement. - -"Mr. Ashe! Mr. Ashe!" he panted. - -Jim drew him aside. - -"What is it, Newell?" he asked. - -"Crab Creek Trestle, Mr. Ashe. They're going to burn it to-night, so you -can't get any more logs." - -"How do you know? Who told you?" - -"I don't know the man--tall, carried a gun under his arm." - -"Gilders," said Jim to himself. It was sufficient verification for him -if the warning came from that man. "All right, Newell. Go along about -your business and keep your mouth shut." - -Jim did not pause to determine the best course to follow. For him there -was but one course--instant action. Without halt, without plan, without -aid, he set out for Crab Creek. It was a trip to be taken afoot. No road -led to the spot. Jim made for the railroad, sped down it toward the -threatened spot. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - -Marie Ducharme was expecting Michael Moran. He had sent word he would -see her that evening, and she, her heart numbed by the blow it had -received, was inclined to welcome him. Her mood was one of recklessness, -bred and nurtured by days and nights of brooding over the injustice of -which she was the victim. She had spent her night of agony and struggle; -had come down from the moonlit knoll strengthened, lifted up by a -surrender to love, exalted by victory won over sordid temptations. She -had come down with soul renewed, purified, with fresh aspirations, with -tender hopes, with a sort of pitiful pride. The gates of her heart had -not been opened to the love that gained admittance. She had heard it -clamoring without, had striven to exclude it; but it had won past her -barriers. Once within, she had fought with it, opposed it with all the -strength of her will. When her capitulation came it was complete. And -Jim Ashe's cruel accusation had been its reward. - -Her moment of hysteria in the garden passed, gave place to sullenness, -to dull, throbbing pain, to revolt. At first there had been amazed -grief, terror, unbelief in the possibility of such a thing. It would not -be true. Such a thing could not happen to her. Realization followed. -That it had happened was past denial. In her supreme moment, her moment -of confession to Jim, he had rejected her love, responded to it with -scorn. She had laid low her pride for his sake, and he had trampled on -it. There were moments when she fancied she hated him. These moments -recurred more frequently. Grief gave way to anger. He had prated of -love, of the trust, the beauty of love, and at the first shadow his love -had not been trustful. He had denied her a hearing, condemned her before -she could make defense; and as she had come to understand love, defenses -were abhorrent to it. His heart, his instinct, should have held him -steadfast in his faith. It had failed, so his love had failed. Then love -was not what she had come to believe. - -She had told Jim her love would be a fiery thing, jealous, demanding. -She had seen it so; but now she knew love was not of that warp and woof. -The joy of love was in service, in surrender. It lay not in compelling -service of its object, but in rendering service to him. In that spirit -she had gone to Jim; and how had he received her? - -So she believed she hated him. Also, as she tried to peer ahead, she saw -a future without peace, troubled, dark. If it were to be so, what was -the use of further struggle? In the old days she had contemplated -without abhorrence a deliberate choice of the lower course. Now she -fondled the suggestion. If that way had pleasure, life, joys, no matter -how spurious, why should she not take them? Life owed her something. -Hitherto it had withheld; latterly it had ruthlessly heaped woe upon -her. Why not reach out and seize whatever the world had to give? It -would entail pain, perhaps. But would that be harder to bear than what -lay ahead if she held steadfast in the course she had chosen? Love had -come--and gone. It would not renew its coming. Such was her judgment. - -Moran came, sat beside her. He was agitated, not wholly by his feeling -for her, but by rage, jealousy, vindictiveness which he burned to vent -on Jim Ashe. When he spoke, that gentler note which he had used in -talking to her on former occasions was absent from his voice; it was -harsh, strained. Marie sat numb, silent, shivering a trifle. She was -conscious of a physical repulsion for the man; conscious she would be -compelled to pay a price exorbitant for the toys she hoped to buy. - -"Marie," said Moran, "you've dallied with me. You've held me off. You've -pretended not to understand me when I knew you understood, when it was -plain you did understand. And I've been patient--because a man must be a -fool when he deals with women. You're no child. You know what you want. -You know I can give it to you. When are you going to make up your mind?" - -"When I am ready to make up my mind. When I know what I want." - -"You know now. It's just the infernal woman in you that wants to toy -with a man. I'm no man to be toyed with--past a safe point. I'd have -been contented to play your game a little longer if it hadn't been for -old Frame's meddling." - -"Judge Frame? What meddling?" - -Moran shrugged his shoulders angrily. - -"Don't talk as if you thought I was an imbecile. What meddling? Don't -you suppose I knew why old Frame sent that man Ashe here?" At mention of -Jim's name Marie winced. - -"Why did Judge Frame--" - -"To marry you," said Moran, his tone brutal as a blow. "And you knew it. -You've been playing Ashe against me--to see which of us you could get -the most from. You've landed Ashe high and dry--anybody can see that. -It's my business to see Ashe doesn't land you." - -Jealousy showed there. Marie flinched as though Moran touched an exposed -nerve. - -"I hate him! I hate him!" she cried. - -"Hate him or love him, it don't matter. He sha'n't have you. I've fixed -that. After to-night--to-morrow--you won't want him if you want him now. -Maybe you hate him. I'm not fool enough to believe it because you say -so. It don't matter. I don't care who you love or hate, so long as I -have you. I'd have smashed him, anyhow. That was business. But he's -shoved in between you and me, and I'll smash him and stamp on him. It's -as good as done. And Frame--he'll be disposed of to-morrow." His voice -was rising, becoming shrill as he fanned his passion. - -Marie felt the stirring of some emotion within her. It was apprehension, -fear. Even in that moment she could scrutinize it as something outside -herself, wonder at it. Why was she apprehensive? She was not afraid for -herself. For whom was she afraid? She must be afraid for Jim Ashe, for -he was the threatened man. It was unbelievable. She told herself she did -not, could not, care what befell Jim Ashe. She hated him, despised him. - -"You may as well cast Ashe out of your reckoning," Moran went on. -"There'll be nothing to reckon on. I know what you want--money. Money to -buy excitement, movement, money to throw away, money to buy for you -everything Diversity can't give. I know. Well, Ashe will have trouble -giving you a decent meal in another twenty-four hours." - -"I do hate him!" Marie said, aloud, but to herself. "I do! I do!" - -"Then you'll be glad to hear his stay in Diversity is coming to a sudden -end." - -Here was a threat which it seemed to her touched Jim's own person, his -safety. Marie uttered a scarce audible gasp. "Jim?" she whispered. -"No.... No.... Not that. Not Jim." In that instant she knew her fear was -for Jim, a living, chilling fear. If fear lived, then love must live, -too. She did not hate him; she had lied to herself, deceived herself. No -matter how he had wronged her, no matter how he had judged her, she -loved him. And she was glad, glad, for it rekindled her faith in human -love. Love should forgive all, suffer all. And she loved with such a -love. It was good. - -"I'm through waiting for your whims," Moran said. "What I want I take. -I've put him out of the way. I've made it necessary for you to come to -me. To-morrow you'll be told you aren't needed here any more." - -"What?" said Marie. - -"You'll teach no more school in Diversity. You've hated it. Well, I saw -to that." - -She did not know if what he said were fact or threat. - -It did not matter. Moran had made his big mistake, for hers was not a -will to brook threat. If more was needed to array her actively against -him, he had contributed what was needed. - -In the gloom of the porch he could not see the transformation that took -place in her; could not see that a different woman sat opposite him--a -woman alert, full of the wiles that from time immemorial have been the -weapon of women, a woman to fear. The numbness that had clung to her, -oppressed her--a heavy fog obscuring the world--was wafted away in an -instant, as a fog on her own Lake Michigan dissipated, disappeared -before morning breeze and morning sun. She sat there, not Marie Ducharme -crushed, ready for any fate that promised a measure of kindliness, but -Marie Ducharme with youth and love in her heart--youth and love, and -fear for the man she loved. - -And there was something else. There was the will to fight for the love -that was hers; the will to win again what she had lost. It was not -right, fair, that she should lose. It was error. She did not even blame -Jim now. She was given to see that the words he had spoken to her -lacerated his own heart more than they lacerated hers. Opposite Michael -Moran sat Marie Ducharme, fighting with all the force and the gifts that -were in her for the man she loved. - -She moved forward in her chair, leaned a little toward Moran. - -"You--you have a will," she said. - -Moran saw her weakening. It had been a perfect thing, not too apparent, -convincing. - -"You're through backing and filling," he said, stating it as a fact, not -asking it as a question. - -"And you're sure--sure you can do what you say, to him?" - -He glanced at her quickly, astonished at the vindictiveness that cut -through her words. - -"What's he been doing to you?" he asked, jocularly. - -"Enough. No matter. He--he can't avoid it? You know you can do as you -say--crush him?" - -"I wouldn't care to have you get a spite against me, young lady. Yes, -I've got him--so." He closed his hand tightly. "It's a matter of -business, with you added to make it more interesting. I'm here to make -money, and I'm going to make some of it out of Ashe--so much, in fact, -that he won't have any left. And that's interesting to you, isn't it? -From now on he's going to learn something about business." - -"But," she said, "he's had the best of you, hasn't he?" - -"He bragged of that, eh? I'll admit he had more gumption than I figured -on, but he's gone his limit. I'm taking personal charge now. He's in -deep water, Marie. He's up against a hard fight in his own line, bucking -a combination. They've put prices down to where he loses money on every -clothespin he makes. - -"He's in deep--borrowed money all over the shop, and no way to pay it. -To-night will end his thrashing round. Can't run without logs." - -"Yes," Marie said, setting a thorn into Moran's skin, "but he's getting -logs. Didn't he take your logging-road away from you?" - -"But he won't run it any longer. You know where Crab Creek Trestle is? -Well, the logs are all on the other side of it. And they're going to -stay there. The Diversity Hardwood Company is going to have the -misfortune to lose its trestle by fire to-night. He'll have to shut -down. Then creditors will get worried. They'll be down on him, but I'll -be there a little ahead." - -"How?" said Marie, breathlessly. - -"I'm a director of the Diversity Bank," he chuckled. "Ashe borrowed -thirty thousand dollars of us, and gave a demand-note. You know what -that is?" - -"Yes." - -"To-morrow the note will be presented. He'll have to raise that amount -of money inside of three days--and he can't do it. Oh, it won't be long -before a man named Michael Moran will be manufacturing clothespins with -Ashe's machinery." - -"But if you should fail about the trestle, if it shouldn't burn, would -he be able to beat you and keep his mill?" - -Moran shrugged his shoulders. - -"Possibly, but there's no use thinking about that, The trestle is as -good as gone." - -"Oh!" said Marie, and sank back in her chair. - -It was so complete, so perfect. Jim was beaten. He had worked so hard, -so faithfully; had builded such high hopes--to go down in ruin! Jim! And -nothing she could do or say would stay the disaster, would postpone it -an instant. She shivered, coughed. - -"It's cold. A moment while I get my shawl." - -She stepped into the house. Moran waited, warmed by a feeling of -complete satisfaction. She was his; at last she had surrendered. And -Ashe was in the hollow of his hand. Zaanan Frame, too, was beaten. - -From first to last the thing had been handled efficiently, as an able -business man should handle it. He leaned back and lighted a cigar. - -For a few moments he puffed contentedly. Marie did not return. Presently -he grew impatient. Another few minutes, and he leaped up to tramp the -length of the porch. - -Still she did not come. He stepped to the door and called: - -"Marie! Marie! What's keeping you all this time?" - -There was no answer. He called again, went inside. Marie was not -down-stairs. He called Mrs. Stickney. The widow answered from above. - -"Is Marie up there?" Moran called. - -"Hain't seen her," said the widow. - -"Didn't she just come up there?" - -"Not unless she's quieter'n a spook. Nobody's passed my door." - -"Where is she, then?" He was in a rage now. "Where's she gone to?" - -"I hain't no idee," said the widow, sharply, "but if she's where you -don't know where she is I calc'late I'm satisfied." - -Her door slammed. Moran stood an instant. The suspicion that had been -germinating within him became certainty. The girl had played him like a -fish. She was gone to warn Ashe. - -He pulled his hat on furiously and ran--ran toward the hotel to -intercept Marie. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - -Marie stopped, panting, at the hotel piazza. "Mr. Ashe?" she said. -"Where's Mr. Ashe?" - -"Hain't been gone more 'n couple of minutes. Feller, all excited up, -stopped and says somethin' to him, and off he goes like somebody was -robbin' his hen-house." - -She was too late! He was gone! Where? Marie guessed. Somebody else had -warned him, and he was off for Crab Creek Trestle. - -"Who was with him? Did he go alone?" - -"Just up and rushed off like sixty. Didn't wait for nothin' or nobody." - -It was like him. Sudden Jim! He had not paused for help, but had plunged -ahead alone. How futile it was! What could he do alone save rush into -danger? Marie felt there was danger. A business matter Moran had called -it, yet in the heart of the woods that might happen which could not be -considered a business transaction. Jim might come upon Moran's agents as -they set their fire. What then? Would they pause to consider if here -were business? Would Jim pause to think of business? No. There would be -violence--and Jim alone. - -There is a cave-dweller hidden in each of us. At some hour it will -emerge, our varnish of civilization will peel from us, and we shall -stand forth primitive, thinking, functioning as did the remote ancestors -of the race. This was Marie's hour. Her man was rushing into danger--and -she was not with him. - -She did not consider if her presence would help; if she could do better -service otherwise. Her instinct was to be with him, to share what came -to him. She would warn him, delay him, if possible. But that was not the -chief thing. The foremost thought was to stand at his side, to feel his -presence. - -Unconscious of the stares of astonishment that followed her, the buzz of -comment and surmise that remained behind, she followed the path Jim had -taken, heading toward the railroad. But she did not follow the rails as -Jim had done. She crossed the track and plunged into a marshy country, -treacherous underfoot, grown thickly with undergrowth that tore at her -garments, scratched her face. She was cutting across a curve in the -railroad, hoping so to overtake Jim. - -Now she floundered and fell, was up again to struggle forward. Her feet -sank in marsh ooze; sometimes she waded stagnant water that gurgled -above her shoe-tops. But she stopped for nothing. Another might have -become confused in the blackness of the night, for the moon was hidden -by clouds which promised storm, but Marie had traversed those woods -again and again. She was the daughter of a lumberjack, and woodcraft was -bred into the very fiber of her. - -Once her ankle turned under her with a sickening pain; but she forced -herself to rise and limp onward. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" she whispered to -herself over and over again, unconscious that she was whispering. Her -body was not inured to such endeavors, but her will was master of her -body. When exhaustion would have brought her to the ground her will held -her upright, gave her strength to flounder onward, always to the -accompaniment of that hysterical whisper: "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" - -Her skirts, soggy with the slime of marsh pools, clung to her legs; her -hair hung about her face, caught on projecting branches, to be torn -loose ruthlessly. She seemed not to feel the pain of it. The flesh of -her hands was lacerated; blood oozed from more than one abrasion upon -her cheeks. She was unconscious of it. All of consciousness that -remained was the knowledge that Jim Ashe was there ahead of her -somewhere, going to his death, perhaps; that she could, must warn him, -save him So she floundered on, with the whispered words "Hurry! Hurry! -Hurry!" urging her ahead. Perhaps she heard the words; perhaps they -helped to spur her on. There came a moment when she did hear them, but -fancied they were spoken by another. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" - -It seemed as if she had been traveling so always, forcing her way -through nightmare obstructions, encountering such vain labors as are -only to be met with in vivid, horrible dreams. Then she tripped, fell, -striking her shoulder against something hard, cold. She felt it with her -hand, and cried aloud. It was the railroad! She had won to the railroad! - -Was Jim ahead or behind? There was no time to study. Her mind was in no -condition to reason; there was only the feverish urge that forced her -on. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" She turned up the track, now trying pitifully -to run, now wavering, staggering, but always persevering. - -How black it was! She strained her eyes forward. He might be near, very -near, yet she could not see him, and any moment her strength might fail. - -She demanded yet another effort from the forces so near exhaustion. -"Jim!" she cried, shrilly, wildly. "Jim! Jim! Wait, oh, wait!" - -A hundred yards up the track Jim heard the cry, stopped, listened. - -"Jim, wait!" It sounded more faintly. A woman's voice, here, calling his -name! There was but one woman in Diversity who had ever called him Jim. - -In this moment, a moment he knew was weighted with danger to him, came -her voice out of the black mystery that lay behind him. It was -startling, unbelievable. He asked himself if much worry, much travail of -heart, had not deranged some spring or cog in his imagination, so that -he heard things which were not. If it really were Marie, what was she -doing there? She had betrayed him once; was this another act in tune -with her betrayal? He braced himself against a fresh danger, an -unforeseen danger, and waited. - -She tottered up to him out of the black blanket of night; tottered, -hands fumbling before her, his name on her lips, his name and that other -word which her will had set there so that it was repeated endlessly -without volition: "Jim, hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" - -Her fingers touched him before she was aware of his presence; touched -him, clung to him. She cried aloud, inarticulately. Panting, sobbing, -she tried to speak, but only repeated over and over that one word: -"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" - -He felt her fingers slipping from him, felt her body sagging, falling. -His arm passed round her, sustaining her. Her head sank in the hollow of -her arm and she sighed with weary contentment. - -"Marie, what is it?" - -"Hurry!" she muttered. - -But he shook her, not roughly, but with boyish impatience, boyish alarm. - -"No, no! Why are you here? What is the matter?" - -Her mind cleared slowly; her will that had set on one determination, to -reach him--set so it could not loose its hold--relaxed. She breathed -deeply, pushed against him in an effort to stand free. - -"Crab Creek Trestle," she said. "He's--going to burn it. He warned -you--to get you--out here." - -His suspicion reared itself between them. - -"How do you know? What are you doing here? Did he send you?" - -She quivered, sobbed dryly--then she shoved him away. - -"I know because he boasted of it. That--and other things. To-morrow -that--note. The bank will make you pay it. He--said he--would be making -clothespins--in your mill--" - -"But you--why are you here? What do you want?" - -She summoned her strength and her pride. - -"It doesn't--matter why--I am here. You must go back. You mustn't go -on." - -"So that's it," he said, bitterly. "He sent you to hold me back till -they could do the work." - -He turned and began to stride away. - -"No!" she cried. "You mustn't go!" - -"Go back to town, Marie," he said, his voice quivering, not with wrath, -but with pain. "Go back. I'm going on." - -"You mustn't!" She took one tottering step toward him and sank until she -was on her knees. He would not believe her. He would not be warned. - -What she had suffered, the things she had just done, had been in vain. - -"Go back," he said, dully. "It isn't safe out there. Go back." - -"It isn't safe for you--for _you_. It's planned to have you -come--alone." - -He moved away from her. She forced herself to rise. - -"Then I'll go with you," she said. - -"Go back!" he commanded. - -"No," she said, and tottered on. - -He set his teeth, turned his face away from her, and went on, unmindful -of her sobbing, gasping breaths. At one moment they saw a redness in the -sky; saw the darkness ahead fluttering like a waved cloth. - -"Fire," Jim muttered, and began to run. He was too late--Crab Creek -Trestle was in names! - -As best she could Marie followed. He gained, but she did not falter, -urged herself to her utmost. Ahead of them the trestle came into view, -wreathed in flames, flames that leaped and writhed and strained upward -as if seeking to be released from bonds that held them to earth. The -trees and bushes about seemed to rise and fall with the swelling of the -tongues of fire. In the midst the framework of the trestle stood black, -stark, startlingly vivid. - -For a moment Jim stood where bank and trestle met, stood undecided. -There was nothing to do, yet he must do something, for it was his nature -to do something. Nothing would save the trestle. He perceived that, -though he hesitated to admit it. He saw that the work of incendiarism -had been done efficiently; timbers had been well soaked with oil, and -the match applied not in one spot but in scores of places. Except for a -matter of thirty feet at the end where Jim stood the whole structure was -flame-wrapped. From the very brook fire seemed to flow upward; here and -there, twenty feet below, marsh grass burst into ruddy, living flower. - -Without plan or reason Jim started forward upon the trestle, as if to -plunge headlong into the dancing, undulating, seething mass of -destruction and stifle it with his hands. - -Marie, now at his side, clutched his arm to restrain him. He shook her -off ungently, sprang forward. She kept at his side. Again he was forced -to pause, shading his face from the heat that reached out to meet him. -His eyes were for nothing but the fire; saw nothing aside from it. - -Waves of heat surged against him, forced him to draw back, and the very -action of retreating cleared his head, restored him to something -resembling calm. Instinct, impulse withdrew, leaving intellect in -command. He thought of his father. What he saw before him was his -father's--Clothespin Jimmy's--life-work disappearing in flames. He had -been given his father's shoes. How had he filled them? The destruction -of this trestle was the destruction of the Ashe Clothespin Company. He -should have foreseen this danger, guarded against it adequately. In that -he had failed. - -Again Marie was at his side. "Come back," she said. "You can do no -good." - -He did not notice her, but stepped forward again, forcing himself -against the heat. She clung to him. - -"You can't put it out," she said again. "Come back out of danger." - -He turned on her, eyes flashing, jaw set. - -"Put it out!" he said, harshly. "I'm not thinking about putting it out. -It's gone!" He was Sudden Jim now, not defeated, still fighting. - -"Go back and tell Moran you left me figuring how to get logs from there -to here. And tell him I'm going to do it. Tell him if he'd burned the -woods I'd find some way to make logs out of the ashes." - -Presently he spoke again--to himself. - -"I wish Nelson was here," he said. He was trying to figure construction, -needed his millwright's advice. - -In that moment Clothespin Jimmy might have felt satisfaction in his son, -for young Jim had forgotten the blow just dealt him, had forgotten the -fire that raged at his feet. His thoughts dealt only with the future. He -wasted no moment in discouragement, though he might well have been -discouraged. One thought he held: Logs must cross the gap before him. -But how? His fingers doubled into determined fists. - -"It can be done," he said, "and I'll find the way!" - -An older woodsman than Jim, a man experienced in the handling of logs, -would have shaken his head. Such a man would have seen the difficulties -of the task; would have declared it impossible to haul timber across -that swamp before winter. - -Jim's inexperience refused to be daunted. - -His head was clear now; he was himself. Marie--she had been there. He -turned upon her. - -"What are you doing here?" he demanded, fiercely, but she was not -upright before him. She lay upon the cross-ties, one arm dangling limply -through, the garish light exaggerating the pallor of her face. - -"Marie!" he whispered, hoarsely. - -She did not stir or answer. Her endurance had been urged to the point of -breakage, had given way. He was on his knees beside her, his heart -gripped by fear, for he had never seen a woman faint. He lifted her. Her -head lopped grotesquely to one side as he moved her, and this multiplied -his fright. He had loved her, and she was dead. She had not been worth a -man's love; had been treacherous; had betrayed him; but he had given her -all of his love. Her breast lifted laboriously. He was conscious of a -feeling of relief, not of gladness. So this would not be the end of -things between them. They would continue to inhabit the same world. To -him it seemed the world was oversmall to house them both. - -Whatever she had done, he could not leave her so. He strained until she -lay partly across his shoulder--a weight it would have been joy for him -to bear a few short hours before--and so, staggering under his burden, -he strove toward Diversity. - -Long miles lay between him and town; no help was nearer; no shelter for -Marie. He found himself near the point of exhaustion. But he labored on. - -After a length of time that seemed to have stretched into hours Jim was -aware of the dark figure of a man standing between the tracks before -him. - -Somehow Jim was not interested in it, was not interested in anything -save the effort to keep on his feet and make progress. The man spoke -with a voice Jim knew but did not identify. - -"Who are you?" Jim asked, in a whisper. - -"Gilders," said the man. "Here, I'll take her. You carry my rifle. -You've lugged her about as far as you can, hain't you?" - -"All of that," Jim said, surrendering his burden and sitting down -abruptly. - -"Rest a bit," said Gilders. "When you're ready, say so. We'll take her -to my place--it's nearer 'n Diversity." - -Presently Jim got to his feet. - -"All right," he said. - -Gilders raised Marie without effort and strode away with her in his -arms. Jim followed. At times Gilders waited to permit Jim to rest, for -Jim could not equal the woodsman's pace, indeed could not have sustained -any pace at all without frequent stops. - -That last tramp was a thing of vagueness to Jim. How long it was, how -many minutes, hours, days it required to traverse the distance, he did -not know. It was a hades of blackness and weariness and pain. At last -they arrived at Gilders's shanty. Steve laid Marie on his bed. Jim -waited for no bed, but sank to the floor, and the night held no further -consciousness for him. - -Somehow Steve procured a neighbor woman who gave of her kindliness and -skill to Marie, ministering, watching through the night. Steve let Jim -lie as he had fallen. Sleep, he knew, would work its own reviving -miracle. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - - -On caucus days or election days it had been Zaanan Frame's custom to sit -in his office and receive his friends. There were few who did not take -that opportunity to shake Zaanan's hand, to show themselves at his -levee. Most came because it was their pleasure to do so; some came -because they regarded it as the part of wisdom. - -But on this caucus day Zaanan sat alone. Outside on the steps was Dolf -Springer, taciturn, doleful. That was all. The old man was deserted. -Diversity had forsaken him on the day of his downfall. The power he had -wielded for more than a generation had dropped from him, leaving in the -place of the political dictator merely a tired, weary, disappointed old -man. - -He had taken some comfort in that greatest of all books, the _Justices' -Guide_. Now he laid it aside and rose. - -"Dolf," he called. - -The one faithful retainer entered. - -"Calc'late we'll be startin' for the op'ry-house, Dolf." - -On other years this had been a sort of triumphal procession. Zaanan had -marched to the opera-house surrounded by his friends. Now he looked -quizzically at Dolf. - -"Seems like we was sort of scarce this mornin', Dolf, eh?" - -"Doggone 'em!" said Dolf, vindictively. - -They started, a pitiful procession. As they made their progress there -were eyes that turned away with a feeling of shame; other eyes stared -gleefully. Here was ocular evidence that Zaanan Frame was beaten; that -they, the sovereign voters of Diversity, had been able thus easily to -reach out and pluck him down. - -When Zaanan arrived the opera-house was full. Zaanan, who had for years -been given a conspicuous place of honor, found a seat with difficulty. -He sank listlessly into his chair, slid forward with extended legs, and -let the brush of his beard rest on the bosom of his shirt. He did not -look about him. - -Had he studied the hall, he must have been surprised, not alone at the -numbers present, but at the composition of the spectators. In Diversity -women were accustomed to take no part in politics--even that slight part -of watching their men functioning in caucus or convention. But this -morning was presented a condition abnormal. The gallery, usually -occupied by a sprinkling of loafers, was filled with women. Not ten -women or a score of women, but row after row of women; the mothers and -wives of Diversity in a body. - -Others had been surprised by it. Not a few husbands had remarked upon it -to wives as they left their housework and departed. Some wives had -evaded questions; the bolder ones and the majority did not hesitate to -inform their husbands, in words easily understood, that their reasons -for going to the caucus were nobody's business but their own. - -The monotonous routine of organization was completed. Throughout, Peleg -Goodwin had been in the public eye. He was a figure of importance. He -already assumed the dignity of the office which was to be his as it had -once been Zaanan's. Peleg had views as to his future. What Zaanan had -done Peleg could do. True, Moran was putting him where he was; but -later--Peleg would see to that. His bearing was feudal. - -The gallery had watched impatiently, if silently. So this was polities? -So these futilely buzzing, smoking, lounging male creatures below were -actually their husbands exercising a high rite of citizenship! It was -monotonous. It even moved some of them to giggles. Many of them had -invested the caucus with the dignity of mystery, with a certain pomp and -regality. Now they saw it as it was, in no wise different from a casual -gathering round the wood-stove in the post-office on any day in winter. - -"So that's how it's done," said the Widow Stickney. "Huh! 'Tain't much -more glitterin' than peelin' potaters. And I doubt if it's as useful." - -But when the moment arrived for nominations for the office of justice of -the peace, the women leaned forward, interested, not to miss a phase of -it. - -Young Lawyer Bourne placed Peleg in nomination, did so noisily, -flamboyantly, with waving of arms and screaming of eagle. He mentioned -Peleg as Peleg had never been mentioned before. If the young man had not -mentioned Peleg's name at the outset, that worthy candidate would not -himself have recognized the subject of the speech. But Peleg enjoyed it. -Maybe that's what he really was and hadn't realized it; maybe that's -what his fellow-men had been thinking about him for years, wasted years. -Why, with such regard he might have risen to the Governor's chair! - -"Look at Peleg," whispered the widow. "If somebody don't tie a strap -round his chist he's a-goin' to bust." - -Peleg's nomination was duly seconded, not by Michael Moran, for Moran's -residence was elsewhere, but to Moran's satisfaction. He sat on the -aisle, well toward the front, and had been the recipient of much -attention. Easily Moran was the dominant figure of the body. Why should -he not be, on this his day of victory over his enemies? - -Zaanan sat motionless, spoke to no one, paid no attention to what went -forward. He was there, that was all. It seemed as if he had come from, -habit, not from interest. After the first few moments he was forgotten, -unnoticed. Zaanan had been moved on to oblivion. - -Bob Allen nominated Zaanan. He made no speech, simply mounted the -platform and announced that he placed the name of Zaanan Frame before -the caucus as a candidate for the justiceship. It was a form, that was -all. Then he stepped down. - -"Any secondin' speech?" asked the chairman--a form, too. - -"Calc'late there is," said a voice at the rear of the hall, and Steve -Gilders arose, for once detached from the rifle which had grown to be as -much a part of him as his arms. - -As Steve walked forward, indeed, as the first of his words fell on the -ears of the body, it became silent. Men looked at one another, felt a -tenseness in the air, an apprehension. A small boy walked by Steve's -side, his hand in Steve's. - -Together they mounted the platform, stood facing the hall. - -"I'm here to second that there nomination," Steve said, harshly. "Bein's -I haint taught in speech-makin' I fetched help. But I figger the boy and -me'll be able to make out." - -He got down on one knee so his face was on a level with the child's. - -"What's your name?" he asked. - -"Steve," said the little one. - -"What's your other name?" - -"Hain't got none." - -Every man, every woman, in the house was straining forward. Here was -something not to be expected by any; something fraught with meaning. -Michael Moran was of those whose eyes were fixed on the two figures. He -half arose to his feet, then sank back, face distorted, fists clenched. - -"Who was your ma?" Steve asked, in a voice that chilled. - -"Susie Gilders." - -"Where is she?" - -"She's dead." - -"What killed her?" - -"She did," said the child, his lips quivering. - -"Why?" - -"On account of me." - -The gallery became audible--it gasped once, then was silent again. - -"Who is your pa?" Steve went on, inexorably. - -"Michael Moran." - -"Who do you hate?" - -"Michael Moran." - -Steve arose, lifted the child above his head. - -"Look at him, folks," he said; "he's secondin' the nomination of Zaanan -Frame." - -He turned, now leading the boy, descended from the platform, passed down -the aisle toward the rear of the hall. The child's coat brushed Moran's -sleeve, unconscious of whom it passed. Moran shrank away from the touch. - -Nobody spoke, nobody moved, save Moran. He leaped to his feet, face -working with rage, with shame, with the ignominy of it. - -"It's a lie!" he shouted. - -"It's the truth!" Steve Gilders said over his shoulder. - -In the gallery a woman stood. She pointed downward to an individual on -the floor. - -"Tom Samson," she said, shrilly, "you're goin' to vote now. Vote right -or don't come home to me." - -Another woman dared equally. "You, too, George Perkins." - -Woman after woman was on her feet, singling out her man, letting him -hear her voice in this matter. - -The vote was taken in silence, counted in silence. The hall awaited its -announcement in silence. Three votes were cast for Peleg Goodwin, the -rest for Zaanan Frame. - -There was a cheer, but it came not from the floor, not from the men -folk. It was shriller than a cheer by the men would have been, for it -came from the throats of the wives and mothers of them. Women not -accustomed to politics had taken a hand in that game. Women not granted -the suffrage by our laws had by their mere presence wielded the powers -of the suffrage. They had not voted in person for Zaanan Frame; they had -exerted no prior influence; but they had at the moment of action shown -their men what was in their hearts, and the men voted in accord with it. -The women of Diversity had shown there was a force, a power resident -within them, that was capable of ruling when it sought to rule. Men -versed in the law tell us that in every state the supreme power must lie -definitely in some individual or some group of individuals. Where -autocracy, absolutism, obtains, the supreme fountainhead of authority is -in the autocrat; in a republic it abides in the citizens. The women of -Diversity had made apparent where resided the ultimate authority in -their village. - -Moran had left the opera-house. - -Scatteringly at first, then with volume, arose shouts for Zaanan. -Shamefaced men bellowed his name, at first because they were ashamed, -afraid, to do otherwise, then with an infection of enthusiasm, perhaps -with a clearness of vision they had been deprived of hitherto. Zaanan -walked forward slowly, gravely, with no indication of elation in his -face. From the platform he eyed them sternly. - -"Folks," he began, presently, "I can't say I take any pride in this. I -don't feel like I'd been honored. No, I hain't been honored, except by -them that hadn't votes to vote. My heart hain't so old but it kin -appreciate bein' trusted and respected by them that sits in the gallery. -They stayed by me when you forsook me. You men, 'tain't on your accounts -I'm takin' this place agin; it's because of them women that I've seen -babies in their cradles, and for the babies that is in their cradles -to-day." - -He stopped to remove his spectacles. - -"I should 'a' let you have a dose of Peleg and Moran. It would 'a' been -good for you. But I seen you didn't have sense nor judgment to know what -you was doin', so I done what I've had to do before. I took things into -my own hands, and for another spell things'll go on as they did before. -I was hopin' you'd learned. I was hopin', when I come to step out for -good, that you'd be fit to handle the job yourselves. I'm disapp'inted -in that, so I'll hang on as long as I can." - -He stopped again and tugged at his beard, and glowered at the men as one -might glower at refractory children. - -"Some of you men that's here to-day has money in your pockets that don't -b'long there. It's Michael Moran's money. For a dollar or two, that'll -be spent and forgot in a week, you sold somethin' that's next worse to -sell than the decency of your homes. You sold somethin' that men have -fought for and give their all for. The whole of this here nation's built -up on you and others like you. You're a part of the Gov'ment; the nation -trusts each feller to do his votin' and his politics to the best of his -judgment. But you hain't done that. You've up and sold your votes. I -calc'late I hain't never been more ashamed. At the door of this -op'ry-house is Dolf Springer holdin' a bushel basket. He's holdin' it in -plain sight of all. If you that's took money hopes to have my respect, -and the respect of your wives and mothers and daughters, you'll rise now -and march past Dolf, and you'll chuck into that basket the Judas-money -that's soilin' your pockets. Now, I'm waitin'." - -They looked at one another shamefaced, each man afraid to be the first -to rise. - -"Tom Samson," came his wife's voice, "you head that percession." - -There was the hint of a nervous laugh from the men, but Tom got to his -feet. - -"Zaanan," he said, shakily, "I'm a dum sight more ashamed 'n you be of -me," and he marched to make his deposit in Dolf's basket. - -It was a procession. Men formed in line behind Tom, and there were -leathery faces that felt for the first time in many years the -down-trickle of tears. Zaanan was wiping his eyes unashamed. Audible -sobs descended from the gallery. The atmosphere was that of a -revival--it was a revival, a moment of regeneration, a moment that would -linger in the minds of those men as long as mind and body remained bound -together. The line filed past Dolf and the men returned to their seats. - -"I calc'late the business of this caucus is about over," Zaanan said. -"When what's left to be done is over I wisht Parson Bloom 'u'd say a -benediction. 'Tain't usual at sich meetin's, but 'twon't do any harm." - -So it was done. Aged Parson Bloom mounted the platform, his silvery head -bared, and held his arms extended over them. His words were few, simple: - -"'The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from -another.'" - -Then they passed out, leaving Zaanan alone on the platform, seated in a -huge arm-chair, his head bent wearily, his face in his hands. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - - -Jim, in what might be termed a ramshackle physical condition, drove to -town the morning of the caucus. His left arm occupied a sling. He had -not seen Marie. She would not have known him had he seen her, for she -lay in the borderland, not delirious, not unconscious wholly, but -strangely indifferent, still. He did not wish to see her. - -He went directly to his office, nor did he leave it during the morning. -The caucus was in progress. He had been vitally interested in it. But -this morning nothing interested him; he was apathetic. Part of this was -due to physical condition, more to mental stress. - -Even when the Diversity Bank presented for payment his note for thirty -thousand dollars he was not aroused. It would have been his nature to do -something, anything, in an effort to avert calamity; but it was not -Sudden Jim who sat before his desk. It was just Jim, shorn of the -attribute which had earned him his name. - -He had expected the note to be presented. Well, he could not pay. There -was no way to pay. Somehow he had failed, and his father would think the -family blood had grown thin in his veins. Even that mattered little. -Moran had beaten him. The burning of Crab Creek Trestle was a decisive -blow. Before it could be replaced the logs in his yard would be -exhausted, the mills must shut down for lack of raw material. There was -no use to try to sweep back the inevitable; it was attempting to stay -the inflowing tide with a broom. - -He did not leave the office at dinner-time, but asked young Newell to -fetch him a lunch from the hotel. Three days remained, the days of grace -allowed by law after the presentation of his note. He saw no use for -them. - -It had not yet struck one o'clock when Zaanan Frame came in. - -"Feelin' perty bad, Jim, eh? Had a perty tough time?" - -Jim nodded. - -"Git on your hat. I've fetched Tiffany, and we'll drive down to the -Diversity Company's annual meetin'. Guess a drive after the best hoss in -the county'll perk you up consid'able." - -"What's the use, Judge? They've got me. I'm done." - -"Huh! Sudden Jim, eh? Don't act very sudden jest now. What's ailin' your -ambition?" - -Jim told him briefly, with complete discouragement. - -"Wasn't at the caucus this mornin'?" Zaanan asked. - -"No; I didn't have the heart to go." - -"Figgered I was beat, didn't you, eh? Figgered the ol' man didn't have a -ghost of a show?" - -"I knew it." - -"Um! No more show 'n you've got to pull out of this mess? Not any more -show than that, eh?" - -"I guess we're in the same boat." - -"You hain't asked who got nominated this mornin', Jim." - -"No need to, Zaanan." - -Zaanan chuckled. "Wa-al, you're a-goin' to hear news then. Peleg he -slipped up some on his calc'lations." - -Interest gleamed in Jim's eyes at last. - -"What's that?" he said. - -"Folks sort of, after a manner, made up their minds they couldn't git -along without me." - -"You beat them?" - -"To be sure. And I hadn't no more chance 'n you've got. I was as beat as -you be, if not beater, wasn't I? Which p'ints out the fact you never can -tell who's licked till the constable stops the fight--and sometimes not -then. Goin' to git on your hat, Jim?" - -"Judge Frame," said Jim, "you're a great man! if you say to keep up the -struggle, why"--he put on his hat and stood up--"why, let's get to that -meeting." - -"Hain't no time to lose. Got to git there swift, so I fetched Tiffany. -You're goin' to ride behind a hoss now, young feller." - -Jim did not smile. - -Zaanan was not joking, but speaking with firm faith in his ancient -steed. What Tiffany had been in his youth Tiffany still was to the old -judge. The horse had not changed in his eyes. They had grown old -together, but Zaanan's love for the creature, his admiration for -qualities long vanished, were steadfast as ever. - -"Lemme tell you some facts," said Zaanan. "There's times when facts is -better ammunition 'n bullets. Moran's consid'able spraddled out -financially. He's made every dollar that belongs to him git to work and -do more 'n any dollar ought to do. He's a reacher. Been a-reachin' out -and a-reachin' out till it looks like his arm must 'a' got stretched. -Owns stock in the railroad--not a majority, but consid'able. Gits -control by proxies. Then along come this Diversity Hardwood Company, and -he must git his hands on to it. He's got some money, but 'tain't enough. -So he puts up his railroad stock for collateral and buys a block of -Diversity Company. Then he talks the stockholders into thinkin' he's -consid'able big punkin. Two fellers in Grand Rapids that owns control up -and makes him president and general manager of the outfit--and takes -over his notes and collateral for him. They're a-carryin' him, 'cause -they figgered he was a man could make money for 'em. Got that all down, -eh?" - -"Yes." - -"Know what to do with it?" - -"No." - -"Then p'int your ears and listen." - -While Tiffany jogged along at the breakneck pace Zaanan attributed to -him the old justice instructed Jim. - -Eleven stockholders in the Diversity Hardwood Company were present at -the meeting, including Zaanan and Jim. Moran was in the chair. He had -raised objection when Jim entered, but was referred to the company's -stock-book. The meeting was called to order and routine business -completed. The election of directors was imminent. - -Jim stood up. - -"Mister Chairman," he said, "before we start on this election there is a -matter I want to lay before the stockholders." - -"We have more important business than to listen to you now," snapped -Moran. - -"The most important business this meeting can attend to is what I have -to lay before them." - -"Go ahead, go ahead," said a burly, grizzly-haired man who lounged back -in his chair smoking a huge and powerful cigar. "What's on your mind?" - -"As a stockholder in this company I charge the president with more than -one act prejudicial to the interest of the company and with more than -one act reflecting on the honor and business integrity of the concern." - -Moran leaped to his feet. - -"This is the man who hired a gang of toughs to raid our camps and steal -our railroad. He's stolen our timber; he's on the verge of -bankruptcy--owing us money--and last night he went on to our property -and set fire to Crab Creek Trestle. He'll see the inside of jail for -that." - -"Now, now, Moran, one at a time," said the big man. "You'll get your -chance. Go ahead, young fellow. You've made your statements; now back -them up--or git." - -"First," said Jim, "this company needs the Le Bar tract. Is that not -so?" - -"You bet we do," said the big man. - -"Moran has had a chance to buy--at a reasonable figure--and has refused -even to deal. I have an option on that timber. Because I have it, -because he is after my scalp, he won't deal. You've tried to buy of Le -Bar for half a dozen years. That's charge number one." - -"His price was exorbitant. It was a hold-up," Moran shouted. - -"You have never asked a price. I have never put a price on the land--to -you or to anybody else. Next, he has done all in his power to cripple -the Ashe Clothespin Company, which is your most valuable single asset. -He's been bought up by the Clothespin Club. First he hired a man to -cripple our machinery; another of his men filled our logs with spikes -for us to saw into. His railroad has withheld cars for our shipments. -These acts he has done as president of this concern. Is it pleasant to -you gentlemen that your president, in your own woods, should spike your -own logs and ship them to a valuable customer? These things I am in -position to prove. He refused to carry out the terms of this company's -contract, would not give us logs, so I had to avail myself of the -permission of the contract to seize and operate your logging machinery. -And, finally, last night, by his orders, property of this company was -destroyed by fire. Michael Moran burned Crab Creek Trestle. This I can -prove." - -"It's an infernal lie!" Moran shouted. - -"There, there," said the big man. "If Mr. Ashe is lying we'll see you -have satisfaction. Just prove the burning of the trestle; well let the -other matters go for another day." - -Zaanan went to the door and called. Steve Gilders came in, rifle under -his arm, pushing another individual before him. - -"Here's your proof," said Zaanan, dryly. "Go ahead, Steve." - -"This here feller," said Steve, "burned the trestle last night. Soaked -her with oil and touched her off. Then he took a shot at Mr. Ashe -there--and thought he'd got him. Calc'late he thought so till this -minnit, for he hain't heard nothin' to the contrary. Now, Kowterski, I -seen you. Who told you to burn that there trestle?" - -"He did," said Kowterski, pointing to Moran. - -Moran sprang toward Kowterski, but Gilders shifted his rifle. "Don't go -prancin' round. I guess you know I wouldn't grieve none if I was forced -to hurt you, Moran." - -"Moran," said the big man, "this isn't altogether unexpected. My good -friend, Judge Frame, has been in touch with me, and we've done a bit of -investigating ourselves. Now I'll tell you what we're going to do, -Wilkins and I. We've held you up; you had us on the blind side. -Personally I don't like to be fooled. It r'iles me, and I'm good and -plenty r'iled. We sha'n't press the incendiarism charge. Putting you in -prison wouldn't make me any happier; but busting you would. This -locality won't be broken-hearted to see you removed from it. Your notes -are due; we shall not renew. Our attorneys have been notified to take -the usual steps to realize on your collateral. Now if I were you I'd -clear out. We haven't any more use for you here." - -Moran protested, threatened, raved. When he was done and the room was -rid of him, the big man turned to Jim: - -"I hear you've earned a name, young man. Sudden Jim, is it? A good name, -and your father'll be glad to hear of it. Maybe I can give you a piece -of news. Saw Welliver and Jenkins yesterday. They're through. The -Clothespin Club will be good if you'll cry quits. Meeting next week in -Grand Rapids, and you'd better go." - -"About that option of yours, son," said the stockholder named Wilkins, -"we know what it cost you. You're entitled to your profit. Will two -dollars an acre satisfy you? If it will the board, when it is elected, -will instruct the treasurer to give you his check for the amount." - -The movement of affairs had been too swift even for Sudden Jim. The -revolution in his condition had been too rapid. He could scarcely grasp -it. Moran done for, himself offered a profit on his option which would -pay the note presented that day and leave a pleasant margin of cash! His -acceptance was prompt. - -He drove back to Diversity with Zaanan after the meeting. For most of -the way he was silent, dazed at the outcome of affairs. At last he -spoke. - -"Judge," said he, "I said you were a great man this afternoon--" - -"That's all right, Jim." - -"If it hadn't been for you--" - -"To be sure! To be sure! It's my business to meddle. And, besides, -Clothespin Jimmy and I was raised side by side. He licked me four times -'fore I was twelve year old. He told me to sorter look after you a mite, -figgerin' you might need it. And say, son, if I was you I'd go -hell-for-leather out to Steve's place. You've been messin' up things -with that girl out there. I dun'no' but you ought to git thrashed for -actin' so; but you're young and sudden." Zaanan smiled dryly. "'Twa'n't -Marie told Moran you was goin' to swoop down on his camp; it was that -young Newell up to your office. Call to mind, it was him warned you the -trestle was goin' to burn. Moran's had him bought up quite a spell." - -"Judge--" said Jim. "Judge--" - -"Yes, son, you're as big a dum fool as you figger you are, and maybe -more. The young is inclined to value themselves high." - -"Will you drive me out to her? Now? She'll never forget--never -forgive--what I said to her and believed; but I've got to tell her. I've -got to beg her forgiveness." - -"While you're doin' your beggin'," said Zaanan, shrewdly, "you might -throw in a few words about how much you think of her. Eh? That kind of -talk is sort of flavorin' in a girl's ear." - -"There is a good deal of it for me to say," said Jim. - -He did not speak again until the miles to Steve Gilders's shanty were -traversed, until they stood at the low door of the house. Jim rushed -ahead of Zaanan, opened the door. - -"Is she--Where is she? Can I--I must see her now!" he said to the -astonished woman who had sat with Marie through the night. - -"She's perked up a mite," said the woman, "but she don't act like she -was happy. Go right in. She's able to talk to folks now." - -Jim opened the door and entered the bedroom softly. He found Marie's -eyes on his face as he turned toward the bed, dark wells of misery. - -"Marie," he whispered, and knelt by her side, his hand fumbling for her -hand. "Marie, it was cruel. I--I have no excuse to offer you. Where I -should have trusted I failed to trust. I loved you--but I was not worthy -to love you. Even when I believed you had done that thing, I loved you. -I could not tear it out of my heart. There is nothing I can do but tell -you how my love failed, and beg you to forgive me if you can. What is -gone is gone. I have lost you, and I know the bitterness of loss." - -She turned her face toward him; her eyes were beautiful--softly, -tenderly beautiful. - -"I--am not lost," she whispered, "so--so badly that you can't find -me--if you look." - -"Marie!" - -"Jim, last night I learned something about love. I know what it is. I -knew you would learn the truth. All that--I put aside. While I was -trying to reach you I put it aside. I knew love would abide, through -griefs, through whatever had gone before, whatever was to come. I loved -you--would always love you. Do you know, Jim, I had made up my mind to -fight for my love? Yes, if others had not proved I did not do that -thing, I should have proved it to you myself. Because I--wanted you, -Jim. Because I had to have you." - -He clung to her hand, speechless. A ray of glory had fallen upon him, -and he was blinded with it. - -"Jim," she said, "you have never kissed me. 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