Part 28 (2/2)

The court adjourned and Norman started with Barbara at once to find Tom. Faithful to his new calling he had strolled up the beach with a man who once had been his partner as a prospector and miner. Joe Weatherby had been drinking heavily the week before and Tom had keenly felt the disgrace his old partner had brought on the Brotherhood by his rudeness in the dining-room.

Joe had thrown a plate of soup in the face of a boy who was making facetious remarks about his capacity for strong drink. When rebuked by his neighbours he had accentuated his displeasure by overturning the table and smas.h.i.+ng every dish on it. He ended the affair by roundly cursing the Brotherhood for its rules and regulations interfering with his personal liberty, threw his pack on his back, and struck the trail for the mountains to prospect for gold.

He had just returned, after a week's absence, and Tom seized the opportunity to invite Joe to take a walk with him.

Knowing the character of the two men, Norman felt quite sure this walk could not possibly have the usual happy ending that attended so many of these performances.

He quickened his pace.

”Hurry, or we may have a funeral for our next function,” he cried, with a laugh.

A quarter of a mile up the beach the sound of loud angry words suddenly struck their ears from behind a pile of huge boulders.

”Quick, we're just in time!” Barbara cried, ”they've begun to quarrel.”

They cautiously approached the boulders and climbed to the top of the larger one overlooking the scene Tom had evidently chosen for his debate with Joe.

”Hadn't you better part them now?” Barbara asked with some anxiety.

”No, I'll stop them in time. I want to get acquainted with Tom's methods of persuasion first.”

Tom's voice was rising in accents of wrath. ”Joe, I'm a man o'

peace--I'm a member o' the Brotherhood and you're my brother, but I'll tell ye right now we've got to have law and order in this community----”

”And I say, Tom Mooney, there hain't no law exceptin' what's inside a man.”

”Yes, but how kin ye git any law inside a man ef he's always chuck full er licker?”

”I don't drink to 'mount to nothin',” Joe protested. ”Just a drop now an' then ter keep me in good health.”

”Wall, ef you try any more capers in that dinin'-room, your health's goin' ter break clean down--yer hear me?”

Joe eyed Tom a moment and said with sharp emphasis:

”I reckon I can take care o' myself, partner, without you settin' up nights to worry about me.”

”That's just the trouble, Joe, ye can't. You jined the Brotherhood, but yer faith's gettin' weak. I'm afeard you're onregenerate, conceived in sin an' brought forth in iniquity, an' ye ain't had no change er heart nohow.”

”Look here, what are ye drivin' at?” Joe asked, beginning to back away cautiously.

”I just want ter strengthen yer faith, partner,” Tom protested kindly as he advanced good-naturedly and laid his hand on Joe's arm.

Joe shook it off and turned to go. With a sudden spring Tom was on him. A brief, fierce struggle ensued marked by low, savage growls like two bull-dogs clinched and searching for each other's throats.

”Stop them! Stop them! They'll kill one another,” pleaded Barbara.

”No. It'll do them good. Wait,” he replied, watching them breathlessly.

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