Part 26 (2/2)
”Look here! little et all about it Joe came in here and asked me to do what theI declined, and Joe beca his tery because I would not let hi on me No!
Rita, I am not a teeny-weeny little bit afraid of Joe Clark”
She looked up at ain
”Oh! that's 'cause you don't know hiot to do as Joe says,--here and in the Cahed easily; for what did I care? Joe's worst, whatever it ht be, could not hurtyet for that
”He's a big ainst hie and surveyed Rita
”Well,--” I said, ”I' as Joe is, but I have been schooled to hold ood run for his , and big, though not as big as him, and that you ain't afraid Maybe that's why I like Joe sometimes,--he's never afraid
”Still,--I don't like hihed ”But I didn't
Joe's got influence, Joe's got s and he's superintendent of the Camps He says he's boss of the whole shootin'
match, and you'll find it out soon”
”He e Bre under the necessity of buying his supplies here I was put in by Mr Horsfal himself, to be under no one, and with the appointment of superintendent of his Golden Crescent property So, here I a as I want to, or until Mr Horsfal says differently”
Rita glanced up at htened with a ray of hope
”And Joe ain't got nothing to say about it?”
”Not a particle If he had had, I would not be here now He would have sacked me on the spot”
”Really and truly, he ain't?” she cried, with fresh anxiety
”Really and truly,” I repeated
”Oh! goody, goody,--”
Poor little Rita;--all sunshi+ne and shower She was as merry as a kitten for a time, then she dropped back into her serious one yet?” I asked
”Some,” she said, ”but not thee?
He's a bully”
”He is, undoubtedly,” I agreed
”Ya!--he is, all right Still,--it ain't all his fault either He's handling rough et the work done and done quick
”Joe ain't bad No, siree Ask Josh Doogan, as down and out with so in his inside last year When the doctor told him an operation by a specialist in Philadelphia was the only thing that would save him, and he hadn't a cent, Joe fixed hi in the Caot into trouble with the police in Vancouver He's working for Joe and he's ood, too Ask Jenny Daykin who it was that took care of her for a year, after her Sa Sarand-dad even, though he won't take a nickel from Joe or anybody else except what he works for,--ask him He's queer, is Joe, and I ain't a bit struck on hiot a bad heart, all the same”