Part 22 (1/2)

”You're figurin' to start soht the cannery already, have you?”

”Don't you worry about that, Blagg I knohat I'ory and I are partners on this deal”

Blagg was taken back by the girl's announceory himself

”Suppose there ain't no profits?” put in another fisherirl took Gregory's words and went on: ”But there will be I'et a bunch of ex-navy men down here that mean business They won't let Mascola, Rock or anybody else bluff thea stepped back and began to whisper to the men about him The other fisherirl to go on:

”You fellows all know the advantage it gives you to have enough boats and ood to have soive you a hand And you know that Mascola kno toto the older un to feel their joints stiffening with rheuaet any easier as we get older

There's a lot of you ill have to go into dry-dock before long and get patched up And there's so with your hands too long You've got to ease up and use your brains That's what I want to hire now These young fellows are eager to help you It will be up to you to show therily announced that she intended to run her business in her oay? Gregory could only stare at dickie Lang So far, she had not even included hie of the profits of his cannery Surely she would explain her sudden change of heart Listening intently, he heard her conclude:

”Think it over, boys It's a chance that ain If there are any questions you'd like to ask, shoot”

Blagg noted that her words were having ato steainst hiexplanations and the objections gradually becaent questions Gregory noticed that the fisherroups while they talked earnestly airl She was cha his ideas as if they had been her own cherished plans

At length the various knots of men drew further apart and faced each other in tell-, about hier and ht the property-owners and heads of fa Jack Stuss, their acknowledged leader

dickie Lang regarded the two factions carefully, striving to count their ranks Each was about evenly divided, she figured, with Big Jack's constituency slightly in the lead

Blagg stepped forward and began to speak: ”It's six straight for me and mine,” he said ”Theled proposition at all”

”It's up to you,” the girl replied coolly ”If that's the way you feel, you can get your money But before you do, I'd advise you to talk it over at hoainst you

It ht be pretty nice to remember some time that you tried to help yourselves Think it over before you get your checks”

As she finished speaking, Big Jack got slowly under way Elbowing a path through the crowd he shuffled closer, hitching at the straining suspender to which was entrusted the task of holding in place his two pairs of baggy canvas trousers shi+fting froreat bare toes in silence while he drew in a deep breath which filled his huge lungs to the bursting point and caused the muscles of his neck to stand out in purpled knots

dickie waited, knowing full well that it was Big Jack's invariable preface for speech When the big fisherh co-horn voice:

”Me and my fellers has decided to stick Youse fellers can count on us if you shoot square We's willin' to take a chanct”

[Illustration: ”Me and my fellers has decided to stick”]

His sentences were interpolated with great gusts of surplus breath As he finished speaking he lumbered away to rejoin his companions

”That's the stuff, boys It's the way I like to hear ot the sand Take it from me, you'll never be sorry you stuck”

She walked forward and passed fa faction led down the dock in the direction of the town

Gregory stood with McCoy while the excite-boats on their accusto cruise