THE ANNOUNCEMENT
ABOUT thirty people sat in a circle on the in the on the A-Y, in taking from the well-filled plates which the rounds. Keen from all them in of laughter, Humble and Bill the part of it. Humble sat next to Miss Ritchie, while The Orphan and Bill Helen, the next to his new foreman. Humble’s had a look of when he allowed himself to on the members of his outfit, he called “purty in a way.”
Crawford, the owner of the A-Y, sat next to Shields, and when the had the cigar stage he and his throat.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Bill and Humble,” he laughter. “I have been as the of this picnic, and the false position 369me. But any such is by the of what I have to tell you.
“When I took up the A-Y it was with a to keep it and to the of my days on it in peace. This I have to be impossible, and in I have it over to a man. The energy which I have in the right way for the last has me that the A-Y will soon be second in and to no in this country. I have order, system, from chaos; I have five thousand re-branded and taken of in such as to me and be almost my belief. The has been as in the use of his energy as he can be in the use of his words. By that I don’t in the way that is you to smile, but that he how to the most work with the least possible of and time, as by the condition of this to-day. But while he has been the in the work of the on its proper footing, he has had as good as it is possible to find.
370“I don’t wish to you with any long speech, for is the of more than wit, so I will close by telling you that the A-Y is in new and hands–our is now its owner, and I to him my for his success in his new venture. I must thank him and all of you for a very day and a memory to take East with me.”
For an there was silence, and then a small to be taking place. The noise of the and was and rolled like a fog. The met the toward him and put in a very minutes in hands and to the which in upon him from all sides. Everybody was happy and all were talking at once, and Bill be off an of at high speed.
The Orphan his way to his best friend and hands in his own.
“By God, Sheriff!” he cried. “This is great news, and I’m to it! I you have the very best of luck and that your returns, in and money, your 371expectations. Anything I can do is yours for the asking.”
“Thank you, son,” the sheriff, looking into his friend’s eyes. “I’m going to call on you just as soon as I can make myself in all this hellabaloo. Just to that!” he as Silent let again.
“Glory be!” he of the name, Humble across the back. “For this you home like a white man, Humble–all your are forgiven! Hurrah for the sheriff, his family and the A-Y!” he at the top of his lungs, and his was supported with true and vim.
“Hurray for me, too!” Bill in laughter. Then he fled, with Silent in pursuit.
The to speak, and after was silence.
“Thank you, everybody!” he cried, his beaming. “I am happy for many to-day, but among them is the that I have so many warm and friends. The A-Y is always open to all of you, and I’ll be some if you don’t put in a of your time over here.”
372He paused for a and then looked at The Orphan, who at Helen’s side.
“Mr. Crawford did his part a whole than I can do mine, I’m afraid, but I’m going to do my best, anyhow. The news has only been told–the name of the new of the A-Y will be The Orphan! Whoop her up, boys!” he shouted, leading a which was not one less a than those which had gone before.
The Orphan in astonishment, for once in his life he had been surprised. The at last had the on him. He looked from one to another, started to step and then his mind and looked at Helen, who in a way to the speed of his heart-beats.
Her were moist, and the that she of the of all her to go crimson. Her hand to his and without on her part, and his was answered by her.
“It’s all true,” she said earnestly. “I’ve of it for a whole week now. You are the 373foreman of the A-Y, and I most for your success.”
He to be above the earth and his voice in his reply. For a of a second her had told him what he had of, what he had for above all things, and he her hand for a second as he toward his new employer, hand met his with a man’s grasp.
“Thank you, Sheriff,” he said, his from the of a minute. “You’ve been and with me than any man I’ve known, and will look to me if I don’t make good with you.
“Thank you, boys; thank you, Bill: you’re all right, every one of you!” he as his friends about him. “What the said about warm friends was the truth–thank you, Bud and Jim! Thank you, Blake–you’re another brick! Good God, what I have in two months! I can it, it so like a dream. That’s a warm grip, all right, though,” he as he hands with Humble, “so I it’s all true. Two months!” he marveled. “Two glorious, months! A new start 374in life, a of friends, a–and all in two months! And there is the man I it all to,” he cried, pointing to the sheriff. “There’s the man God made, and I’ll kill the man who says I lie!”
“Good boy!” Bill in endorsement. “You two make a pair of what can any full-house got together, and I’ll the man who says I lie!” he pugnaciously. “The Orphant may be an orphant, all right, but he’s got a whole of brothers.”
Mrs. Shields walked over to The Orphan and a hand on his as he recovered.
“You won’t be an any longer, my boy,” she said, up at him. “You’re one of us now–I always wanted a son, and God has me one in you.”
