Contentment was apparent in the
calm, cheerful tones of the men who
Sled into Hamburger Joe’s, or the !
Elite Cafe, or the Gulf Sea I-'ocni
Restaurant.
The first change in the v: Ices
came not in a note of discord, but
Dne of surpressed excitement. VVitli j
the wives of two engineers she we •
having dinner at the restaurant.
Talk at the table was spirited an 1
Judith was dividing her atUr:l.:iij
People began running up from the
little town to stand in groups and
discuss it, a thread of excitement in
their manner, their voices pitched
hi,"tlier than usual.
Some who knew something of the
enterprise became tfie talkative coll
ier of a group, assuring the wide
eyed ignorant ones that no oil could
come in “’Till they git them der
ricks up an’ drill down a piece.’’
"How far?”
“Sometimes 1S00, sometimes 5000,
sometimes they’ve gone way down
beyond that.”
Max and his wife and Judith
sauntered with apparent unconcern
fi 0111 one group to another, then
Jo: ;< il their party and moved uphill
to .'uditii's shack.
it looks like the real thing,
doesn’t it, boys?” observed Judith
in ,i deieated voice.
"Sure does,” agreed Max Larson.
“M en Lampere wouldn't buy ex
pensive machinery like that just to
frighten us with. He must have pret
ty ood evidence of a strike.”
“How will it effect the dam?” Mrs.
I. ii in (pieslioned.
I needn’t,” began Judith, a quiv
er of apprehension belying her
w !.< “;t really needn’t, but . . . i
v, "Id just as soon have the dam
completed before the rush begins.
Workmen aren't as efficient when
between a tenderloin steak and the !
conversation, when she caught one
word spoken in the room beyond.
