Hilltops Clear (The Emilie Loring Romances) by Emilie Loring

Author:Emilie Loring [Loring, Emilie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2020-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

“ ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and

Smile, smile, smile.

While there’s a lucifer to light your fag

Smile boys that’s the style.

What’s the use of worrying

It never was worth while, so

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and

Smile, smile, smile.’ ”

Armstrong joined in lustily; Si Puffer pounded out an accompaniment on the shining rosewood of the piano; David Schuyler carried the air in a baritone which caught at Gerard’s throat. Jean’s contribution was young and shrill, Prue’s was a slightly husky contralto. With the crashing finale she rose.

“The concert is over. Jean, refill my cup, please. After leading that outburst of song I feel the need of refreshment.”

As she returned to the slipper chair with her cup, her brother inquired:

“What sort of men do you need for the work in the woods, Rodney?”

“Husky lads. Jim will do the head work and Si and I will drive the crew,” Gerard answered, as he picked up a plate from the mahogany stand. “Cake, Prue?”

“No, thank you.”

“We need men who can swing an axe and cut as we direct,” Armstrong elaborated.

“You said you were going to New York to look for them. I have been thinking—”

“If you have a suggestion, for Pete’s sake, don’t hold out on us, Dave!”

“It may not be worth the breath to state it, Rodney. I was wondering if some of the men at the Rescue Mission might not fit in. Not the panhandlers who drift in and out, but those whom I call my regulars. They’re a rough lot, but there are about twenty of them who are devoted to me. If they have jobs they are mighty uncertain. If they came, I could keep them straight while they worked, I think, but where would they live? The villagers wouldn’t take them in; I wouldn’t ask it.”

Gerard did a sum in lightning calculation. “They could live in the big cattle barn down by the pond. It hasn’t been used for years. I’ll have bunks built, wood stoves would heat it, and get a cook from New York to feed them.”

“That expense would cut into your profits.”

“Into mine only, not my partner’s. I’ll charge it up to showing Calloway where he gets off when he attempts to dictate to the lumber firm of Schuyler and Gerard. The more I think of your suggestion the more I’m for it, Dave. Whoops! I believe you’ve solved the problem! I’ll pay any wages you say—providing, of course, my partner approves the plan.”

Prudence shook her head. “The plan is all right, it’s as good an idea as putting women into politics that they may attend to municipal housekeeping, but will it work any better than that did? Perhaps those men will incline their ears to the siren rustle of greenbacks—but—if said rustle spells w-o-r-k, I doubt it. You must make allowance for the fact that Dave believes that his boys like ‘all God’s chillen got wings’ when they are exposed to the right spiritual conditions.”

Her brother’s thin face was flushed, his fine eyes were alight with enthusiasm.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.