From: Paul Wooten <gwd@pulsedance.org>
Date: Aug 26, 2006 5:01 PM
Subject: expansive

Frank Hammond whistled between his teeth. I didnt believe him, and Isaid so, quite plainly. Oh, yes, he was engaged to her all right. If I had been lookin thered have been somebody elseknocked down instead of me. There, there, Miss Bartlett, lets forgetit. He has been workingfor the place all the time and doing Captain Bartlett dirt everychance he got. She had read the accounts in the newspapers of therescue of the Flyaway. Her idea of asking herdriver for particulars concerning affairs at Setuckit wasabandoned. And they are yarns, of course, shedeclared. I always used to like him, same aseverybody else did. Then he hit the horse a vicious slap withthe end of the reins. According to Oaks, there had been open mutiny at Setuckit.

He can be fired for only a certain kind, and they are thekind that hurt. I done my dutyin standing by my captain which is according to rules andregulations. It wasone more straw added to the weight of trouble to come. Yes, I see that something must have happened to you. The papers, when they came,contained none of the promised particulars. More than shes ever been withanybody else, Id say. I judge hedidnt bother to do much explaining to her. And, in spite of her trust in Calvin,she could not understand his silence. It was pretty hard work for me to believe it myself. She had read the accounts in the newspapers of therescue of the Flyaway. Yes, I see that something must have happened to you. I know somethinghas happened there, she admitted. How could he be soneglectful of her peace of mind? Hes fixed that upall right for you, Norma. He waited for a reply, but she made none. You can think it over; therell be time enough.

Shewould go, even if it meant giving up her position there atFairborough. But the real reeson for the trouble is way back of all that. She made no answer and, turning, he became aware that she waslooking at him intently. Oh, yes, he was engaged to her all right. And, before dinner was over, his thoughts were busy with othermatters. Her idea of asking herdriver for particulars concerning affairs at Setuckit wasabandoned. Im going to forward my report and recommendationsto Washington. He did not feel that he should enjoy smoking justthen.