THE UP GRADE
“The candle in the niche behind her cast a dim light over thesoft curves of Jean’s cheeks”
THE UP GRADE
BY
WILDER GOODWIN
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
CHARLES GRUNWALD
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
1910
Copyright, 1910,
By Little, Brown, and Company
All rights reserved
Published, January, 1910
Fifth Printing
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
TO MY MOTHER
MAUD WILDER GOODWIN
ILLUSTRATIONS
| “The candle in the niche behind her cast a dim light over the soft curves of Jean’s cheeks” | Frontispiece |
| Page | |
| “The girl was kneeling beside him” | 36 |
| “‘It seems like as if you was bitten, Mr. Loring,’ said Hankins” | 125 |
| “No one quite dared to lead an attack upon Knowlton, who stood his ground beside the body” | 241 |
THE UP GRADE
CHAPTER I
Stephen Loring sat on the edge ofthe sidewalk, his feet in the gutter. Hewas staring vacantly at the other side ofthe street, completely oblivious of his surroundings.No one would select a Phœnix sidewalkas an attractive resting-place, unless, like Loring,he were compelled by circumstances overwhich he had ceased to have control.
“Here, ‘Hombre’! How are you stackingup? Do you want a job?”
With an uncertain “Yes,” Loring arose fromthe sidewalk, before looking at the man who addressedhim. Turning, he saw a brisk, sandywhiskered man about forty-five years of age,who fairly beamed with efficiency, and whoselarge protruding eyes seemed to see in everydirection at once.
The questioner looked only for a second atthe man before him. The face told its ownstory—the story of a man who had quit. The[2]tired eyes half apologized for the lines beneaththem.
“Easterner,” decided the prospective employer,“since he wears a belt and not suspenders.”The stranger extended his hand inan energetic manner, and continued: “Myname is McKay. The Quentin Mining Company,up in the hills, want men. They sent medown to round up a few. You are the forty-firstman, and the boss bet me that I would onlyget forty.”
Loring’s head was still swimming as the resultof a period of drunkenness which only lackof funds had brought to a close. By way of answerhe merely nodded wearily and murmured:“My name is Loring.”
His taciturnity in no wise discouraged hisinterlocutor, for the latter paused mer