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THE (SUNDAY OREGONIAN, POBTLAD, JAXUARY
22 1$S6.
THE BALTyGUNGE CUP, ByW. A- Frazer
ATKUB woman, a strong man, and a
good horse; love, strength, and
speed. Because of these things this
story.
But it did not start this -way; not by a
srreat deaL At first it was only banter
That was the way Beth looked at it
Beth Cavendish. Jf Douglas Slade was
more in earnest, that was his fault
He was in indigo, up in Tirhoot, and
the planter's life tends to make one take
things more seriously than they do in
the service. For Beth was of the army.
Her, father, who was a general, and her
brother, and all the rost of the Caven
dishes were of the army. And there its
strength and speed and truth, and just a
little of love, perhaps.
As for the seriousness of the thing, as
I have said,' it was all on his side. That
was the atmosphere when they said theso
things. It was in Calcutta. He had
really been skirmishing for an opening
so blunderingly, that she knew it.
"Marriage and the before is not ro
mance." she said, looking very earnestly
through the window and out across the
tun-scorched maldan that stretched away
to the 'stone feet of Fort "William. "It's
dreadfully commonplace: It's almost
tragic in its dull commercialness."
Is there no romance of love, then?"
he said, .feeling that some strong moves
were being made on the chessboard of
their little .game.
"I suppose there is of -'love': but we
don't associate love with most of the
marriages we sec. you know; they arc
'arranged,' and the result is"
He waited ior her to finish the sen
tence, watching the gray eyes as they
came back drooping a little from the
glare of the hot sunshine. But she seemed
to be picturing the result to herself and
to have forgotten all about his presence;
no he added: "Disastrous, eh?"
"Not always, of course. Now, if it were
the old days," the old times when men
rode forth to battle for the ladles they
loved, or said they loved. It might be dif
ferent. Then a man had to dare and do
much to prove his love. Now it's simply
a matter of arrangement."
Slade thought hopelessly of his position.
He might vow to raise more Indigo than
any other man In his district, but that
would hardly appeal to this maid of a
warlike race. His chances were limited.
He would willingly undertake to thrash
anybody, but there was nobody to
thrash. Ho felt quite bitterly that what
ah said was true there was little of ro
mance in his life, little that was bright
to offer her In oxchange for tho pleasant
existence she led. "Why should she go to
live at his stupid old bungalow, up in
Tirhoot, simply because he desired It
lover her. if you will? Sho had sadly
demolished his skirmishing line, but he
must retreat with a light heart, conceal
th dull little gnawing with banter.
'"Tch," he said, "if wo lived In those
days, or those days were now. I might
take your glove, tie It to my helmet I
really Iorct how they did fasten the
gloveston and go up and down the land
knocking people about until you were
Quite- Mitisried with tho slaughter and
called ine hack to receive my reward. By
Jove! I'd do it quick enough, though," -he
added, more to himself than to his
companion.
Beth smiled a littlo at this, and said:
"You see, the fates are against you;
there's no chance for you to show your
dovot'on."
"No: no chance," he admitted, tragi
cally, "Are you going to win any races in
Calcutta next meeting?" sho broke in.
changing the subject abruptly, as though
his last words had settled the other for
all time.
"No, I'm afraid I can't even win a
race. 2&y horses are all crocks not ono
above selling-plater form."
A merry light danced in Both's eyes.
Had she laid, a trapfor him? "You shall
be my knight-errant then. I'll give you
a task. "Win mo tho Ballygunge Cup."
His face fell. "Something easy, please,"
ho begged. "Tho moon, fpr instance, or
Buddha's tooth from Ceylon. Any little,
bauble you may think of."
"My knight rides not forth to battle
today, then?" said Beta.
"Oh, Til try it, of course," he added,
flushing a littlo; "try it. and not a hack
in my stable fit to pull a dog-cart! Only
don't pluck a fellow if ho falls, that's
all. But I must have a gage a modern
gage in black and white."
The getting of the gage was too tedious
for telling:, but it read:
"If Douglas Blade wins the next
Ballysungo steeplechase, I promise
to " and there sho stuck.
He filled in, -with his own hand, "He
ward him."
"You're to wear it on your casque, you
know," she said, as he folded it up
neatly.
"Yea. I'll tie It in my racing cap when
I ride forth to battlo in the Cup," he said
as he stood one foot on tho step of his
Ihlgh dog-cart and nodded pleasantly to
Beth.
"Now I'm in a hat." thought Slade to
himself, as ho drove to hla hotel. '"Win
the Ballygunge cup with a lot of broken
down nags, when I have failed before
with the best horse that ever came to
India. And the Cavendish knew I couldn't
win it when she set me the pace."
Then ho grabbed a lifeline that dangled
down into his sea of despair. The lifeline
was Captain Frank Johnson. Ho was
standing at the door of the hotel.
"By Jove!" said Slade. "you're just the
man I want Johnson. If there's anybody
on earth, or anywhere else, that can help
me out of this pickle, you're tho man, or
fiend, as the case may be."
"Up in his room he told Johnson what he
had undertaken to do. The Captain whist
led a merry note of derision.
"Do you know what you've run up
gainst?" he asked. "Lord Dick's got
Musket, a big winner at Punchestown.
out from home to land this same bit of
jewelry: and, bar him, there isn't a horse
in tho country can beat Jovial, who Id la
it. too.
"I'd transfer my horse, Chang, to you
quick enough," continued Captain Frank,
"for I mean to starfhim. but I'll tell you
straight, if tho other two come to the post
fit, I'll only win it"ln case something hap
pens to both of them la case they fall
or run out. or something of that sort.
Neither of them is apt to do that,
though," he continued, regretfully, "for
they're both crackers at tho 'lepplng'
game." .
"But I've got to win it." eaid Slade.
helplessly: and the look on his face drew
another whistle from the firm, thin lips
of tho racing Captain.
Johnson sat in deep thought for a min
ute. "If it's as bad as all that," he said
presently, looking at Slade. "we'll have
to hunt up a horse to beat the both of
them, ch? You'vo got nothlngin your
stable that a donkey- couldn't give pounds
to. But Baldeck's just landed a Waler.
In a shipload of horses from Australia,
that if we . can buy and get fit in time
will take a lot of beating. His name s
Goldflnder. He won over big timber In
Australia."
Hope Is a good tonic, and tho way Slade
rushed things gantil he had secured Gold
finder was appalling. Not but that there
was trouble over It. and it really seemed
as though everybody was In league to
keep him trora winning the cup. Baldeck
wanted It himself; In fact, had brought
this horso out to win It to take back to
Australia. GoJdrinder's price. 500. was
all right. lad gave that 6aerly enough,
and hp-ot over the dlffjcultv of the cup
for Baldeck by agreeing that, ir the horse
won. he" would have a duplicate made, in
gold, if he liked, and give it to him. This
seemed a trifling and happy arrangement;
but. like a ood many other trifling,
things, it turned out serious in the end.
"You'll have to come up with me to my
place and get'Goldfinder fit." Slade -said
to Johnson. "I want to win this race
and then quit the turf. Til have some
thing else to think of then," he added,
impressively.
So JoQnson and his own racing stable
were transported up to Tirhoot. There
was no difficulty about this, for Captain
Frank had shed the army and waa a rac
ing -gentleman pure and slmple-not so
very pure and simple, perhaps. Slade
agreed to make him a present of Gold
finder after the race was run and won.
"W'll have a great chance to find oul
how the new horse Is going," Slade re
marked, "with Chang In the string.
Chang's Almost good enough, and If my
horse turns out a bit better, we'll scorch
them this trip."
While Slade and Johnson got the two
horsps reaay in Tirhoot, on the indigo
planter's estate, something else was being
got ready In Calcutta. That was the
working of one John Maynard's mind
over this same Ballygunge cup. He was
in the service, too, but that didn't mat
ter. "What did matter was that he thought
Beth Cavendish the only girl he. wanted
to marry.
So while others worked faithfully In Tir
hoot, he trained a sprinter to so fast
for a mile, and Jump viciously at every
thing in sight. Though Maynard's morals
were" slightly oblique, bis pluck was all
right, and he never thought of his own
neck In the matter. If he broke the other
fellow'js well, necks sometimes do got
broken in a steeplechase over a stiff
country.
"I think it's fairly satisfactory," he con
fided to himself. "If by any fchancc I fall
to bring him a cropper. Lord Dick is
pretty suro to beat him out on Musket.-"
So he took a pretty heavy bet. backing
Lord Dick's horse to win a small fortune
You see It was all gain with him love
and coin.
Why Maynard had put Diablo In, no
body knew. Certainly he couldn't stay
the course, three miles and a half, and
he was well named Diablo, for he had
the temper of a" flerfd. It bothered Cap
tain Frank not a little. That a man of
Maynard's cleverness should play the fool
was quite out of the question; besides,
Maynard could surely got something that
would go the distance, and have some
chance of finishing with the othors. Then,
when he found out that DIablo's owner
had taken a long bet about Musket's win
ning, he commenced to do considerable
thinking suspicious thinking.
"I'll keep an eye on Maynard in the
race," he told Slade. "Ho played me a
bit of a trick once at Umballa, and X
shouldn't half mind wiping out the
score. Chang's a pretty big horso, and
between us we can take care of our
selves, and somebody else too, if it's
needed."
"What do you mean?" asked Slade.
"Nothing, only we'll sort of win tho
cup between us. You'll sort of ride
under my order, and whon I give you
the word In the race, do just as I say,
even If it does seem a bit queer."
"I'll take your coaching. Frank, for
you know the game better than I do."
That was ontly two days before cup
day. Sla.lc said nothing to Beth aljout
winning tho cup. When ho had won It
would be soon "enough; if he lost well,
he had not lost yet. anyway.
"There'll be eonic collar bone? cr.icked
today." said Captain Frank to Slide, an
they put on their silk colors In thf tlresn-ing-room,
the day of the race. "Th to
bamboos on all the jumps are Iron bound,
and if any horse hits them hard he'll
come down for keeps: and lje'11 stay
down, too "
"Dangerous, mat. oh?"' answered Slade.
"Might upset our good thing."
"Hardly," xald Captain Frank, with his
drawling twang; "6omebody'll find them
dangerous, but you won't. Goldflndcr'H
fly them like a gird."
"What about Chang?" inquired Slade.
"Chang and his rider are all right," re
plied Johnson. "They're only out for an
airing. I've backed Goldflnder, for I can't
beat tho othor two."
The terms of the race were simple
enough. It was a gentleman's race, for
all horses owned solely by members of
the Ballygunge Association. It was open
to nil riders. This al.o was a simple ar
rangement that turned out very compli
cated at the end.
Of course, Beth was there: everybody
who was anybody was. It was the
"Grand National" of India. Beth had not
thought that Douglas Slade would tako
her banter so seriously. Why had he
bought a horso that really had a good
chance of winning the cup for people
were saylmr that he might win? Good
Judges liked the big chestnut, and wore
saying- that he had a great chanco.
Beth kept asking herself a knotty ques
tion. "If Douglas Slade won, what then?"
He had kept so quiet about it that she
thought he had forgotten the whole
thing. Surely he was a valiant knight.
It would almost be too bad for him to be
beaten now. The thought gave her a
start. What If he should be beaten he
had been so plucky about it, so deter
mined? And there was the gago right enough,
straight in front of her eyes. Douglas
Slade, riding by on his chestnut from tho
paddock to the course, turned his head
toward the grandstand as hefissed the
end, and she saw the missive, the gage,
tied tightly In the strings of his cap,
gleaming white against the dark-blue silk.
Slade caught Both's eye as he looked at
the sea of faces, and she felt a warm
flush scorch her cheeks. It vexed her.
She did not care for him; it had been only
banter.
They were all stringing out for the start
now eight of them, eight of vtbe best
steeplechase horses "In all India. Captain
Frar- on the big. angular Chang, looked
the finished horseman that he was: the
easy grace of his seat, told of the perfect
mastery; it was like my lady in her rock,
lng-chair. And the thin, determined, bony
face of the rider; it would be Chang's
fault if that pair did not win.
Win! Tho captain was not thinking of
winning thinking of something else
thinking of the dark-brown horse Just in
front of him. Diablo. Goldflnder held
Chang quite safe as far as winning went,
he knew; his business was to tako care of
Diablo, and mayhap his rider, for Cap
tain Frank's suspicion had become a cer
tainty. A steeplechase of threo miles and a half
Is not a spring in which the start counts
for much; so they were soon away, the
silk Jackets of the riders snapping and
cracking at the wind, like frost breaking
away from the tightened bari of trees
in Winter.
Beth said to herself that she shouldn't
care much, shouldn't take much Interest
in the thing: but when the roar. "They're
off!" beat up from the Inclosure below
and went echoing through the stand sho
felt that she had three or four hearts in
her breast, all beating and hammering
away with a suffocating quickness. Still
she did not care it was the excitement.
Over the first three fences they raced
like mad things; not at all 11 ko cool
headed riders In a big steeplechase.
"They'll soon crack up at that pace"
racing men said; "It's too fast"
Jovlal's rider was racing for the lead,
and Diablo, with blood-red nostrils spread
wide, his small, wicked ears laid tight
back on his cobra-like neck, looked the
perfect embodiment of evil, as he gal
loped on the leader's quarter. Maynard
was pulling at his head, but the very
devil was in the horse.
Musket. Goldflnder and Chang went in
a bunch. Over the 'post and rails" and
"drop rence" they still kept up the ter
rible pace. Goldflnder making the heart
of Douglas ade glad as he skimmed
them like a deer. "God and my girl!"
he muttered, quite like a knight or old.
as he felt the great springy chestnut rise
each Jump with a mighty surge and come
down on the other side Hko a cat
Beth, too, was muttering something as
she watched the dark blue cap rise in the
air. almost disappear and then go skim
ming along on the level.
Maynard 'was palling Diablo back to the
others. Johnson saw that, and pushed
Chang out a little. "Tou devil!' he
Jerked out between his set teeth 'Til give
you what-for!"
That was for Maynard.
At the "big mud wall Jovial struck his
forefeet and. sent a cloud or dust in the
air. As the others swept- Ty they saw
Jovlal's rider plowing along on his side,
as though he had been shot out of a cata
pult But he was not hurt, and in three
seconds had tho horse fcolng again.
Maynard, with a strong pull at Dlablo's
head, bad got him back until Chang's
nose was on his flank. On Chang's quar
ter raced .Goldflnder.
Johnson saw Maynard take a look-xryer
his shoulder at Sladc's mount . -"He'll try
It on the in-and-out or the big- water
Jump," thought Captain Frank.
Tho "in-and-out" was two big mud walls
about 30 feet apart As they neared It
Johnson saw that Maynard was up to
mischief. "He'll null dead 'across Gold
flnder If I don't bring him down." he,
mougnt
Four strides from the first wall May
nard looked around again. .Goldflnder
was thundering along Just behind Chang,
who was still lapped on Dlablo's quarter.
Captain Frank saw the look, and the
j short wrap that Maynard took in the
1 right rein of Dlablo's bridle.
' -Pull back!" he yelled to Slade. and
' drove tho spurs into Chang's great flanks.
.it uiai instant jiaynara puiiea jjisdio a
head short to the right as they lifted at
the flrst'wall.. With a smashing crash
Chang was Into him. chest on. As the
two wont Into the dip, a smashed mass,
Goldflnder took off at their very heels,
swinging slightly to the left and landed
Clear of the wreck.
The SOCOlxl wall hp Mrl aim snil Yii
and Musket, a length behind, raced on
: the. level. Jovial was lengths behind.
I A cry of horror went up from the stand
i as Diablo and Chang toppled over the
' wall In a broken heap. Both closed her
! eyes and turned white. When she opened
tnem tno Diue cap was skimming along
like a bird. "Who foil?" she acked faint
ly. "Captain Johnson and Maynard are
down." her companion replied. "I'm
afraid there are bocks broken there."
It serried wlckod to fool glad when per
haps some one waa lying dead between
those barriers, but her heart certainly
gave a throb of joy at the answer that
told her the owner of the blue cap wan
Slade. and still riding. She was begin
ning to forget all about the banter.
Then tho raco itself began In earnest
Muskot and Goldflnder wore fighting like
gladiators for tb cup their masters cov
THE SCALER, By Stewart
NCE Morrison and Daly, of Sagi
naw, but then lumbering at Bee
son Lake, lent some money to a
man named Crothors, taking in return a
mortgage on what was known as the
Crothcrs Tract of white pine. In due
time, as Crothcrs did not liquidate, the
Arm became possessed of this tract They
hardly knew what to do with it
The timber was situated some 50 miles
from tho railroad in a country that threw
all sorts of difficulties across the logger's
path, and had to bo hauled from nine to
IS miles to tho river. Both Morrison
and Daly groaned In spirit Supplies
would have to be toted in to last the en
tire Winter, for when the saow came,
communication over 50 miles of forest
road would be as good as cut off. Whom
could they trust among the lesser fore
men of their woods force? Whom could
thoy spare among the greater?
At this juncture they called to them Tint"
Shearer, their walking boss and the great
est riverman In the state.
"You'll have to 'job' her." said Tim
promptly.
"Who would be hired at any price to go
up In that country on a ten-mlle haul?"
demanded Daly skeptically.
"Jest one mart," replied Tim, "an I
know where to find him."
Ho. returned with an individual at the
sight of whom the partners glanced
toward each other In doubt and dismay.
But there seemed no help for It A con
tract was drawn up In which the firm
agreed to -pay J6 a thousand, merchant
able scale, for all awlogs banked at a
rollway to be situated a given number of
miles from the forks of Cass Branch;
while on his side James Bourke, better
known as the Rough Red. agreed to put
In at least 3.500.000 feet
"That means a crew of wild Irishmen,"
said Morrison.
"And that means they'll just slaughter
the pine," added Daly. "They'll aaw high
and crooked, they'll chuck the tops who
are we going to send to scale for 'em?"
Morrison sighed. "I hate to do It;
there's only Fitz can make It go."
So then they called to them another of
their best men. named Fitz Patrick, and
sent him away alone to protect the ftna'j
interests In the depths of the wilderness.
The Rough Red was a big. broad-faced
man with eyes far apart and a bushy red
beard. He wore a dingy mackinaw coat
a dingy black and white checked flannel
shirt dingy blue trousers tucked Into high
socks and lumberman's rubbers. The only
spot of color in his costume was the flam
ing red sash of the voyageur which he
passed twice around his waist When at
work his little wide eyes flickered with a
baleful, wicked light his huge volco bel
lowed through the woods In a torrent of
Imprecations and commands, his splendid
muscles swelled visibly even under his
loose blanket coat, as he wrenched sud
denly and savagely at some man's stub
born cant-book stock. A hint of reluct
ance or opposition brought his fist to the
mark with Irresistible impact Then he
would pluck his victim from the snow and
kick him to work with a ravage Jest that
raised a laugh from everybody excepting
the object of it
At night he stormed back through the
forest at the head of his band, shrieking
wild blasphemy at the silent night Irrev
erent domineering, bold, with a certain
twang of Irish good nature that made him
the beloved of Irishmen.
In the work was little system, but much
efficacy. The men gambled, drank, fought
without a word of protest from their
leader. With an ordinary crew such per
formances would havo meant slight ac
complishment but these wild Irishmen,
with their bloodshot eyes, their ready
Jests, thftlr equally ready fists, plunged In
to the business of banking logs with an
the abandon of a carouse and tho work
wais done.
On Thanksgiving day the entire place
went on a prolonged drunk. The Rough
Red distinguished himself by rolling the
round stove through the door into the
snow. He was badly burned In accom
plishing this delicate jest but minded tho
smart no more than be did the admiring
cheers of his maudlin but emulative
mates. Fitz Patrick extinguished a dozen
little fires that the coals had started,
shifted the intoxicated Mallan's leg out
of the danger of someone's falling- on It.
and departed from that roaring hellhole
to the fringe of the solemn forest And
this brings us to Fitz Patrick.
Fitz Patrick was a tall, slow man, with
a face built sauare. The lines of his brows,
his mouth and his jaw ran straight
across: thoss of his temples, checks and
nose straight up and down. His eye was
very quiet and his speech, rare. When ha
did talk. It was with deliberation. For
days, sometimes, he would ejaculate noth
eted so much. At the water jump, IS
feet broad, they came together, together
they flew It A roar of applause went
up from the straining, eager watchers.
Half a mile from home Musket's head
showed well In front "Lord Dick'll win,"
said Beth's companion. "Musket's an
Irish horse, bred to run all day."
Beth's Angers clutched tightly tho han
dle of her paraeol. and she set her white
lips firm and hard.
And so on they came, around "the cor
ner, and up the stretch and over fences
always the same; the creamy nose of
Lord Dick's roan always a trifle In front
As they cleared the last fence Slade
seemed to send a thrill Of the pent-up en
ergy of his framjb into Goldflnder. and
the big horse -made a last" nilghty effort.
Surely, slowly, his golden nozsle crept up
past the mottled head of the roan. Lord
Dick's whip flashed In 'tho air, and cut
at Musket's quivering flanks Slade sat
perfectly still, crouched low over the
withers of his horse, for he knew that
Goldflnder knew and was making his
last effort There was jio sound In the
stand, nothing but. the strained breathing
of thr people who waited.
Only the judges knew, as Ihcy flashed
under the wire, which had- won. Then
the numbers went up and the crowd
know. It Fas Goldflnder's race
"Sorry for Lord Dick." said Beth's
companion, as they sat down; "but the
other chap. Slade, deserves it Never
saw a gamer race in my life."
Both wasn't sorv for anybody. Her
nerves wore Jerking and twitching, and
she felt that she never wanted to see
another race in her life not one just like
that, anyway.
Two processions came Into the stand
enclosure almost together. Musket and
Goldfinger iormed ono, while the other
consisted of two stretchers, carrying
Johnson and Maynard.
"A twisted ankle and a cracked rib Is
no price to pay for a victory like that."
Captain Frank assured Sladp: "besides,
I wiped that Umballa score out"
Maynard was badly smashed up, too:
collar bone broken, and a badly wrenched
shoulder, but not beyond the working
of more mischief, though.
After the race Slade met Beth, face to
face, on the lawn. She held out her hand
in a pleased way.
"Are you glad I won?" he asked awk
wardly. "Did you win gloves or anything
over my mount?"
"I hardly know yet what I won." she
replied, enigmatically. "You sec. I can't
quite remember what my bets were till
people come to pay up."
"I don't know what I've won. either."
thought Slade. as Beth's companion car
ried her off; "but I'll find out tomorrow."
That night Slade waa having the fruits
ing but monosyllables, looking steadily on
the things about him.
lie had walked In ahead of the tote
team late one evening in the Autumn,
after tho Rough Red and his devils had
boon at work a fortnight. The camp con
sisted quite simply of three buildings,
which might have been Identified ax a
cook camp, a sleeping camp and a stable.
Fits Patrick entered the sleeping camp,
stood his slender scaling rule In the cor
ner and pee ml about .him through tho
dusk of a single lamp.
He eaw a round stove in the center, a
littered and dirty floor, bunks filled with
horible straw and worse blankets Jumbled
here and there, old and dirty clothes dry
ing fetidly. U saw an unkempt row of
hard-faced men along tho deacon seat,
recfcle in bearing, with the light of the
daredevil in their eyes.
"Where is the bos3?" asked Fitz Patrick
steadily.
The Rough Red lurched bis huge form
toward the intruder.
"I am your scaler," explained the lat
ter. "Where is the officer
"You kin have the bunk beyand," Indi
cated the Rough Red 6urlily.
"You have no office, then?"
"What's good enough fer th men is
good enough fer a boss; and what's good
enough fer th' boss la good fer any blank
blanked scaler."
"It Is not good enough for this one," re
plied Fitz Patrick, calmly. "I have no
notion of sleepln and workln' In no such
-noise an dirt. I need an office to keep
me books and th van. Not a log do I
scale for ye. Jimmy Bourke, till yeze give
me' a fit place to tally In."
And eo it came about, though the strug
gle lasted three day. The Rough Red
stormed recklessly between the woods and
the camp, delivering tremendous broad
aides of oaths and threats. Fitz Patrick
sat absolutely Imperturbable on the dea
con seat looking straight in front of him.
his legs stretched comfortably aelant one
hand supporting the elbow of the other,
which, in turn, held hla short brier pipe.
"Good raornln to ye, Jimmy Bourke."
eaid he each morning, and after that he
uttered no word until the evening, when
It was "Good night to ye. Jimmy Bourke,"
with a final rap, rap, rap of his pipe.
The cook, a thin-faced, sly man, with a
penchant for the Police Gazette, secretly
admired him.
"Luke out for th' Rough Red; he'l! do
ye!" he would whisper hoarsely when he
passed the silent scaler.
But in the three days the Rough Red
put his men to work on a little cabin.
Fitz Patrick at once took his scalging rulo
from the corner and set out Into the for
est His business was. by measuring the
diameter of each log. to ascertain and
tabulate the number of board feet put in
by the contractor. On the basis of bis
single- report James Bourke would be paid
for the scason'a work. Inevitably he at
once became James Bourke's natural ene
my, and so of even man In the crew with
tho possible exception of the cook.
Fltx Patrick scaled honestly, for he was
a Just man, but exactitude and optimism
of estimate never nave approximated, and
they did not In this case. Tho Rough Red
grumbled, accused, swore, threatened.
Fitx Patrick smoked "Peerless" and said
nothing. Still, It was not pleasant for
him alone there in the dark wilderness 50
miles from the nearest settlement, with
out a human being with whom to ex
change a friendly word.
The two men early came to a clash over
the methods, of cutting. The Rough Red
and his crew cut anywhere, everywhere,
anyhow. The easiest way waa theirs.
Small timber they skipped, large timber
they sawed high, tops they left rather
than trim them into logs. Fitz Patrick
wuld not have, the pine "slaughtered."
"YeH bend your backs a little, Jimmy
Bourke," said he. "and cut th stumps
lower" to tb ground. There's a bunch of
shingles in every stump ye've left
And you must saw straighten And th
contract calls for eight Inches and
over, mind ye that Don't so to skip
pin' th little ones because they won't
scale ye high- 'Tis in the contract so.
And I won't have th tops left There's
many a good log-in them, an' ye trim
them fair and clean."
"Go to hell, you -" shouted- -the
Rough Red. "Where the blazls did ye
learn. so much of losln'? T log-.th way
me father logged, an' I'm not to be
taught by a high-banker frirta th Mus
kegon!" Never would he acknowledge the
wrong- nor promise the Improvement,
but both were there, and both he and
Fits Patrick knew It The Rough Red
chafed frightfully, but in a way his
hand .wore tied. He could do nothing:
without the report; and It was too far
out to send for another scaler, even if
Daly would have given him one.
Finally, In looking- over a skidway.
he noticed that one log mrt not been
bloe-penclled across the end. That
meant that It had not been scaled, and
6f -victory thrust upon him. They were
having a little victory dinner, he and
some friends, and in the uiWdle of it
servant brosght 'in a letter from "hla.
Tho letter was from Johnson. It was
characteristic and much to the point.
Somebody had entered a protest against
Goldflnder, on the score that he was not
the sole property of Mr. Slade.
Slade was sure there was no case
against him, but somehow he felt as
though Beth were slipping away. Next
day at the stewards' meeting he indig
nantly denied; that anybody but himself
had any. Interest in Goldflnder.
Then he was confronted with something
he had completely forgotten his .promise
to Baldeck. 1
One of the stewards said: "An objec
tion has been lodged on the score that
Mr. Baldick Is still Interested In Gold
finder, to the extent that jou promised
him- the cup. or a duplicate of if, in- the
event of his winning. If you assure the
stewards- that this is not so. there is
no evidence other than Mr. Baldeck'a
word, and we shall bo forced to overrule
the objection. If you admit it. It estab
lishes the fact that Mr. Baldeck still has
an Interest In the horse, that you are not
the sole owner. In that .event, tho cup
will go to Musket who finished second."
It was a bftter pill, losing, the prize,
and on a technicality, too; tout Slade
never hesitated for an Instant IIKf-ord
would be taken against tho other man's,
but that didn't matter.
"I pfomlaed Mr. Baldeck the cup." he
said gravely. "I didn't know thatjt con
stituted an Interest lit the horse."
That afternoon he went tohand Beth
the gage back: not as he thought h"ev
should- have gone, to demand fulfilment
of the promise, given In banter though
it was. but to admit that he had failed.
It was rather odd that Beth had heard
nil the facts of the case before Slade
got there, but she had. .Whether Captain
Frank was able to get about In a gharry
or not I don't know; but Beth know.'
"1 have brought back your gage," said
Slade. trying to speak In th satne ban
tering tone they had used that other
"time, "T failed to get you the cup.'
Beth smiled a littlo as she reached out
for the creased slip of paper 'Douglas
handed her. "She doesn't care a Tap," he
thought: "she is laughing at me."
Deliberately Beth opened the dust
stained note and read it with provoking
coolness.
"This doesn't say a word, about the
Ballygunge Cup,' she said, arching: her
eyebrows.
"Doesn't what?' ho broke In. per
plexed. "It says wait, 111 read It to you:
'It Dougla3 Slade wins the next Bally
gunge steeplechase. I promise, to "
Then she broke off. as hc had In writ
ing the note, and looked up at him In
quiringly. oked: "And you did win
the steeplechase, didn't you though you
are not to get tho cup7"
And so it really did not matter very
much about the cup, after all. though
they would have liked it in their drawing-room.
Edward White
that In turn meant that he, the Rough
Red, would not be paid for bis labor
in cutting and banking It At onco he
began to bellow through tho woods.
- "Hey! Fits Patrick! Come here, you
blanked-blanked-blank of a blank!
Come here!"
The scaler wung leisurely down
the travoy trail and fronted the other
with level eyes.
"Wclir he.
"Why ain't that log marked?"
"I culled It"
"And It sound and good? Is there a
mark on It? A streak of punk or rot?
Ain't It good timber What th' blank's
th matter with It? You tried to do mo
out Of that-yci blank skunk!"
A log- Is culled, or thrown out, when
for any reason It will not make good
timber.
i u ten you, Jimmy Bounce, re
plied Fitz Patrick calmly. 'Th', stick
is 3ound and good, or was before your
murderin' crew got hold of It; but If
ye II tako a squint at the butt of It
ye'll see that your gang has sawed her
on a six-Inch slant They've wasted a
sood foot of th log. I spoke of that
afore; an now I give ye warnln' that
I cull every log, bis or little, punk
or 'sound, that ain't sawed square and
true across th' butt"
'Th' log is sound an' good and ye'll
scale it, or 'III know th reason why!"
"I will not." replied Fitz Patrick.
The following: day ho culled a-- log
In another and distant skidway whoso
butt 6howcd a slant of a good six
Inches. The day following he culled
another of the same sort on still an
other skidway. Ho examined it closely,
then sough the Rough Red.
"It is useless, Jimmy Bourke," said
he, "to be hauling of that same poor
log; from skidway ,to skidway. You
can shift her to every travoy trail in
th Crother's tract, but It will do ye
little good. I'll cull it wherever I find
it, and never will yo get th scale of
that log."
The Rough Red raised his hand, then
dropped It again, whirled away with a
curse, whirled back with another, and
spat out:
"By , Fitz Patrick, ye go too
tar! Ye'vc hounded me and harried me
through th -woods all th year! By
'tis a good stick, an ye shall scale It!"
To" an yore Old Fellows Is robbers
alike!" cried one of the men.
Fitz Patrick turned on his heel and
resumed his work. The men- ceased
theirs and began to talk.
That night was Christmas eve. After
supper tho Rough Rod went directly
from the cook camp to the men's camp.
Fitz Patrick, sitting lonely In the lit
tle office, heard the sounds of de
bauch rising steadily like mysterious
storm winds in distant pines. He
shrugged his shoulders, and tallied his
day's scaling, and turned Into his bunk
wearily, for of holidays there are none
In tho woods save Sunday. About mid
night some one came In. Fitz Patrick,
roused -from his slep by aimless blun
derlngs, utruck a light, and saw the
cook looking uncertainly toward him
through blood-clotted lashes. The man
wa3 partly drunk, partly hurt, but more
frightened.
"They's too big fer me. too big fer
me!" he repeated thickly.
Fitz Patrick kicked aside the blan
kets and set foot oh the floor.
"Le mc stay," pleaded the cook. "I
won't bother you; I won't even make a
noise. Tm skeered."
"Course you can stay," replied the
scaler. "Come here."
He washed the man's forehead, and
bound up the cut with surgeon's plaster
from the van. The man fell silent look
ing at him in wonderment for such
kindness
Four hours later, dimly through the
mist of his broken sleep, Fitz Patrick
heard tho crew depart for the woods
in the early dawn. On the crest of
some higher waves of consciousness
were borne to him drunken shouts,
maudlin blasphemies. After a time he
arose and demanded breakfast
The cook, pale and nervous, served
him. The man was ?xcitcd. Irresolute,
eager to speak. Finally he dropped
down on the bench opposite Fitz Pat
rick, and began.
"Fitz," said h. "don't .go to th
woods today. The men is fair wild
wld th' drink, and th Rough Red is be
side hl'self. Las night I heerd them.
They are goln to skid th butt log
again, and they swear that If you cull
it again, tbey will kill you. They
mean It That's all why they wint to
th woods this day."
Fitz Patrick swallowed Ids coffee in
sllenco. In sllocoe he arose and slipped
on his mackinaw blanket coat In sl
lenco he thrust his becchwobd tablets
Into his pocket nd picked his pliable
scalsrFs rula from the corner.
"Where arc ye coin.?" asked the
cook anxiously. ,
"I'm goin' to do "the work they pay
aae to do " answered FJtaiPatrJck.
Be took his way down the trial, his
face set straight before him, the
smoke o his breath streaming be
hind. The first skidway he scaled with
oare, laying nls rule flat across the
face of each log, entering the figures
on his many "eared tablets of beech,
marking the timbers swiftly with his
blue crayon.
The. woods -were emntv. No rirur of
the ax, no shout of the driver, no fall Of
the tree broke tho silence. Fits Patrick
comprehended. -He knew that at tho
next skidway the men were gathered,
waiting to see what he would do: gath
ered openly, at last inr thaj; final hostility
which had been maturing1 -.all Winter.
He- knew. Besides. thatVmost of them
were partly drunk and wholly reckless,
and that, he was alone. Nevertheless,
after finishing conscientiously skidway
number, one, he moved on to skidway
number two.
There, as he had .expected, the men,
were waiting in ominous -silence, their
eyes red with debauch and . hate. Fitz
Patrick paid them no hed, but sot
about hl3 business.
Methodically, deliberately, he did the
work. Then, when tho last pencil mark
had been made, and the tablets had been
closed with a snap of . flnallty. the
Rough Red steppedforward.
"Yo"' have finished with' this skidway?"
-asXd.the foreman. In soft cat tones.
"I have." answered Fitz Patrick briefly.
"Yo havo forgot to scaje one stick."
"No."
"There Is a stick still not marked."
"I culled it?"
"Why?"
"It was not sawed straight."
Fitz Patrick threw his head back
proudly, answering his man at ease, as an
accomplished swordsman. The Rough
Red shifted his feet almost awed in
spite of hlmsglf. One after another tho
men dropped their eyes and stood ill at
ease. The scaler turned away; his heel
caught a root; he stumbled; Instantly
tho paqk was on him, for the power of his
eye was broken.
Mad 'with rage they kicked and beat
and tore at Fltzpatrlck's huddled form
long after consciousness had "left It.
Then an-owl hooted from the shadow of
the wood, or a puff of wind swept by, or
a fox barked, or some other littlo thing
happened, so that in blind, unreasoning
panic they fled. The place was deserted,
save for the dark figure against tho red
and white snow.
Fiti Patrick regained his wits in pain,
and so knew he "was still on "earth. Ev
er movement cost him a moan, and
some agency outside himself inflicted
added torture. After a long time he
knew It was tho cook who was flrmly
but kindly kneading his limbs and
knuckling his hair. The man proved to
bo In a maze of wonderment over his pa
tient's tenacity of life.
"I watched ye." he murmured sooth
ingly. "I did not dare Interfere. But I
kem to yo "s soon as I couuld. See.
here's a fire that I built for ye. and
some tea. Taka a little. And no bones
broke! True for ye, ye're a hearty man,
and strong with th big muscles on ye
fit to fight th Rough Red man to man.
Get th use of yere legs, darllnt, an' I'll
tak ye to camp, for It's fair drunk, they
are bv now. Sure an I tole ye they'd
kill ye."
"But thoy didn't" muttered Fitz Pat
rick with a gleam of humor.
"Sure 'twas hot their fault nor yere
own!"
Hours later, as it seemed, they moved
slowly In the direction of camp. The
cold had stiffened Fitz Patrick's cuts and
bruises. Every step shot a red wave of
torturo through his arteries to bis brain.
They came in sight of camp. It waa si
lent. Both know that the men had drunk
themselves into a stupor.
"I'd like f kill th whole, layout as she
sleeps," snarled the cook, shaking his
fist.
"So would I." replied Fitz Patrick.
Then as they looked, a thin wreath of
smoke curled from under the Open-door-way
and spread lazily In th frosty air.
Aonther followed, another, still another.
The cabin was afire.
"Thev'vo kicked over the stove again,"
said Fitz Patrick, seating himself on a
stump. His ayes blazed with wrath and
bitterness.
"What yo goin to do?" asked the cook.
"Sit here,' replied Fitz Patrick grimly.
The cook started forward.
"Stop!" shouted tho scaler fiercely. "It
voii move a steo 1 11 breaK your nach.;
The cook stared at him through saucer
"But they'd be burnt alive!" he ob
jected wildly.
"They ough to be." snarled the scaler.
"It ain't their fault I'm here to help
them. 'Tis their own deed that I'm not
lvtmr bevant there In th forest unable
to help myself. Do you understand?
I'm yet out there in tn wooas:
"A. wlrra. wirra!" walled the cook.
wringing his hands, "Th poor lads!" He
began to weep.
Fitz Patrick; stared straight In front of
him for a moment. Then ne btjuck nis
fnrehftd. and with wonderful agility.
considering the Injuries he had but Just
received, tore down the hill In the direc
tion of tli smoldering cabin, ine cook
followed him Joyfully. Together they put
out the flr.e- The men snorea hko Deasxs.
undisturbed by all the tumult.
" "Tis th soft heart ye have, after all,
Fitz." said the cook delightedly, as the
two washed their hands In preparation
for a lunch. "Ye could not bear f see
th lads burn."
Fitz Patrick glowered at him for an
Instant from beneath his square brows.
"Thev can so to hell for all of me." he
answered finally, "but my people want
these logs put In this v inter, an tneres
nobody else to put them In."
Taking No Chances.
"I don't know whether you are my
Tnimrnand or a buTglar" she exclaimed.
"but I am going to bo on the safe side
and shoot"
As 'he lay on his convalescent, bed he
no longer claimed that women do not use
judgment
Would-ba Actrea In th third act I
simply lose myslt Manager Well. let u
havfc that apt first Philadelphia Bulletin.
TRAVELER'S GUIDE.
COLUMBIA RIVER SCENERY
POfftlAND to THE DALLES
Regulator
Line Steamers
PA1LT (EXCEPT S0XDAT; 7 4. Hi
Direct Una for Moffett's. st Martin's and
CoUlns Hot Springs. Connecting at Lyl
"VVaah.. with Colombia River & Northern ity.
panning iwi iuuee 01. jtuuuq --m lili
S. M'DONALD, Agent.
For South - Eastern Alaska
teamen or the company, or
for which VU la agent, lure
SETTLE V A. M.. TACOilA
hps COTTAGE CITY (Jan.
17. SI, SKAGWAY DIItCT.l
RAMONA Uan. lo 21. fikae!
way direct), both fesxls mak
ing regular S. C Alaska, porta
oi uu; i.oiiase i.uy alia at
Vancouver: itaoions. CALLS AT VICTORIA.
l?OR VANCOUVER.
CITY OF SEATTLE leaves Seattle Tuesdays,
Thursdartf. Scncaya. 10 P. M.: call at Everett
and Belllnsham. Keturnlng. leaves Vancouver
Mondays. Wednesdays and lTrtdajrs, calllnc at
Belllncham only.
Steamers connect at San Francisco with, com
pany's steamers for ports- In California, Jiex
lco and HurfU!dt Bay- Far further laTocaia.
Ucn obtain folder. RIsht Is reserved to cflansc
steamers or salllns date.
TICKET OFnC-
PorUand S3 Waahlnzton t
Seattle.-.- 113 James su and Dock.
Sax. .Francisco 10 Market st.
C. DDU-AJfJf, Gen. Pans- Axt.
10 3fark4t t Sia ranclca.
TRAVELER'S GTJID
AN.
Sfioip Line
am Union Pacific
3 TRAINS TO THE EAST DAILY
Ins-cars dally to Omaha, Chicago. Spokane:
tourist s!eDlnz-car dallr to Kan&as City:
ally conducted) isetltlv tA csiii Recllniti
chair-cars (teats free) to the TUat dally.
"PlttOX DEPOT. Leaves. Arrive.
CHICAGO-PORTLAND J: 15 A. M. 5"35 P. X.
SPECIAL for the lint Dally. Dally.,
via Huntlastoo.
SPOKANE FLTElt S;$ SL
I Dally. 1 Dally.
For Eastern "Washington. Walla "Walla, Lew
lston.Coeur d'Alene and Great Northern points
ATLANTIC EXPRESS. ,.., . w
for tho East via Hunt- 8-Tf.S;MV "nLn
Uston. Dally. Dally.
RIVER SCHEDULE.
FOR ASTORIA and 8:CO P.M. 5:00 P. R.
way pointa, connectlns Dally. Dally
tfllix steamer for Una- except exceot
eo and North Beach Sunday. s tin oar
"steamer Hassalo. Ash- Saturday,
street dock (water per.) 10:00 P. M.
FOR DAYTON. Ore- . 1T p v
gon City and Yamhill '"(h P;
River points, Ash-atrett ?ay; .ife
dock (water permitting 8un ex- 5u?
, . i
FOR LEWISTON. 3:40 A. 51 Aboat
Idaho, and way points. Dally. 3 0O P. K.
from Rlparta. Wash. ex. Sat. ex. FrL
Telephone Main 712. C. W. Stlnrer. City Tlcit-
.rair. uenerai passenger Ajccns-
San Francisco & Portland 8. S. Co.
For San Francisco every five days at 8 P. M..
from Atnsworth dock. S. S. Geo. W. Eldr.
January 21, 31. S. S. Columbia, January 26.
February 5, 1005.
Portland & Asiatic 8. S. Company.
For Yokohama. Kobe. Mojl and Hong Kong,
takloc freight" via connecting stearren for
Nagasaki, Shanghai, Manila. Vert Arthur and
Vladivostok. S. S. NIcomedla. February 17.
S. S. Numantli. March 0. For freight and
further particulars app'jr to
JAMES H. DEJVVEON. Agent.
Telephone Main 268. 218 "Washington t.
EAST VIA
SOUTH
Leaves. t UNION DEPOT, t Arrives.
OVriKI.AlNU iJA.
'RESS TRAINS
S:30 P. M.
for Salem, Rose-
burs'. Aahlanu. hao
. amen to. Ozden. ban
Tanclsco. ioiave.
Los Anzelea.
Paso, New urleana
and the East.
5:30 A. M.
Morning train con
7:10 P. 1L
nects at Woodburn
(dally except sun-
day) with train for
iiount Anxei. stiver.
ton. Brownsville.
fsprlngfield. Wend.
Use and Natron.
4:00 P. R.
; Albany pasner
noao a. u.
connects at wood
bum with Mt Angel
and Eilverton local.
7:30 A. 1L
114:30 P. M.
OorvalUs passenger.
5:30 P. M.
118:25 A. M.
sn,erioaa passenger.
.Dally. "(Daily, except Bunaay.
PORTLAND-OSWEGO SUBURBAN SBRV1CR
AND
YAMHILL DIVISION.
Leava Portland dallr fer Oswego at 7:30 A.
M.. 12:50. 2:C6. 8Si, 3:20. 6:25. 7:45. 10:10 P.
M." Dally, except Sunday. 5:30. 6:30, 8:33,
10:25 A. M-. 4:00. 11:30 P. M. Sunday, only.,
8 A. M.
Returning from Oswego arrive Portland dally
8:30 A. M 1:55. 3:05. 4:35. 8:15, 7:35. 9:55.
11:10 P. M. Dally except Sunday-, 6:25, 7:25,
9:30. 10:20, 11:45 A. It. .Kxcent Monday, 12:25
A. M. Sunday only, 10:00 Al M.
Leave from came depot- for Dallas and lnter
medlata points dally except Sunday. 4 P. M.
Arrive Portland. 10:20 A. M.
The Independence-Monmouth motor line oper
ates, dally to Monmouth and Air lie. connecting
with S. P. Co- trauu at Dallas and Indepena-
eFlrst-clafls fare-fro I Portland to Sacramento
and San Francisco. 20; berth. 3. Second
das fare, $13: second-clssa berth, 52.50.
Ticket to Eastern points and Europe. Also
Japan. China. Honolulu and Australia.
CITY TICKET OFFICE; corner Third and.
"Washington streets. Phone Main 712.
TiMr nnn
jgytM It vrl Biinsiiw
Cltfc. PORTI ANIV A
" , I
Depart. Arma,
Paget Sound Limited for
Tacorca, Seattle. Oiympia.
Bouth Bend nd Gray's
Harbor points -- 8:30 am 0:30 pas
North Coast Limited for
Tacoma. Seattle. Spokane.
Butte. St Paul. New York.
Boston and all points East
and Southeast 3:00 pta T:CO aza
Twin City. Expreso. for
Tacoma. Seattle, Spokane.
Helena. St Paul. Minne
apolis, Chicago. New Yor.k.
Boston and all points East . .
and Southeast .......... 11:45 n .7:06 pp
Pugrt Sound-Kansas City- "
St. Louis Special, for
Tacoma. Seattle, Spokane.
Butte, B!Hlngsr Denver.
Omaha. Kansas City. St.
Louis and all points East
and Southeast ............ 8:30am 7:0Oa
All tralna dally except on South Bend. branch.
A. D. CHARLTON. Assistant General Pas
senger Agent 255 Morrison st.. corner Third,
Portland. Or.
Astoria & Columbia
River Railroad Co.
VnV oJ
Leaves. UNION DEPOT. Arrives.
Daily. For Maygurs, Rainier. Dailr.
C! tskanlc. Weatport,
Clifton. Astoria. "VVar-
8:00 A. M. re-ton. Flayel. Ham- nuo A. U.
mond. Fort Stevens,
Gearhart Park, Sea
side, Astoria, and Sea. .
Dally.
7:00 P. M. AatorlaEpresj. 8il0 p. M
C. A, STEWART. J. C. MAYO,
Comm'l Agt.. 24S Alder si- G. F. &, P. A.
Phone Main OOC
City Ticket Office. 122 3d St., PS 9 689.
2 0VEBXAND TEAINS DAILY - O
The 'Flyer and the- Fast Mall.
SPLENDID SERVICE-
UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT
COURTEOUS EMPLOYES
For tickets, rates, folders and -fall la
formaiion. o 11 on .: .adres
H. DICKSON. City r and Tle
Act.. 122 Third street fortlaad. Or. -
JAPAN-AMERICAN LINE
S. S. SH1NANO MA5JU
For Japan, China and all Asiatic "Port. wilT
JbcaTe Seattle about Feb. X3Ut.