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GHAI'TttH!, " ' i
N tin,' network of ntrrnimi drain
lui; tint eastern portion of MR-li-Ik'iin
iiml known mi llio Sag
inaw waters the meat firm of
Morrison fc Duly Iiml for iimiiy ycin
carried on extensive logging operations
III till) Wllllorill'HH.
Now nt lust. In tho early clghtloii,
they reached llio end of their holdings.
Another winter would IIiiIhIi Hid cut.
At this Juncture Mr. Duly culletl to
Mm .lohii Itadway, a man whom lie
Iuh'W to poiiHeHH oxtoiiMlvooxpi'rlcnco,
u llttlo capital and a dolro""for moro of
both.
"Itaihvny," Haiti ho when Urn two
round tlicmnoivo'i iiionn in tun nun oi
lire, "wn expect to cut IIiIh year hoiiio
r.(MNK),(Hxl, which will IIiiIhIi our plno
holdings In the Saginaw waters. .Mont
of this timber lies over lit th Crooked
l.ttkit illMtrlct, ami that wo expect to
put In oiintelvvN. We own, however,
ri.ooo.ixio on the ('uhm liranch which wo
would like to lot: on contract. Would
you nire to take the Joh'"
"Mow much a thoutmuit do you
KlveV naked Itadway.
"Four dollnrw," replied tho lumber
ninu.
"I'll look at It," replied the Johhor.
So Itadway got tho "descriptions"
and a little nmp divided Into townships,
portions and quarter sections and went
out to tool: at It. lie Hen relied until ho
found a "Mar." on a tree, the marking
on which Indicated It an the corner of
a Hcrllou. 1'roin thin comer the hound
a ry lln'i were blazed at right niiRlen
In cither direction. Itadway followed
the blazed llneH. Thus lie wan aide ac
curately to locate Itiolated "fort leu"
(forty nenvO, "eighties," quarter hoc
lions and Nectlnmi In a primeval wilder
nit4i. The feat, however, required con
olderahle woodcraft, an exact House of
direction and a pocket company
Those rewiurces were Ht 111 further
.. . .... . i. n...i.
iirawn upon ror uio ncjii wikk. imu-
way trump., tho wood, lillli and vnl
Icvh to detenuluu the most practical
route over which to build a logging
mad from the standing tlmher to thv
KliorcK of CiiHri hranch. He found It
to lx- an affair of Hpme puleineut. j
The plneH Htood on a country rolling I
Willi hlllH. deep with pot hold. It
became decennary to dodjje In ami out,
here and there, between thu kliollrt,
around and IhrouK'h the hwiiiii'ih, atlll
kceplm, however, In tho hiihio eneral
illrectlou and preHcniiiR nlwiiyn tho
1-equlHlte level or down urade. Hnd
way hnd no vantage Milut from which
to Htirvey thu countrj' A city man
would promptly have loHt hlniHolf In
the tangle, but tho woodnman emorKwl
nt hint on the bmilcH of a Htream, lenv
Iiik iHihlnd him n luonndorlm; trail of
clipped treoH.
Til take It." Bald ho to Daly. '
Daly now proceeded to drive n Bhnry
bun;ntn with him. i
UuHtomarlly it Jotibcr lfl paid a cor
tain proportion of thu agreed prlco un
each Htapi of tho work In completed.
aly ohjectiil to tlilrt motliod of pro
cedure, i
"You nee, Itadway," ho explained,
"It'a our liiHt neanou In tho country.
When this lot In lir wo want to pull
tip fltakcH, ho wo can't tnko any
ehnnccH on not Kottlnj; that timber In.
If you don't llnlah your Job, It keepx
us here another noanou. There can bo
no doubt, therefore, that you llnluli
your Joh. In other wordn, wo ain't
tiiku any chanccH. If you Blurt tho
thliiK. you'vo got to carry It 'wuy
tlirniiKli." '
"L thlulc I cTTn, Silr.-Dnly," tho Job
ber nHHured him.
"For that reaHon," went on Daly,
"wo object to paying you aa thu worlt
liroRroHHon. Wo'vo got to havo a KUiir
iinteo that you don't quit on us and
that thoHu Iokh will bo driven down thu
braneh iih far iih tho river In tlmo to
catch our drive. Therefore I'm koIur
to make you a good prlco per thouHiuul, I
but nnvablo only when tho Iorh aro
delivered to our river men."
Itadway, with IiIh iimml mental atti
tude of ono nnxlotiri to Justify tho oth
ur man, ended by hcoIiik only his em
ploycr'H iirKUinent. Ho did not per
celvo that tho latter'H propoHltlon In
troduced Into tho triuiHiictlon i am
IiIIiir element. It became posslhlo for
Morrison & Daly to get a certain
iimount of work Abort of absoluto com
pletion dono for nothlni,'.
- All tlilH wuh In AtiRUst. Hndway,
xvho wis a Rood, practical woodsman,
net about tho Job Immediately. IIo Rath-
r,Cd B rrir
ir, ,aC LS blS'o!;
his formca trip
TlnrUvnv'H task WHS HOt IllOrOly to
lovol out, and ballast tho six feet of a
rondbed already constructed, but to
nit a wny for rtvo miles through tho
unbroken wilderness. Tho way had,
moreover, to bo not less than twenty
uvq fooOrtdo, Jiecil.oA.to bq nVSpJat0.
ii
lazed Mi
n.. CTPIAJADT n :
By STEWART
V"
J
v-5
EDWARD
5't
WHITE
l''V"'l "Hit tree from any i:mu or on-
ntrtictloiiH and required In tho MWiunpn
liberal ImllantliiK with poleit, cnueii cor
iluroyri, Not only iniiiil the i;rowth lm
removed, hut tho rootn mmit he cut out
and tho InequalltleH of tho ground lev
elcil or filled tip. Hulled furthor that
Itadway had hut a hrlef time at IiIh
dlNpomil, hut a few moutlm at iiiohI,
and you will then he In a poNltloii to
Kiiiiko Uio II rut Ullli.'iiltk'H of thoHu the
Ainerlcnn ploneeiM-xpoctH to encounter
ii h a mutter of course.
The Jobber of couroc puiihed IiIh
road) iih rnpldly iih poMHlble, but wiih
1,'reatly handicapped by luck of men.
Winter hot In early and nurprlHed him
with Hovornl of tho Htnnller branched
yet to IIiiIhIi. Tho main line, however,
wiih done.
At Interval!! Hqunren were cut out
nloMK-'Ide. In them two lorn; tlmherx
or UldM were lnld andlroiiwlHe for the
receptlun of thv pllea of Iokh which
would bo (lniKK'l from the fallen
treex. They were called hkliU.i.
Then llnally the Meahon'i cut ben-au.
Tho men who were to fell the trcert
Itadway dlHtrlbuted aloiiR onu Imiiml
ary of a "forty." They were InHtrmU
er to move forwaid acroKH the forty
In a HlrnlKlit line, follini; ever' pluo
tree over elulit Inchiti In diameter.
While the xaw khiikh, three In number,
prepared to fell the Ilrxl tree, other
men enlleil Hwainpern were buto cut
thiK and clearliiK of rootn narrow lit
tie trallH down throiiKli the forest from
the ptuu to the hkldway at tho ciIku
of the IokkIiik mad. The trallrt were
perhapn tlux'e feet wide and marvela of
KmoothucHM, althotiKh no attempt was
made to level mere Inequnlltled of tho
ground. They were called travoy
roads (French trnvolHj. Down them
the Iorm would be draKKiil and hauled
either by mcnim of heavy ntocl Ioiikh
or a Hliort xleilKe on which one end of
the timber would be chained.
Meantime tho Hawyera were busy
- - -
Each pair of men sclecti-d a tree, the
first they encountered over tlw blazed
" f t-lulr toTi'- Ariur otorinlnlng
In which direction It wan to full they
m-1 to wort lo chop u deep bbbIi In Hint
Mde of JIip tniiik.
'r" UroiuUieml and Henry Paul
plcki-d out a tremoiKiou.s pine, which
they dctonnlned to throw acmss u lit
tie open space In proximity to the
travoy road. Onu stood to right, tho
other left, and alternately their axon
bit deep. Tom glunced up oh u sailor
lookH aloft
"Khu'll do, Hnnlt," ho nnld.
The two then with n dozen half clips
of tho ax removi-d tho Inequalities of
tho bark from tho Haw's path. The
long llexlblu ribbon of steel began to
slug, bending ho nduptubly to thu IiuiuIh
and motions of tho uiuu manipulating
that It dtd not Hoem possible so mo
bile an Instrument could cut the rough
pine. In a moment the song changed
timbre. 'Without a word tho men
straightened their backs. Tom tllrted
along the blade a thin stream of kero
sene oil from it iHittle In his hip pocket,
and thu sawyers again bent to tholr
work, Hwaylng back and forth rhyth
mically, their muscles rippling under
the texture of their woolens like thoso
of a panther under itn skin. Tho out
er edge of tho saw blade disappeared.
"Hotter wedge her, Tom," advised
Hank.
They paused while, with n heavy
sledge, Tom drovo a trlanglo of steel
Into the crack made by tho sawing.
This prevented tho weight of tho tree
from pinching thu saw. Then tho
rhythmical z-a-z, z-z-z, again took up
Its song.
When tho trunk was nearly severed
O'.mii ilrnvn niintlinr mill Illlel'lU' Weilc'O.
"Tlmberl" halloed Hnnlt In a long
drawn inolodloUH call that melted
through tho woods Into tho distance.
Tho HWiunper.s ceased work and with
drew to safety.
"Crack!" called tho tree.
Hank coolly unhooked his saw linn
die, and Tom drew tho bludo through
ntul nut tho other side.
Tho troo Hhlvored, then leaned ovor
ho slightly from tho perpendicular, then
fell, nt llrut gently, afterward with a
crescendo rush, tearing through tho
branches of other trees, bending tho
small timber, breaking tlio smallest
and at last hitting with u tremendous
crash mid bang which tilled tho ulr
with n'fog of Hinnll twigs, needtoa nnd
thu powder of snow.
Then tho Bwiunpors, who hnvo by
now finished tho trnvoy rond, trimmed
tho proatrntu trunk clear of all pro
inl.cn.ucei, it tnd fairly .klllful
ax work, Tho branches had to bo
shaved eloao nnd clear, nnd at tho
samo.tlmo tho trunk must not uo
gnshed. And often n man was forced
to.,wvlil his Instrument fron n con
strnlned position. .
Thd yhopped branches nnd limbs hud
now to be drugged clear nnd plied.
.While this wan bolwr finished Tom nnd
Hank marked off and rulwca ana log
lengths, paying duo attention, to the
ueccNfilty of avoiding knots, forks and
rotten places. Thus some of tho logs
wcro elghlccn, some sixteen or four
teen and hoiiio only twclvo foot In
length,
Next appeared the toninnters with
their little wooden sledges, their steel
chains ind tholr tongs. They hnd been
In Ifiiiig thr skldders to place tho par
nliel nnd level beams, or skids, on
i .i'Ii it.o 1 igs were to ho piled by the
Hii'- of (he riiul. Tho treo which Tom
ami Hank lad Just felled lay up a gen
ii" i.lopc from the new travoy roud, k
little rnblnu I.nveque, tho teamster,
chimin d tho bltu of his tongs to tho
end of tho largest or butt log.
"Alios, Molly!" ho cried.
A horse, huge, elephantine, hor head
down, noun close to her chest, hitvlll
gently spying her stepsT moved." The
log half rolled over, slid three feet and
menaced a stump.
"Uecl" cried I.nvcque.
Molly stepped twlco directly side
wise, planted her forefoot on a root
she had seen and pulled sharply. Thu
end of tho log slid around tho stump.
"Alio.!" commuudod Lnveque.
And Molly started gingerly down tho
hill. She pulled tho timber, heavy as
mi Iron safe, hero aud there through
tho brush, missing no steps, link!.;:
no falsu move, backing and finally
getting out of tho way of un unex
pected roll with thu easu aud Intelli
gence of I.uvequu himself. In live
minutes tho burden lay by thu travoy
road. In two minutes more onu end
of It had beeu rolled on the llttlo Hut
wooden sledge anil, the other end drag
ging, 11 was winding mnjestlcally down
through the ancient forest.
When Molly nnd Fab Inn had trnvoy
ed the log to the hkldway they drew
It with a bump across the two parallel
skids and left it there to bu rolled to
the top of the pile.
Then Mike McCJovorn and Hob Strat
ton nnd Jim Gladys took charge of It
Mike and Hob were running thu cant
hooks, while Jim stood on top of the
great pile of logs ulready decked. A
Mender, pllablo steel chain like n gray
snake ran over the top of the pile mid
disappeared through u pulley to an
invisible horse Jenny, the mate of
Moll.. Jim threw the end of this
chain down. Hob puHscd it over and
under the log and returned It to Jim,
who reached down nfter it with thu
hook of his Implement. Thus the
stick of timber rested in a long loop,
oiiu end of which led to the Invisible
h'jrsc, and the other Jim mndo fast to
tho top of the pile. He did ho by Jam
ming Into another log the steel swamp
hook with which the chain wiih armed.
When all wiih made fast the horso
stnrted.
"Hhe'H a bumper," nald Bob. "Look
out, Mlkel"
Tho log slid to tho foot of tho two
parallel poles laid slanting up tlw face
of tho pile. Then it trembled on tho
ascent. Hut one end stuck for an In
stant, and at once tho log took on a
dangerous slant. Quick an light Hob
and Mlko hpraug forward, gripped tho
hooks of thu cant hooks like grout
thumbs nud forefingers, nnd, while ono
held with all his power, tho other
gavu u sharp twist upward. Tho log
straightened. It was a master feat of
power and thu knack of applying
strength Justly.
At tho top of tho llttlo Incllno tho
timber hovered for a second.
"Ono more!" sang out Jim to the
driver. He -poised, stopped lightly up
anil over and nvolded by tho safe
hulrbremlth being crushed when tho
log rolled. Hut It did not llo qulto
straight or oven. So Mlko cut a short,
thick block and all throo stirred thu
heavy timber sufficiently to admit of
the billet's insertion.
Then tho chain wnu thrown down for
another.
Jenny, harnessed only to a short,
straight bar with n hook In It, leaned
to her collar aud dug her hoofs at tho
word of command. Tho driver, close
to her tall, held fast tho Hlender steel
chain of an Ingenious hitch about tho
ever useful swamp ho-l:. When J.'m
shouted "Whoa I" from tho top of tho
skldway tho driver did not trouble to
stop tho horse; ho merely lot go tho
hook. So tho power was shut off sud
denly, ns Is meet nnd proper In such
ticklish business. He turned nnd walk
ed back, nnd Jenny, like a dog, without
the necessity of command, followed
him In iitow patience.
Now camu Dyer, a scaler, rnpldly
down tho logging roan, a huiiui, Monitor
man with u little, turned up mustache.
Tho mon disliked him because of his
nffoctatlon of a city smartness nnd be
cnuso ho" never ato with them, oven
when thero was plenty of room. The
scaler's duty nt present was to measure
tho dlamotor of tho logs In ench skid-
saf'eft!4&''Q
f IF YOU WISH TO ADVERTISE
IN NtSWBt-'ArUMai
ANVWHCRD AT ANYTIMB i
, Call oo or Writ
E,C.DAm ADVERTISE AGEHCYl
64 & 6$- lcrclianta Gxcfetngo ?
BAN PUANC43C0. CALV 5
Notice ,
, .,U,moiml)Plra oi tho I'fahortnau'fl
Whist club aro ordorod to rdeot at tho
entno plnco nt 12 o'clock noon Jan, 21,
weather permitting.
"Allczl" commanded Iaivoiuc.
wny and po compute tho number of
Iwnrd foot. At thu otJlrc he tended vnn,
kept tho booku nnd looked nfter sup
plies. lie npproached tho skldwny rnpldly,
hid his flexible rule across tho face
of each log, mada a mark on his plno
tablets In the column to which tho log
belonged, thruxt tho tablet In tho pock
et of his coat, seized a blue crayon, In
a long holder, with which hu made an
8 as Indication Unit the log had been
scaled, and fliuilly tapped several
times strongly with u sledge hammer.
On tho face of tho hammer In relief
was an M Inside of n delta. This was
the company's brand, nnd so tho log
was branded ns belonging to them. IIo
fw7irnTcdover the s'kldway," rapid nnd
absorbed. In strange activity to tho
slower power of tho actual skidding.
In u moment ho moved on to tho next
scene of operations without having
said a word to any of tho men.
"A fine t'Ing," snld Mike, spitting.
So dny after day tho worlt went on.
Itadway spent his tlmo tramping
through tho woods, figuring on new
work, showing tho men how to do
things better or differently, discussing
minute expedients with tho blacksmith,
tho carpenter, the cook.
He was not without his troubles.
First ho had not enough mon. tho snow
lacked and then camu too ubundan'tly,
horses fell sick of colic or calked
themselves, supplies ran low unexpect
edly, trees turned out "punk," n cer
tain bit of ground proved soft for tra
voyltig, nnd so on. At election time, of
course, a number of tho men wont
cut.
And ono ovonlng, two days nfter elec
tion time, another nnd lmportnut char
ncter entered tho North woods nud
our story.
CIIA17TEU II.
7T1N tho evening In question somo
II I thirty or forty miles southenst
III of Hndwny's enmp a trnln wns
J crawling over n badly laid
track that led toward tho Saglnnw
vnlley. The wholo nffnlr wns very
crude. To tho edge of tho right of
way pushed the dense swnmp, like a
blnck curtain shutting tho virgin coun
try from tho view of civilization.
Across tho bhow were tracks of an
imals. Tho train consisted of a string of
freight cars, one coach divided half and
half between baggage and smoker, and
a day car occupied by two silent, awk
ward women and a child. In tho smok
er lounged a dozen men. They were of
vnrlous sizes and descriptions, but they
nil wore heavy blanket mackiuaw
yonts, rubber shoes nnd thick German
socks tied nt tho knee. Tho nir was
so thick with smoke that tho men hnd
difficulty In distinguishing objects
across tho length of tho car.
The passengers sprawled In various
attitudes, nud their occupations woro
diverse. Throo nearest tho baggage
room door nttempted to slug, but with
out much success. A man In tho cor
ner breathed softly thro"V ft mouth
organ, to tho music 1 1 which Ida seat
mnte, leaning his head sldewnys, gavu
closo attention. One big fellow with a
squnro board swaggered uaclc aud
forth down tho alslo ofterlnR to every
ono refreshment from a quart bottle.
It was rarely refused. Of tho uozen
probably three-quarters woro moro or
loss drunk.
After a tlmo tho smoke, became too
denso. A short, thickset fellow with
an ovll, dark faco coolly thrust his heel
through n window. Tho conductor,
who, with tho brnkemnn and baggago
master, was seated in tho baggago van,
heard tho JInglo of glass. Ho nrosc.
"Guess I'll take up tickets," ho ro
mnrked. "Perhaps It will quiot tho
bAvs down a little."
Tho conductor wns n big man, raw
boned and broad, with ti .hawk. faco.
His every motion showed loan, quick,
panthorllko power.
"Lot her went," replied tho brako
man, rising na a matter of course to
follow his chief.
f Tho brakenuiij w ns stocky, short and
lbnfTnvmed,. In tho old fighting days
Michigan railroads chose their train
ofilclals with an cyo to their superior
deltoids. The two tuca loomed on tho
noiny smoging compartment.
"Tlckots, please," clicked tho con
ductor. Hharply.
Most of tho men began to fumblo
nbout In their pockets, but tho throo
tilngOTH nnd tho man who had been of
fering tho quart bottle did not stir.
"Ticket, Jackl" repeated the con
ductor. "Como on, nowl"
Tho big bearded man leaned uncer
tainly ngalnst tho sent
"Now, look here, Hud," he urged in
wheedling tones, "I ain't got no ticket.
You know how It is, Hud. I blows my
Htnkf's." Ho fished uncertainly In his
pocket nnd produced tho quart bottle,
.nearly empty. "Havo n drink?"
"No," said tho conductor sharply.
"A' right," replied Jack nminbly.
"Tnko ono myself." IIo tipped thu bot
tle, emptied It and hurled It through n
window. Tho conductor paid no np
pnront attention to tho breaking of thu
glass.
"It you hnvon't any ticket, you'll
havo to get ofT," Bald ho.
Tho big man straightened up.
"You go to blazes!" ho snorted, and
with tho nolo of his spiked boot deliv
ered a mighty kick ut tho conductor's
thigh.
The official, ngllo na a wildcat, leap
ed back, then forward and knocked tho
man half tho length of tho car. You
hoc, he was lined to It. Before Jack
could regain his feet the official stood
oer him.
The three mon In the corner had also
risen and were staggering down tho
alslo Intent on bnttlo. Tho conductor
took In the chances with professional
rapidity.
"Get nt 'em, Jimmy!" said he.
And nH tlio big mnn finally swayed
to his feet ho wns seized by tho collar
nnd trcuaers in the grip known to
"bouncers" everywhere, hustled to the
door, which some ono obligingly open
ed, nnd buried from the moving train
into tho snow. Tho conductor did not
care a Htraw whether tho obstreperous
Jack lit on his head or his feet, hit a
snow bank or a pile of tics.
The conductor returned to find a roll
ing, kicking, gouging mass of kinetic
energy knocking the vnraish off all ono
end of the car. A head appearing, ho
coolly butted It three times against a
corner of tho sent arm, nfter which ho
pulled the contestant out by the hair
and throw him Into a seat, where ho
lay limp. Then it could bo seen that
Jimmy had clasped tight In hLs em
brace a lee each of the other two. IIo
huk'gca tucin closo to tils orcast anu
Jammed his face down against them to
protect his features. They could pound
the top of his head and welcome. The
only thing he really feared was a kick
lu thu side, and for that there was
hardly room.
Thu conductor stood over tho heap,
nt n manifest advantage.
"You lumber Jacks hnd enough, or do
you want to catch it plenty?"
The men, drunk though they were,
realized their helplessness. They sig
nified they had had enough. Jimmy
thereupon released them and stood up,
brushing down his tousled hair with
his stubby lingers.
"Now, is it ticket or bounce?" inquir
ed the conductor.
After somo dltlkulty and grumbling
the two paid their fare and that of tho
third, who was still dazed.
The interested spectators of the llttlo
drama included two men near tho
water cooler who wcro perfectly sober.
One of them was perhaps past the best
of life, but still straight and vigorous.
His lean flico wus leather brown in
contrast to n long mustache and heavy
eyebrows bleached nearly white, his
eyes were n clear, steady blue nud his
frame was slender, but wiry. IIo woro
tho regulation mackiuaw blanket coat,
a peaked cap with an extraordinary
high crown and buckskin moccasins
over long stockings.
Tho other was younger, not moro
than twenty-six perhaps, with tho clean
cut, regular features wo havo como to
Uo was selxecl by the collar,
consldoV typically American, Eye
brows that curved far down along tho
tomplcs mid eyelashes of n darkness In
oontntirt to tho' provnlllftg noto of his
complexion .combined to lend him a
rather brooding, soft and melancholy
nir which a very cursory second ex
amination showed t b .fictitious. Hla
eyj?a,.liko the yoodniaji,s, ty.ero steady,
- - J
carefully to himself. IIo considered
In tnm the different occupations 'to
which he could turn his hand and neg
atived them ono by one. Few business
firms would enro to employ tho son of
as Hhrcwd nn embezzler as Henry)
Thorpe. Finally ho camo to a doclslon.
He communicated this decision to hl
sister. It would have commended It
Bclf moro logically to hor hnd alio been
nble to follow step by Btcnotho consid
eration that had led her brother to it.
As tho event turned, she wns forced to
accept It blindly. She know- that her
brother Intended going west, but as to
his hopes and plans she was In Igno
rance. A llttlo sympathy, n llttlo mu
tual understanding, would have meant
n great deal to her, for a girl whoso
mother sho hut dimly remembers turns
naturally to her noxt of kin. Helen
Thorpo had nlwnys admired her broth
er, but had never before needed him.
She had looked upon him as strong,
self contained, a. llttlo moody.
At tho beginning of tho row In the
smoking car Thorpe lnld asldo his let
ter and watched with keen apprecia
tion the direct practicality of the train
men's method. When the bearded mnn
fell before tho conductor's blow, ho
turned to the Individual at his side.
"Ho knows how to hit, doesn't ho?"
ho observed. "That fellow was knock
ed well off his feet."
"He does," agreed the otlvor dryly.
They fell into a desultory conversa
tion of fits and starts. Woodsmen of
the genulno sort nro never talkative,
aud Thorpe, as has been explained,
was constitutionally reticent In tho
courso of their disjointed remarks
Thorpo explained that ho wns looking
for work in the woods and Intended
first of all to try tho Morrison & Duly
camps at Hceson lake.
"Know anything nbout logging?" in
quired the stranger. y ,
"Nothlug," Thorpo confessed.
"Ain't much show for anything but
lumber Jacks. What did you think of
doing?"
"I don't know," said Thorpo doubt
fully. "I hnvo driven horsds a good
deal. I thought I might drlvo team."
The woodsmnn turned slowly nnd
looked Thorpe over with n quizzical
eye. Then ho fuccd to tho front again
nud spat
"Quito llko," ho replied, still- more?
dryly- i
The boy's tomnrk had amused lilm,
and he liatl showed It, ns much as ho
ever showed anything. Excepting al
ways the river men, tho driver of n
team commands .the highest wages
among out of door workers.
It Is easier to drive a fire engine than
a logging team.
Hut in spite of tho naivete of the re
mark the woodsman had seen some
thing in Thorpe he liked. Such men bo
come rather expert In the reading of
character. He revised his first Inten
tion to let the conversation drop.
"I think M. & D. is rather full up
Just now," ho remarked. "I'm wnlkln'
boss over there. Tho roads Is about
all made, and rondmnklng is what
n greeuhorn tackles first They's moru
chnuco earlier in tho year. Hut If.
tho old fellow" ho strongly accent
ed the first word "hain't nothln' for.
you, Just ask for Tim Shearer, an' l'U
try to put you on the trail for somo
Jobber's camp."
The throe who hud como into colli
sion with JJmuiv nud Bud were gettliiB
out inquiring, ills Jaw wus squuru in.u
settled, his mouth straight. Unllko tho
other Inmates of tho enr ho woro nu
ordinary business suit, somewhat worn,
but of good cut and n style that showed
even over tho soft llanuel shirt The
trousers were, however, bound Inside
tlio usual socks nud rubbers.
Tho two seat mates hnd occupied
their tlmo ench lu his own fashion. Tho
elder stared straight boforo him and
spat with a certain periodicity into tho
center of tho ulslo. Tho younger
stretched back lazily In an attltduo of
case. Sometimes ho smoked a pipe.
Thrlco ho read over a letter. It was
from his slstor nnd announced her ar
rival nt tho llttlo rural village m which
ho hnd mndo arrangements for hor to
stay. "It is Interesting now," sho
wrote, "though tho resources do not
look ns though they would wear wclL
I nm learning under Mrs. Reuwlck to
sweep nnd dust and bnko and stow ami
do a multitude of othor tilings which I
nlwnys vaguoly supposed camo ready,
made. I llko It but after I havo learn
ed It all I do not bcllevo tlw pmctlco
will appeal to mo much. Ilowever, I
can stnnd It well enough for a year or
two or three, for I nm young, and thon
you will have mndo your evorlasting.
fortuno, of courso."
"Silo's a trump," said Thorpo to him
self, "and she shall havo her overloat
ing fortuno If therea such a thing ia
tho country."
no Jingled tho $3,00 In hla pocket ana
smiled. That was tho oxtentof hla ov
erlastlug fortuno at; present.
Tho letter had been answered from
Detroit
"I am ghwTyou aro settled," ho wrote.
"At least I know: you havo enough to
eat and a- roof over you. I hopo sin
cerely thafyou will do your best to fit
ram-solr- to roue now .conditions. I
know it is hard, 'but with my' Inck of
expericuco and my Ignoranco nsi to
whero 'to tnlto hold It may bo a good
mnny years before wo can do any
better."
(To be Continued)
hi