The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-11

naturally came into contact with men
employed in nearly every wholesale
Undergrad in LondOns Among these
was q working man named John
Fraser, who had always struck me rs
one possessed of shrewd knowledge
of timber. As with me, he could give
me no reason for the conclusions at
which he arrived. He simply said:
| Il like il or Il DON'T Buy il or Let
! it alone;' 4 think it will turn out WE'LL
or Il am sure it is no good
81 cannot explain how it was, but l
felt drawn toward this man Fraser, and
whenever went to where he was en-
\ ployed l made it point to meet him
! and have chat. 1t will not seem like
boasting on my part If 1 say l was a
better Judge of logs than he. 1t is the
simple truth. In my experience he
rarely hesitated, but on some occasions
/ he would decline TO give an opinion any
way, merely saying the thing was be-
yond him.
Zone wet, dull, miserable forenoon
| in February went into the yard where
Fraser was employed. I had nothing
to do that day. knew no fresh con-
signment had reached that yard since
nv last visit 1 felt depressed, dis
couraged. The present year had not
opened even as well for me as the
| former one. l began to think Jane and
would have, indeed, very long to wait
before we could start, ever SO modestly,
our little home. l found Fraser sitting
idly on some square Quebec timber.
Because of his judgment IN logs Fraser
was allowed great latitude in laziness.
In fact, he was retained almost wholly
for the purpose of appraising uncut
wood. He was in peculiarly morose
and taciturn humor. I could get moth
| ing out of him but negatives. 1t was
not nice day. There was no news.
Nothing had arrived since / was here
last. It did not seem as if the seasons
were now as they had been long ago.
Two large timber firms had not been
| able to pay their way and were bank
rupt. There was no knowing but that
his own firm was in bad way. 1t was
now pretty sure that the end of the
world could not be far off. He had no
| faith in his own iudg ment of logs, and
he began to doubt mine.
isn't a better Judge of stuff in the rough
than you, although you are young
man, but wait till you come to my
years and may be you'll fancy your
opinion less.
Perhaps l may said L; but so far
as have gone L have never made a
very bad guess yet
"'Aye, aye, aye is ever over
bold. When was your age may be L
too thought | couldn't be taken in. But
it's wonderful how we lose courage as
we grow old. You give an opinion
twice as readily as who have had five
times your experience. Tell me, he
cried with sudden animation, were you
ever downright beaten by log vet!
| "sNever,' | answered, with laugh
Il daresay have not been long enough
at the business
"'Would you like to be beaten?' he
said, getting up. and infusing what was
for him great deal of animation into
his movements.
"If you've got anything in stock you
think will beat me- said, let me see
it
"Come,' he said defiantly, and with
out another word ne led the way to a
remote corner of the yard where had
never been before.
81 followed in silence. In q couple
of minutes we stood opposite piece of
mahogany.
"sEighteen feet by three feet, by
three feet, he said. What do you make
of it?'
Il looked long and narrowly. There
was absolutely no indication of promise
in the wood, and yet / felt an uneasy
desire to come by that log in some way
or another Not only was there no APP
pearance of pro Mise, but it looked I'M
couth, ungainly, and certainly super
fetal glance would. Undue, any average
buyer to pass it over. However it was,
the longer looked the less l liked to
leave 1t there. Something drew me
toward it, but whether it was the fasci-
nation of attraction or the fascination
of repulsion which chained me to tn
spot. / could not decide.
"Do you know the price they are ask
ing for it?' ! said.
".Three hundred he answered Ia
conlcally.
".rll 90 and see Mr.. Watkins about
it,
eyes he said, n a 'ea.ous tone.
But what 90 you think of it
81 really don't know, l said, In
peXity.
"'Ha. ha, ha' he laughed in triumph,
Il told YOU I'd show you something be-
yoad YOU Why that log has been in
stock these six years, and no one will
look at it
".rll bring Mr.. Watkins tbs very
day. | answered, and in a few minutes
was out of the yard.
That afternoon the manager of Mar.
ston IL Co. and went back to Fraser.
".Well, said the mana ,er. 'Bayliss.
thought you had sc re gumption until
now. Why, it wouldn't pay for the
saw. Iwouldn't take a gift of it. J
: wouldn't pay the carriage of it to oul
place. It's q regular weed
II own [ was greatly discouraged,
: but was more disturbed than discour.
aged. l could not get out of my mind
that there was some secret hidden in
: that log. lay awake half the night
+ thinking of it. " hen slept dreamed
, that Marston & Co. bought it on my
! recommendation, that it turned out
, badly, and that my old employers told
me they would have nothing further tc
| do with me, and babe me g od-bye for
ever. Next morning, when awoke.
t was still more unsettled in my minC
: than | had been the previous evening
| l need not say that l attached no i'm
l portance to my dream. But still my
7 dream helped me to one determine
| ton. resolved not to urge the pur
= A.. ~ Tban oftor lopr and 90 raf mi