Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-12
was an every day az

Done with me now9 I'm 'enitiated,
amt L? Can / go to Campo"
"Yes, go: but amt done with vol
by darned sight!" calculated Bill
puzzled by his calmness, and, shoulder
ing his bag again, Tom went on.
In about an hour he came back with
an AK. aud took his place with the crew.
! BY strange chance it fell to his lot
to chop with Bill, and I fancied that
saw a malicious CLEAN in his faded
ewes. as he took his place on the onpo-
site side Of the great spruce which Bill
had selected in silence.
! Now Bill wouldn't stand aside for any
man in chopping, and you can imagine
his astcnlshment and chagrin when
Toms ak sank third deener every
stroke than his own!
/ The other men were astoaished. too,
and stopped their own work to watch
tine Jun.
Got your match, Bill, sneered Jim
Wilson, who had held the place of sec
ond chopper, but who was perfectly
willing to be third, if lie could see Bill
beaten. Bill did not answer He
needed all his energy in his arms; but
WORK as frantically as he would, Tom
took the first chip from the heart of the
s.lruce, fully four strokes ahead
The whole world goes upon the
principle OF The king is dead-long
live the king!' and the lumber crew is
no exception. Therefore they gave a
cheer which made the woods ecl.o and
aroused Bills anger to Il tiercer pitch.
%,, I,
unrutfled couatenance, sounded it we'll,
aud had half reached the heart, when
the first came crashing down.
"Chop with him, Jim; l won't" said
Bib, sul!enlv. turning away, and jim,
who enjoyed the scene hugely, matched
his skill against Toms, and accepted
each defeat laughingly.
That evening Bill entertained the crew
with marvellous stories oil hobgoblins
aud Indian devils creatures which he
asserted Inhabited that tract Of land
where they We're working.
Why, there's camp tumbled down
now, bout four miles from here, where
they say three men was murdered, fact!
And they haunt the place. Ever been
there, Tom?' he asked. turning to Tom
quickly, as he sat looking intently into
the blazing fire, and apparently obliv-
ious of all around.
YES" Tom answered, without look
ing up.
Ever see anything?" asked Bill.
Yes. See something every moon
light night that went there" said Tom,
calmly.
"What?" asked Bill. breathlessly.
My shadow" said Tom, solemnlv.
"Oh!" Bill was disguised, and a
hearty laugh echoed through the camp,
while Bill crept into his bunk to medi-
tate further mischief.
So it was the winter through. Every
trick that lumberman's wit could srg-
gest was played upon Tom, who took
everything in calm good nature, but al
ways managed, in that cool, innocent
way of his, to come out little ahead.
Bill hated him fiercely; the others
We're pleased, puzzled and Indignant in
turn.
George Runnels, the "boss,' was
powerless to stop the sport, and so it
went on until spring.
The ice left the river, and we had but
one more brow of logs to break before
we begun driving, when, one night Bill
and Tom were later than the rest in
reaching camp, and Bill rushed into the
door with the startling news that he
had been chased by an Indian devil!
where's Iom?" asked Runnels.
"Gobbled up, I'll bet tish-hools!
He was just behind NE when the critter
holiered. I yelled for him to run, but
l don't believe the blamed fool knew
enough answered Bill, and the whole
crew talked and questioned and then
waited In GREATNESS silence for some
sound from the darkening forest.
In the midst of this agonizing sus-
pense Tom walked into the camp.
His frock was off aud carefully
wrapped around some object which he
carried in his arms.
Bills Injun devil" he said, remov-
ing the frock and displaying an insigni-
fcant lind
screech-owl!" calculated Jim.
"Ha, la, ha! ScreecA- owl!" echoed
from all sides.
7" 'Tain't what | heard" nlut.eYed Bill.
"1es it is. / watched him AID when
~ S"iAAS i1S"l CAouSA L SIdUbGt min.
He lit on limb right over ray head, )"
said Tom.
I'll be even with you yet" painted
Bill, as he crept into his berth.
Tom stepped to the door and liberated
the owl, which flew into the nearest tree.
and thanked him with a horrible
screech.
There's your Injun devil, said Tom.
with triumph in his calm tone.
Shut your mouth, and mind your
business-you'll see!' growled Bill.
The next day was busy one, and
there was not much time for jokes as
the drive went slowly down the river.
The water was low, and we had to
sack part Of the stranded lumber.
Il never see the water like this in the
SPRING" Runnels said again and again.
Well be hung up in the falls.
We kept at it, however, although we
made slow progress. aud when we came
to the falls, sure enough, it was jammed
full.
We went into camp and waited for a
good stretch of daylight to begin the
job of breaking it up.
The next morning Runnels called for