Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14
THE ONLY OUT About HIN.
WRITTEN FOB TIE EVENING STAR BY
HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoYFoRn
ICnpYrixhfad L

Il supplies for camp, were on the point of
starting for the woods, the impatient horses
paving the snow and tossing off showers of bell
tones; whips were cracking and men were ex-
claiming and boys were running and Mr.. Sibley
was getting angrier every minute. The second
teamster was nowhere to be found. ''By gra-
eious. III discharge him ~ roared Mr.. Sibley.
You run right home, Annie, !" he said, in \ diff
ferent tone, 20 the young girl with face like a
bunch Of flowers, who came along and paused
on the edged Of the confusion. Your mother
wanted them crackers right away. Can't you
find him?" 20 old Peachblow came across the
square.
Reckon he's discharged himself said one of
the men, swapping his long whip.
Just when he'd orter be on the spot or die
And if they don't make Palterer's tonight the
stormn be on them
.Ifs no use, SIR" said old Peachblow. '.He's
over at Booseys, used up. He don't sense
nothing"
Then III give him his come uppance to-
morrow" roared Mr.. Sibley. "You bet your
life / won't keep man who drinks or smokes
tobacco
Gould do instead, STRIP asked young fell
low standing by, whose glance had flashed on
and on the pretty girl like the light that plays
from glass in the sun. while at the word to-
bacco the men gave that placid stare at each
other which answers all the purposes of .
wink.
''Youl What in thunder do you know about
horsesg'
Il think can drive that team, SIR"
"What could you do in the camp after you
got there, with your build?' glancing the new
conner over-s pale, slender STRIPPING. Looks
If You we're made Of white satin ribbon"
a., The young man . hashed: showing his white
sir, perhaps, but ind my way out. don't sup
pose / could handle the logs"
''Whsrs'd you come from?" suddenly
'Ovsr beyond, with . backward movement
Of his head in direction across the bay.
What do you call yoursslf?'
John Dean? What were you doing last?''
Running . machine."
Why amt you running . machine now?'
wanted chrnge," indiherently, his hands
in his pockets perhaps that no one might see
awsn, axe see but shall have to risk it.
Can but sry," said the busy little man. John
Dean Get up there and take the strings and
drive to No. 10. Don't urge them horses be-
cause they're free. It's the best team in the
state and I'd rather lose their weight in spruce
gum than have them go lame. And don't waste
no time bringing them back. Do you hear?'
and taken up the reins, and the whole process
sion was starting while he spoke. '.And no
swearing, boys Mr.. Sibley cried after them.
blamed if Ill have swearing in my campsr'
Like ter see yer drive these blasted cattle er
mine without it n' said big fellow on one of
the teams "Gol darn ye can't We stand up?''
The best horses in the state! John Dean al
most trembled again as he took the reins. What
did he know about horses, indeed? Was taking
their charge something on the same line as that
ne had left But what else was there to do?
Yes, 1t was q bad beginning-but his inten-
uons-with intentions of bed rock might he
noH Well, nothing venture nothing have.
And 1t was great stroke of luck, this chance,
after
'Pick up your reins, lad" said the little old
man on the team behind Them horses mean
business"
John gathered up his reins. But presently
came the voice again, Hold in going down hill,
II you don't want to break their knees"
John held in. And now it was: Don't saw
them horses mouths that way They ain t made
Of iron"
who's driving these horses, anyway" asked
John over his shoulder.
You hadn't orter bel You'd better change
an take my old plugs"
I'D like to," said John. '.But these horses
were put In my charge and / can't. But you
might go ahead and let me see you do it,
We'll, Miss Nancy, IN do better'n that. or
my name amt Peaehblow. Whoa. there; whoa,
1 tell ye," with some further language that
would have made Mr.. Sibleys hair stand up.
Come, now, I'll tie my lines to your team a
spell an learn ye what know. 'Twon't take
long" And he was presently sitting beside
John and instructing him with as much zeal as
II he were preparing him for the hippodrome.
Il alters take to the young fellers," said
Peachblow. "An' it's easy enough going up
with this load. and the rest along. But you We
got TO come back alone; more snow coming,
with critters in the woods, an the way half
blazed. So keep your bearings, young man.
Chav?''
"Used to-" said John, 'but it 8 against orders
now"
Moist goods?''
John laughed. "Don't like them" said he
Guess we've got young reverend with us,
said Peachblow, when they put up at Palterer's
that night Don't chew, don't drink, don't
cuss. No cards either"
Mot a card" said John.
Look here, Johnny" cried another then,
you're In the wrong company"
'.Oh, no." said Johnny. "Company's all
right. I'm wrong. II I chew it makes me
might cheat"
well, you're going to be sick then" said the
big fellow, cutting on chunk of his black
sweet and advancing upon Johnny.
Give II to him, Sam ~ cried Palterer
Il wouldn't advise you to try it on" said
John, as he stood by the big fireplace.
.Now you take thisr' exclaimed the big fell
low, putting one hand on Johnny's shoulder
the tobacco between his teeth.
sand you take this" cried John, q smile on
his face, and a swift, straight blow sent the
man across the room backward, tripping, stag
gerfng and falling In heap.
Anybody else?" said John, looking around
with an expression of imperturbable good ma
ture. Anybody want to drink with me? Or
have me take . hand at poker? No? Then
Wen call it square and begin friends, if yoa
please"
And in the hour that followed over Palterer's
beef and potatoes the stories that John told
and the drolleriss that he practiced made even
the big, bullying Sam forgive him
Too sweet TO be wholesome though" said
sam to Peachblow, on the shakedown later
There's some out about him."
Hes all right" said Peachblow sleepily.
Game from Boston Lessons from John L.
Lick you out Of your boots eff YOU don't let
him alone. That's all the out there is about
hun"
knows too much" growled Sam. "who ia
b. anyway Where'd he come from? What's
70 hinder his taking the team and whipping
into Canada? Blamed ef I believe the boss Ii
ever zee his mares again.
A soon after reaching camp as the horses
were rested, which gave him q little time to IA
miliArize himself with the lumberer's work.
John started down in spite Of SANS prediction
and reached Palterer's without any event. and
there the next day he took in Mrs Sibley and
her daughter, who had come from a place
across country where they had been spending
day or two, and who, with the straw packed
beneath them and the buffalo robes tucked in
about them, were made sufficiently COM
Portable.
But here Johns trouble began. Whether IL
was because when he went up over this part of
me road he had been learning how to manage
- L.