The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-19

of Aleck Eorman's camps, in northern
Minnesota, accordingly, were located
in the winter of IS, some forty of the
rough giants who make up these little
communities They had settled for
the season in the usual fashion and
were looking forward with the lack of
interest natural under the circum-
stances, to a lonely Christmas, when
the monotony of camp life was broken.
1T is seldom broken except in one
way, and this was in accordance with
the rule. An accident happened. In
some mysterious way John Davidson,
the oldest and most experienced man
in the gang" managed to slip and
fall partly under falling trunk and
was picked up senseless. The foreman,
Charlie Andrews, was somewhat skilled
in treating ordinary bruises and frac-
lures, and he examined Davidson care
fully, expecting to find several of his
bones broken, but none of them were,
and the men thought their comrade
would soon recover.
One evening when Andrews had fin
ished as careful an examination of the
unfortunate man as he knew how to
make, and had been able to get some
few replies to his questions, he said to
the others: "I'm afraid it's no use.
dunno what l kin do fur him. He's
hurt inside somewheres en- he seems
to be failin' rapid. l reckon he's goin
ter cash in"
There was silence in the little group
for few moments, and then Joe Pei
ton spoke up. Joe was one of the
youngest lnen in camp, being only
twenty-one, but he was almost giant.
Every body in camp knew that Joe was
very much in love with Davidsons S
pretty daughter, May, and also that he
had very slender chance of winning
her, for he was rather reckless
youngster and the elder man was sus-
picious of him.
Don't you reckon he'd ought to be
taken to Minnea polis?" said Joe.
YES" said Andrews, but | don't
believe he can get there in time.
There's three foot % snow on the trail
now, and there amt team in camp
that wouldn't break down on the road. :"
well" said Joe, very slowly, ''if
you fellers IL make me light sled to-
night, I'll pull him down. It's only a
little over fifty miles, an reckon kin
make it in two days"
81 dunno" said Andrews, doubtfully.
81 reckon it's likely you cd git through
if anybody could, but yer mighty like
ly ter break down, an if yer do it's all
day with YER"
81 know it," replied Joe, coolly, "but
I'll risk it, If git him home he may
have chance, an if l don't he won't
be no worse off n he is now"
"Yes, but you will," SAID one Of the
other men.
I'm take my chances" said Joe
again, and they all saw he was in
earnest
One of the men, John Williams, Of
fered to go, too, but Joe declined.
''If kin git through at all" he said,
81 kin do it alone, aR there's no use o.
more than one takin' the risk. I'll
turn in now an git good sleep en-
take an early start"
Joe started at daybreak and John
Williams insisted on going part OF
the way with him to tighten the work
/ III hGEIGCs no lnCH bbdIItd CNCEy
man in the camp gripped the hand OF
the stalwart youugster in what each
one thought was last farewell.
About noon Williams returned tc
camp alone and almost broken down
with fatigue. 81 dragged the sleigh
nigh five miles" he said IAN knew
l couldn't git back at all if didn't
turn then. So turned. ,ri,d to gin
Joe ter come back. too, f'r don't be
lieve he'll ever git through alive
though he was fresh enough when
left him. But Joe's good grit. He on'y
clinched his teeth m said he was goin
ter make the best stagger he could to-
wards gittin' thar. Ef anybody kin
he kin, but reckon we've seen the las
O. both Of EN-"