The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-04-23
BREAKING OF THE JAN
copyright. 1871


said Jerry. I've heard the boys talkin'
abou it when they thought was lis
TENN to the trees. Yes. I've heard 'em
whisperin' that some day II do some
thin crazy with my gun. Well, mebbe
1 will-mebbe | will, IL | hev' to live
anywhere but here. But couldn't no
ways hurt a little kid like you.",Jerry
laid his huge hand gently on the head
OF the boy curled on the log cabins
hearth-."a pore little sick kid like you
He lifted his rife and looked along the
barrel toward the boy. His finger was
on the trigger. The doctor opposite
started to his feet with a word OF
alarm; then he sat down again. One
glance at Jerry's face convinced him
that, whatever Jerry's failings might
be. shooting sick boys was not IA OF
them.
.Of course you couldn't hurt him."
said the physician. I'm fact. | hope
You'll help me take care of Jim this
winter. We are here because the city
is not the place for a boy who has had
pneumonia These old ~Adirondacks and
the Oswegatchie river. and you for
guide. Jerry. will make Jim as strong
as a bear before spring. and"
Ever see a beAr?" asked Jerry,
laughing with pure delight. Ever see
n bear in the neatest trap in the
woods? You let the kid come to-morry
and I'll bet i en- how him ne-
Jim sat up and shouted. Jerry's face
was as simple and glowing as the
boys; then il clouded. and a vague sad
ness crept over the docile mouth and
the somewhat vacant eyes
Don't you forgit l amt right" he
said. slowly and anxiously. I'D forgiti IL
the boys didn't let on They laugh
because / dent dast git away from
these mountains. Ye know ! stay here
always. and I'm related some way TO
the big windfall up yonder. an to the
river an all. Once / went to town. and
/ got so lonesome an cranky / wanted
10 knock ev'ry blamed fool ! met. They
got in my way. an they talked too
much. The trees here don't git in your
way nor talk % much. In course,
them popples along the Windfall CAB
BILE c~onsid'ble. but they amt exactly
trees. They jist grew after that storm
blew the real old fellers down. Think
81 that for wind. Oh. ef I'd only been
here them"
A light flashed into his eyes. and he
jumped To his feet. walking restlessly
TO the door. His hound pressed after
him and followed his handsome, mus
-ular master out into the forest.
Ward. the owner Of the log house
where DIR. Mason and his charge had
arrived that day. turned to his guest:
Its queer about that" he said. Jerry
in a high wind and Jerry in a calm are
two different men. Ye wouldn't know
him when IL blows. He's smarter than
lixhtnin' tScn. there amt no cobwehs
in his head at suss: times. But calm
" storm. he's allsys the strongest and
h-t guide in the woods He just can't
get lost or tired. or mixed on the
WEATHER or the place to And game.
Everybody likes Jerry. ef he amt his
own man. and We ant put this boy in
cArefuller hands than Jerry Wade's."
Evidently DIR. Wade agreed. for. rs
h winter passed, Jim spent more and
more hours with Jerry. In the lumber
camps Jerry was the strongest. best
natured worker among the men. Dur
ing slack" days h pair hunted.
trapped and snowshoed together. and
Jerry came to love the boy n he had
never loved any other human being. Jim
was as dear To him as the forest or the
beautiful Oswegatchie.
The cold weather broke suddenly
with warm rains. The river rose, carry
Ing hundreds of logs down stream until
they caught upon some rocks. forming
a dangerous jam a quarter Of a mile
above the Windfall. Then the river
froze again. and the men could walk on
The ice almost to the foot Of the tangle
of logs.
but one morning a warm south wind
rose. increasing TO n violent windstorm
as the day wore on. The softened ice
trgan to pound against the jam from
above and the loggers stood idly about
waiting for the break. On the windfail
tne men could scarcely stand against
he raging. shrieking wind. Late in the
nay DIR. Mason came. asking for jim.
nehind him. Pierre struggled. breath
less and pale.
BOY on river." he cried. Come,
Hurryl"
running to the bank. they saw Jim
Snhglng TO a rock far up the stream.
6sioenuy be had wandered alopg ,b.