The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-07-13
CHAPTER v.

oNAfNA o0l pACPaA oNOAy " AAAS ~
hours work that had to be got through
before breakfast-time.
Men stumbled out OF their huts.
towel and soap in hand. and struggled
down to the creek to wash the cob
webs" out of their sleepy eyes.
"Mornin'. Doctor" cried one. as he
passed the kitchen door.
Good hand at plum-durf, Doctor?"
inquired another. We'll see what
you're made OF on Sunday, mate None
OF your stickjaw, mind. Haw, haw!"
And so on. each one having some
rough, good-natured greeting for the
new chum."
Thomas Baynes, the cook, was
smart. dapper-looking fellow, about
the average height, but slim, and he
went about his work with a rapidity |
and style that created a good impress
sion at once. In appearance he was
dark almost to swarthiness but this |
had evidently been produced by ex-
posture to the sun. His boyish-looking
face and youthful figure would certain
ly never have led any one to suppose
that he was a married man; and, as
many of the men remarked on first
catching sight of him, he had gone in
for double harness pretty early In the
day"
The doctor, as the cook is generally
styled on a station, proved himself
to be as punctual as he was compe-
tent, and as the clock struck seven
he rang the great bell outside the hut
which called all hands to their meal.
Up they came, running and skylark-
ing, from the shed, hungry as wolves,
and eager to see what sort of hand
the new chum" was likely to turn
out.
Blessed II those scenes amt tip
top" remarked a bearded stockman
with his mouth full. "You keep at
that, youngster, and we shan't fall out.
man-whats yer name? Tom?
Well, all can say is, you've took the
plunge pretty early. Why, you amt
got no whiskers yet. How old are
your"
"Twenty-three," replied Tom Bay
mes, his face flushing at being made the
subject Of a general scrutiny.
"Twenty-three! Well. you don't
look it"
"Never mind. Tom-you'll grow old
fast enough" shouted another "You
mustn't mind Black Dicks talk-he
dopJt yooap Sor - xuhak ho cauo
Where's the missus?" inquired the
man who rejoiced in the name of Dick.
"She is tired" replied Baynes. "She
Ia never strong at the best Of times. "
That's bad news. We was in hopes
OF 'aving few quadrille-parties and
SIGH like when we card lady was
coming up to jine us. 'Owever, you
give 'er my VERY kind respects and
tell 'er as 'ow I'll call in some time
this afternoon and drop a card" con-
tinued the man, who had a high opin-
ion of his own witticisms.
Thus, with some coarse jests and
chaff, the meal passed off, and as the
men strolled back to the shed the
general opinion seemed to be that the
youngster knew what he was about
and was a better cook than the dirty
old fellow who had preceded him
Soon after they had departed ant
while Baynes was engaged In washinf
UP tin plates and pannikins, Mr.. Hal
looked into the kitchen.
Getting on all right, Tom?" he in
uuired cheerily. That's good lob
! Roguish lot of men up here at thes,
times, but they mean no harm-you'l
soon get used to them. You thinl
you'll manage the work, Ell? Their,
are a good number Of mouths to feed.
IT am not afraid Of the work, sir,
. replied Baynes, "and think l shall ge
on all right with the men. They al
seem good-tempered enough"
= As he spoke Mr.. Hall fancied h,
. detected curiously sad tone in tn,
!. mans voice, and he thought what
soft. gentle voice it was compared witt
the rough tones of the ordinary busl
hand.
"Your wife-is she pretty we'll thi
morning after her long journey?" h
asked, scrutinizing him rather sharply
eyes, sir, thank you," replied Ton
stopping down, as he answered, to pic
: up a cloth he had dropped.
Mrs. Hall will look in and see her.
- continued the master of Redmount
= some time in the course Of the morn
ing"
: "Thank you, sir" answered Baynes
] 'bat I would much rather-that is, sh
i, would rather not-she is in such
very nervous state, and her eye
:. trouble her SO much that if Mrs. Ha
2 would excuse her, perhaps she ma
grow stronger with rest ard care. an
then
"Oh, very WE'LL" said Mr.. Hal
turning upon his heel when she
feeling better will do as well, only m
wife thought she might help her a III
tie with some needlework and sue
things; but II her eyes are so bad
'"rhey are not so bad as all that
Baynes remarked hurriedly-"onl
!. sometimes. am sure she will be haI
: py to undertake any needlework Mr.
I Hall wants doing. She Is not quicl
/. but she is very clever with her needl
II I might go up to the house an
!. fetch the things she will set to wor
at once"
thine enough for that when she
we'll enough to see Mrs. Hail." r,
a turned the scuatter. Women like
chat together over that sort Of bus
ness. always find"
N There Is something very odd abol
that young chap. with his soft voit