Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-07-06
CHAPTER v.

| seiNeu out preparatory 10 lHe wv
hours work that had to be got through
1 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-duff, Doctor?"
inquired another Wen see what
you're made of on Sunday, mate None
of your stiekjaw, 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 rapldity
| 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 a hand
the new chum" was likely to turn
out.
Blessed If those scenes amt tip
top" remarked bearded stockman
with his mouth full, You keep at
that youngster, and we shan't fall out.
We card as 'ow you were a married
man-what's 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 general scrutiny.
"Twenty-three! Well, you don't
look it."
Never mind, Tom-youll grow old
fast enough" shouted another "You
mustn't mind Black Dicks talk-he
don't mean 'arf what he says"
1tAVbarats y,,;se,,e A.
man who rejoiced in the name of Dick.
"She is tired, replied Baynes "She
Is 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 a lady was
coming up to jine us. 'Oweyer, 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 high opin-
Ion of his own Wittieisms.
Thus. with some coarse tests 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, and
while Baynes was engaged in washing
up tin plates and pannikins, Mr. Hall
looked into the kitchen.
Getting on all right TOM" he in
quired cheerily. That's a good job.
Rogulsh lot of men up here at these
times, but they mean no harm-youll
soon get used to them. You think
you'll manage the work eh2 There
are a good number of mouths to feed
81 am not afraid of the work, sir.
replied Baynes, "and think shall get
on all right with the men. They all
seem good-tempered enough"
As he spoke Mr. Hall faneied he
detected a euriously sad tone in the
mans voice. and he thought what
soft, gentle voice it was compared with
the rough tones of the ordinary bush
hand.
Your wife-is she pretty well this
morning after her long journey?a he
asked, scrutlnizing him rather sharply.
yes, sir, thank you" replied Tom.
STOPPING down, as he answered, to pick
up 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;
''but I would much rather-that Is. she
would rather not-she Is In such a
very nervous state. and her eyes
trouble her SO much. that If Mrs. Hall
would excuse her perhaps she may
grow stronger with rest and care, and
then
oh, very well!e said Mr. Hall,
turning upon his heel When she Is
feeling better will do as well, only my
wife thought she might help her a lit
tie with some needlework and such
things; but II her eyes are so bad
They are not so bad as all that. :"
Baynes remarked hurriedly- only
sometimes. am sure she viii be hap
py to undertake any needlework Mrs
Hall wants doing She is not quick
but she is very clever with her needle
/ ~ / might go up to the house and
fetch the things she will set to work
at once"
Time enough for that when she is
we'll enough to see Mrs. Hall . re-
turned the sduatter Women like to
chat together over that sort Of bust
n EEEs 7 nj a