Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-07-29
CHAPTER v.

mount had once more awakened TO
! the labor OF another day. The deliei-
| Gus seen. OF the wood fires as the flames
rose In the fresh morning air pro-
claimed that tea was being made to be
served out preparatory to the two
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. ,.as41~as
Good hand at plum-duif, Doetor?"
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 rapidity
and style that created 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
I styled on 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 IL those scenes amt tip
top" remarked a bearded stockman
with his mouth full. You keep at
that, youngster, and we shan't fall out.
( We card as 'ow you we're a married
man-whats yer name? Tom?
Well, all I 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-you1l grow old
fast enough" shouted another You
mustn't mind Black Dicks talk-he
don't mean art what he says
Where's the missus?" inquired the
man who reioiced 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 a few quadrille-parties and
sich like when we card a 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 high opin-
| ion of his own witticisms.
Thus. with some coarse tests and
chaf1. the meal passed of. and as the
men strolled back to the shed the
general opinion seemed to be that the
youn8ster knew what he was about
and was 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 fob.
Roguish lot OF men up here at these
times, but they mean no harm-you'll
soon get used to them. You think
| you'll manage the work, Ell, There
are good number of mouths to feed
Il 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 fancied he
detected curiously cad tone in the
mans voice. and he thought what a
soft. gentle voice 1t was compared WITH
the rough tones Of the ordinary bush
hand.
Your wife-is she pretty well this
morning after her long journey7p he
asked, scrutinizing him rather 81 ,rnIv
Yes, sir, thank you" replied Tom
STOPPING down, as he answered. To pict
up cloth he had dropped.
| Mrs. Hall will, look In and geo har.
continued the master OF Redmount
some time in the course OF the morn
ing" ~ f.F
Thank You. SIR" answered Baynes.
but would much rather-that is. she
would rather not-she is in such a
very nervous, state. and her ewes
trouble her so much, that II Mrs. Hall
would excuse her. perhaps she may
grow stronger with rest and care. and
| them
oh. very welI!" said MFR. Hal,
turning upon his heel when she is
Keeling better will do as we'll. only nv
VIE thought she might help her a III
| tie with some needlework and sucb
tnfnRs, but IL her eves ara an ia