The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-10-31
CHAPTER ".

the labor of another day The delici-
Gus scent 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.
Good hand at plum-duff, Doctors"
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 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 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 a 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 I can say is, you've took the
plunge pretty early. Why, you amt
got no whiskers yet. How old are
you?'
"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-you'll grow old
fast enough" shouted another "You
mustn't mind Black Dicks talk-he
don't mean 'arf 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 few quadrille-parties and
sich like when we card a lady was
coming up to iine us. 'Owever. Won
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 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 good iob
Roguish lot of men up here at these
times, but they mean no harm-von,Il
soon get used to them. You thinl,
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 l shall get
on all right with the men. They all
seem good-tempered enough"
AS he spoke Mr.. Hall fanciad ba
detected a curiously sad tone in tbe
man voice, ana ne thought what
soft, gentle voice it was compared ,v;t,,
the rough tones of the ordinary hrsh
hand.
Your wife-is she pretty we'll ~.
morning after her long iournevq ~ rs
asked, scrutinizing him rather shawl
Yes, sir, thank you," replied Tp p,s
STOPPING down, as he answered to MOI
up a cloth he had dropped
Mrs. Hall will look in and coo hon ;,
continued the master of Redmonn.
some time in the course of tho monn
ing" '''orh-
Thank YOU sir" answered Ravno..
out l would much rather-that is sba
would rather not--she is in spch
very nervous state. and her eves
trouble her so much, that if Mrs Hail
would excuse her. perhaps she NAV
grow stronger with rest and care ana
theh-- anu
oh very Welt" said Mr. Han
turning upon his heel when she is
ieeling better will do as well. only NV
wlie thought she might help her a lit
ne with some needlework and sucb
N ara