The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-19

ncults because you see people QOh l
know me; and 1 am not in a position
to let them look over the timber. OF
course il will be merely a question of
my judgment. They can go them
selves to the land office and pay their
money. There won't be any chance
of my making way with that. The
investors will become possessed Of
certain descriptions lying in this
country, all right enough. The rub is,
will they have enough confidence in
me and my judgment to believe the
timber to be what I represent it?"
Il see." commented Wallace, sudden
ly grave.
Harry" said he that evening. with
a crisp decision new to his voice, will
you take a little walk with me down
by the dam. / want to talk with
you
They strolled to the edge of the
at the swirling waters.
Il want you to .ell me all about
logging" began Wallace. start from
the beginning. Suppose. for instance,
what would be your first move?"
They sat side by side on a log, and
Thorpe explained. The excitement of
war was in it. When he had finished
Wallace drew a deep breath.
when l am home" said he simply
Shore Drive. 1t is heated by steam
and lighted by electricity. 1 touch a
button or turn a screw. and at once
am lighted and warmed. At certain
hours meals are served me. l don't
know how they are cooked, or where
the materials come from. Since leav-
ing college I have spent a little time
down town every day; and then I've
played golf or tennis or ridden a
hnrCa in 10 no, III ~ IL
lions of the real thing with blue rib
bons tied to them, and think we are
camping or roughing it. This life of
yours is glorious, is vital, it means
something in the march of the world"
The young fellow spoke with unex-
pected swiftness and earnestness.
Thorpe looked at him in surprise.
I know what you are thinking" said
the boy, flushing. You are surprised
that | can be in earnest about any
thing"
Thorpe watched him with sympa-
thetic eyes, but with lips that obsti-
nately refused to say one word
Il left college at 10 because my ia
tier died" Wallace went on. 'I am
now just twenty-one. A large estate
descended to me. and 1 have had TO
care for its investment all alone l have
enc sister-that is ALL
so have L." cried Thorpe, and stop
ned.
THE estates have not suffered. ;
went on the boy simply IT have done
well with them. But" he cried fiercely
Il hate it! 1t is petty and mean and
worrying and nagging! Now, Harry,
nave proposal TO make you. 1t is
this: you need $780, 900 to buy your land
Let me supply it, and come in as hale
partner"
An expression of doubt crossed the
landlooker's face.
"Oh. pleased" cried the hoy. ct do
want to get in something reali 1t will
be the making of me-"
Now see here" interposed Thorpe
suddenly, you don't even know my
1;ame."
Il know YOU" replied the boy.
My name is Harry Thorpe" pursued
the other. MY father was Henry
Thorpe, an embezzler."
Harry" replied Wallace soberly 81
am sorry / made you say that. l do
not care for your name-except per-
haps to put it in the articles of part
nershlp,-and l have no concern with
your ancestry. 1 tell you it is a favor
to let me in on this deal. l don't know
anything about numbering, but I've
got eyes. I can see that big timber
standing up thick and tall, and l know
people make profits in the business"
Thorpe considered a few moments in
| silence
Wallace" he said gravely at last,
Il honestly do think that whoever
goes into this deal with me will make
money. OF course there's always
| chances against it. But l am going to
do my best
The mans accustomed aloofness had
| gone. His eyes flashed, his brow frown-
ed, the muscles of his cheeks contract
ed under his beard.
Wallace gazed at him with fascinated
admiration.
Then you will?" he asked tremul-
| ously.
Wallace" he replied again, they'll
say that you have been the victim of
| an adventurer, but the result will prove
them wrong. If / weren't perfectly
sure of this l wouldn't think of it, for
l like you, and 1 know you want to go
into this more out of friendship for me
and because your imagination is touch
ed, than from any business sense. But
I'll accept, gladly. And I'll do my
best!"
"Hooray!" cried the boy, throwing
his cap up in the air. We'll do 'em
up in the first round"
CHAPTER XIII.
After Wallace left them the two men
settled again into their customary
ways of life.
Up to the present Thorpe had en-
Joyed clear field. Now two men
came down from above and esta blished
temporary camp in the woods half
mile below the dam. Thorpe soon
satisfied himself that they were pick
ing out a,route for the logging road.
The two men, of course, did not both
er themselves with the timber to be
traVoyed, but gave their eatire atten-
ton to that lying further back Thorpe
was enabled thus to avoid them entire
ly. He simply transferred his estimat-
ing to the forest by the stream. Once
he met one of the men; but was fort
unately in a country that lent itself
to his pose of hunter. The other he
did not see at all.
But one day he heard him. The two
up-river men were following carefully
but noisily the bed of a little creek.
Thorpe happened to be on the side
hill, so he seated himself quietly I'M
til they should have moved on down.
One of the men shouted to the other,