The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-26


dicated the second.
Better 20 into the mems camp and
sit down till tn boss gets in" he ad-
Eised
Thorpe entered dim, over heated
structure, lined on two sides by a dou-
bic tier OF large hunks partitioned from
0ne another like cabins of boat and
eentered by huge stove over which
hung slender poles. The latter were 10
dry clothes one. Just outside the hunks
ran straight hard bench. Thorpe
stood at the entrance trying TO accus-
tom his eyes 10 the dimness.
set down" said voice. "on tn floor
II you want TO; but I'd prefer tn dea-
con seat"
Thorpe obedientiy took position on
the bench, or deacon seat" His eyes,
more used 10 the light. could make out
a thin, tall. bent old man, with bare
cranium two visible teeth. and a three
days stubble Of white beard over his
meager. twisted face.
He caught. perhaps, Thorpe's sur
prised expression.
you think tn old mans no good. do
your he cacllled. without the slightest
malice, -looka is deceivin'i" He sprang
up swiftly, seized the toe of his right
foot in Ills left hand, and jumped his
left foot through the loop thus formed
Then he sat down again, and laughed
at Th0rpe's establishment
"Old JacksOns still putry smart"
said he. I'm barn boss. They amt
a man in tn country knows as much
about bosses as I do. We amt had
but two sick this fall, an between you
an me. they's a skate lot. You're
greenhorn, amt your"
Yes" confessed Thorpe.
Well" said Jackson. refiectively but
rapidly. lie Fabian. he's quiet but bad;
and O'Grady, he talks loud but you can
blum him; and Perry, he's only bad
when he gets full OF red likker: and
Norton he's bad when he gets mad
like. and will use axes"
Thorpe did not know he was getting
valuable points on the camp DULLES.
At dark the old man lit two lamps,
which served dimly 10 gloZe the shad-
OWs. and thrust logs OF wood into the
cast iron stove. Soon after, the men
came in. They we're a queer mixed lot.
There were active. clear built. precise
Frenchmen with small hands and feet.
and a peculiarly trim way of wearing
their rough garments; typical native
born American lumber jacks powerful
IN frame, rakish in air. reckless in man
ner; big blonde Scandinavians and
Swedes. strong men at the saving; ara
Indian or so. strangely in contrast TO
the rest; and a variety Of Irlshmen.
Englishmen and Canadians. These
men tramped IN without a word, and
set busily to work at various tasks.
Some sat on the "deason seat" and
began TO take on their socks and rub
bers; still others selected and lit Ian
terms from a pendant row near the
window, and followed old Jackson out
OF doors. They were the teamsters.
You'll find the old man in the Of
fee" said Jackson.
Thorpe made his way across to the
small log cabin indicated as the of
fee. and pushed open the door.
A man sat at a desk placing figures
on a sheet OF paper. He obtained the
figures from statistics penciled on three
thin leaves OF beeohwood riveted to-
gether. In a chair by the stove lounged
a bulkier figure, which Thorpe con-
cluded 10 be that OF the "old man."
II was sent here by Shearer," said
Thorpe directly; ''he said you might
give me some work"
So long a silence fell that the appli-
cant began TO wonder II his question
had been heard.
Il might" replied the man drily at
last.
Wen. viii your" Thorpe inquired.
che humor OF the situation overcoming
him.
Have you ever worked in the
W0Ods?"
No"
The man Smoked silently.
"i'll put you on the road in the morn
ing" he concluded, as though this were
the deciding qualification.
nun az thn man aufared ahrunffy and
approached the counter. The writer
AT the desk laid aside his tablets.
What is IL, Albert2" he asked.
lot OF cheWin'." was the reply.
The scaler took from the shelf a long
plug of tobacco and cut off two inches.
Amt hittin' the van much. are you
Alhert?" ne commented. putting the
mans name and the amount in a little
book. Thorpe went out, after leaving
his name for the time book, enlight-
ened as to the method of obtaining
supplies He promised himself some
warm clothing from the van, when he
should have worked out the necessary
credit
At supper he learned something else
that he must not talk at table For
one thing. supper was a much briefer
affair than Il would have been had
every man felt privileged to take his
VIII in conversation; not to speak OF
the absence Of noise and the presence
Of peace. Each man asked for what he
wanted.
please pass the beans" he said,
with the deliberate intonation Of a
man who does not expect that his re-
quest win be granted
Besides the beans were fried salt
pork, boiled potatoes. canned corn
mlnce pie, a variety OF cookies and
doughnuts and strong green tea
Thorpe found himself eating ravenous-
~ Of the crude fare.
That evening he underwent a cat
echism, few practical jokes, which he
took good-naturedly. and a vast dea
Of chatting. At 9 the lights were al
out By daylight he and a dozen other
men We're at work, heWing a road that
had 70 be as smooth and level as Z
New York boulevard.
Thorpe and four others were set 4
work on this road. which was to be cut
through a creek bottom leading h
was told. TO Seventeen" He learned
TO use a double bitted ak.
From shortly after daylight hi
worked -Four other men bore hin
company, and twice Roadway himself
came by, watched their operations fol
a moment. and moved on without com
ment. After Thorpe had caught hi
second wind. he enjoyed his task. prov
ing a certain pleasure in the ease will
which he handled his tool
At the second end OF an interminabl
period, a faint. musical halloo swelled
echoed and died through the forest
beautiful as a spirit. Ii was taken ~
by another voice and repeated. Thel
by another Now near at hand, nov
FAR away II rang as hollow as a bell
The sawyers, the swampers, the skid
ders. and the team men turned and pu
on their heavy blanket coats.
Down on the road Thorpe heard Il
too, and wondered what Il might be.
Come on Bubi she means chewl