The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28

kept carefully to himself. He con-
sidered in turn the different occupa-
tons to which he could turn his
hand, and mega lived them one by one.
Few business firms would care to
employ the son of as shrewd an en-
bezzler as Henry Thorpe Finally
he came to a, decision. He comnunt-
Gated this decision to his sister. 1t
would have commended Itself more
logically to her had she been able to
follow step by step the considera-
ton that had led her brother to it.
AS the event turned, she was forced
to accept 1t blindly. She knew that
her brotherintended going West, but of
his hopes and plans she was in is
norance. A little sympathy. a lit
tie mutual understanding would have
meant great deal to her. for n girl
whose mother she but dimly renlem-
bers, turns naturally to her next of
kin. Helen Thorpe had always adj
mired her brother, but had never be-
fore needed him. She had looked
a little moody.
At the beginning OF the row In the
smoking car. Thorpe laid aside his
ASSSSA eIAiN "blS14CA Will hcGA app e
cation the direct practically of the
trainmen's method. When the beard
ed man fell before the conductors
blow, he turned to the individual at
his side.
He knows how to hit. doesn't he.'
he observed. THAT fellow was knocked
well off his feet
He does.' agreed the other, dryly,
They fell into a desultory CONVERSE
ton of fits and starts Woodsmen of
the genuine sort are never laxative:
and Thorpe. as has been explained,
was constitutionalIy reticent. In the
course of their disjointed remarks
Thorpe explained that he was looking
for work in the woods. and intended.
first of ali, to try the Morrison E;
DAILY camps at Beeson Lake.
Know anything about logging?' In
CURED the stranger.
Nothing Thorpe confessed
"Aint much show for anything but
1umber-jack What Gid you think of
doing?''
II don't know said Thorpe, doubt
fully. Il have driven horses q good
deal; thought might drive team
The woodsman turned slowly and
looked Thorpe over with a quizzical
eye. Then he faced to the front again
and spat.
Quite like" he replied, still more
dryly.
The boys remark had amused him.
and he had showed 1t as much as ne
ever showed anything. Excepting al
ways the riverman, the driver of a
team commands the highest wages
among out-of-door workers.
It Is easier to drive a fire engine
than logging team.
But in spite of the naivete Of the re-
mark, the woodsman man had seen
something in Thorpe he liked. Such
men become rather expert in the read
ing of character. He revised his first in
tention to let the conversation drop.
Il think NJ SD. is rather full up just
now" he remarked. I'm walkin'-boss
over there The roads is abou all
made. and roadmaking is what
greenhorn tackles first. They's moro
chance earlier in the year. But if the
Old Fellow Che strongly accented
the first world "h'ain't nothin' for you
just ask for Tim Shearer, an I'll try
to put you on the trail for some job
ber's camp.
The three who had come into COLI
sion with Jimmy and bud were getting
noisier. They had produced a stone
jug, and had collected remainder Of
the passengers,-with the exception
of Shearer and Thorpe.-and now We're
passing the jug rapidly from hand to
hand. Soon they became musical,
striking up one OF the wierd, long
drawn-out chants 50 popular with the
shanty boy. Thorpe shrewdly guessed
his companion to be a man of some
weight, and did not hesitate to as
cribe his immunity from annoyance to
the others presence.
TITS a bad thing said the walk .ng-
boss. II used to be at it myself, and I
know
'Bees'n Lal1e!" cried Jimmy fiercely
through the aperture of the door.
You'll find the boardin'-house just
across over the track said the
wodsman. holding out his hand, so
long. See you again if you don't find
job with the Old Fellow. My names
Shearer."
Mine is Thorpe" replied the other.
THANK you"
Thorpe followed and found himself
on the frozen platform Of a little dark
railway station. Directly across the
track from the railway station, a sim
gle building was pricked from the