The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-30

! time OF year. ne neat ndu CDIAle
I denly and maintained itself we'll. The
men had worked for the most part in
undershirts. They were as much in
the water as out of it, for the icy bath
had become almost grateful. Hamil-
ton, the journalist, who had attached
himself definitely to the drive, dis
tributed punches of papers, in which
! the men read that the unreasonable
conditions prevailed all over the coun-
try.
Hamilton's papers began to tell Of
washOuts and cloudbursts in the South
and West. The men wished they had
some of that water here.
So finally the drive approached its
end and all concerned began In an
ticipation to taste the WEAKNESS that
awaited them. The few remaining
tasks still confronting them, all at once
seemed more formidable than what
they had accomplished. The work for
the first time became logged. distaste-
full Even Thorpe was infected. He,
too, wanted more than anything else
to drop on the bed in Mrs. Hathaway's
boarding house. There remained but
few things to do. A mile of sacking
would carry the drive beyond the in
fuence of freshet water. After that
there would be no hurry
He looked round at the hard, fatigue
worn faces OF the men about him, and
he suddenly felt a great rush of
affection for these comrades who had
so unreservedly spent themselves for
his affair. Their features showed ex-
haustion, it is true, but their eyes
cleaned still with the steady, half
humorous purpose of the pioneer.
When they caught his glance they
grinned good-humoredly.
All at once Thorpe turned and start
ed for the bank.
"That'll do. boys" he said quietly to
the nearest group. She's down."
1t was noon. The sackers looked
up I'm surprise. Behind them, to their
very feet, rushed the soft smooth slope
OF Hemlock Rapids. Below them
flowed broad, peaceful river. The
drive had passed its last obstruction.
To all intents and purposes 1t was
over.
Calmly, with matter-of-fact direct
ness, as though they had not achieved
the impossible; they shouldered their
peaveys and struck into the broad
wagon road. In the middle distance
loomed the tall stacks of the mill with
the little board town about It, Across
the eye spun the thread of the rail-
road. Far away cleaned the broad ex-
panses Of Lake Superior.
The man paired off naturally and fell
into dragging. logged walk. Thorpe
found himself unexpectedly with Big
Junko. For a time they ploded On
without conversation. Then the big
man ventured a remark.
I'm glad she's over" said he. "I
got good stake comm"
Yes" replied Thorpe, indifferently.
Junko.
Might as we'll be 600 cents" COM
mented Thorpe, it'd make you just as
drunk"
Big Junko laughed self-consciously.
but without the slightest resentment.
That's all right" said he, but you
betcher life 1 don't blow this stake"
I've heard that talk before" shrug-
ged Thorpe.
Yes, but this is different. I'm goin'
to git married on this. How's that?"
Thorpe, his attention struck at last,
stared at his companion.
Who is she?" he asked abruptly.
She used to wash at Camp Four"
Thorpe dimly remembered the wo-
man now-an overweighted creature
with a CERTAIN attraction of eifishly
olowing hair, with certain pleasing
full-cheked, full-blossomed health.
The two walked on in re-esta blished
silence. Finally the giant, unable to
contain himself longer, broke out
again.
Il do like that woman" said he with
quantity deliberate seriousness
That's the finest woman in this dis
trict."
Thorpe felt the quick moisture rush
10 MS eyes. There was something in
eXpressibly touching in those simDIe
words as Big Junko uttered them.
and when you are married" he
asked, what are you going to do?
Are you going to stay on the river?"
NO, I'm goin' to clear a farm The
woman says that's the thing to do.
like the river too. But you bet when
Carrie says thing, that's plenty good
enough for Big Junko"
Thorpe looked at his companion fly
edly. He remembered Big Junko as
wild beast when his passions were
aroused, as a man whose honesty had
been doubted
You've changed, Junko," said he.
Il know" said the big man. 1T been
a scalawag all right. quit it. l
don't know much, but Carrie she's
smart, and I'm goin' to- do what she
says. When you get stuck on a good
woman like Carrie. Mr. Thorpe, you
don't give much of a damn for any
thing else. Sure! That's right! It's
the biggest thing top o. earth!"
Here it was again, the opposing
creed. And from such a source.
Thorpe's iron will contracted again.
"A woman is no excuse for a mans
neglecting his work" he snapped.
"Shorely not" agreed Junko serene
ly Il aim to finish out my time all
right Mr.. Thorpe. Don't you worry
none about that. 1 done my best for
you" And went on the riverlnan In
the expansion of this unwonted conf
dence with his employer. I'D like to
rise to remark that you're the best
boss | ever had, and we boys wants
to stay with her till there's skating in
hell"
'All right" murmured Thorpe indif-
ferently. Suddenly the remaining half
mile to town seemed very long indeed.