Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-21

tThorpes One" might be like. In the autumn Harry had more applicants than he knew what to do with. Eight cen of the old men returned. He took them all but when it came to distribu- ton three found themselves assigned to one or the other of the new camps. And quietly the rumor gained that these three had shown the least willing spirit during the previous winter.
 Tim Shearer was foreman of Camp One, Scotty Parsons was drafted from the veterans to take charge of Two, Thorpe engaged two men known to Tim to boss Three and Four, but in se- lecting the push for Five he sought out John Radway and induced him to accept the commission.
 ''You can do it, John," said he, ''and I know it. I want you to try, and if you don't make her go I'll call it nobody's fault but my own"
 The result proved his sagacity. Rad way was one of the best forenen in the outfit. He got more out of his men, he rose better to emergencies, and he ac- complished more with the same re- sources than any of the others except ing Tim Shearer. AS long as the work was done for some one else he was ca pablo and efficient. Only when he was called upon to demand on his own ac- count did the paralyzing shyness affect him.
 But the one feature that did more to attract the very best element among woodsmen was Camp One. Old woods men will still tell you about it, with a longing reminiscent gl1mmer in the corners of their eyes as they recall its glories and the men who worked in it. To have "put in" a winter in Camp One was the mark of master and the ambition of every raw recruit to the forest.
 But Camp One was g. privilege. A man entered it only after having proved himself; he remained in it only as long as his efficiency deserved the honor. It's members were invariably recruited from one of the other four camps, never from applicants who had not been in Thorpe's employ.
 So Shearer was foreman of a picked crew. Probably no finer body of men was ever gathered at one camp. Some of them had the reputation of being the hardest citizens in three states; others were mild as turtledoves.a They were all pioneers. They had the inde- pendence, the unabashed eye, the in- subordination eve%L of the man who has drawn his intellectual and moral nourishment at the breast of wild nature. They were afraid of nothing alive. From no one, were he ehore boy or president, would they take single word, with the exception always of Tim Shearer and Thorpe.
 And they were loyal. It was point of honor with them to stay "uHtil the last dog was hung" He who deserted in the hour of need was not only ren- egade, but fool, for he thus earned a magnificent licking if ever he ran up against a member of the Fighting Forty" A band of soldiers were they, ready to attempt anything their com mander ordered, and, it must be con- fessed, they were also somewhat on the order of band of pirates. Mar quette thought so each spring after the drive, when, hat tilted, they surged, swearing and shouting, down to Den ny Hogan's saloon. Denny had to buy new fixtures when they went away, but 1t was worth it.
 Proud! It was no name for 1t. Boast! The fame of Camp One spread abroad over the land. Some people thought Camp One must be sort of hellhole of roaring, fighting devils. Others sighed and made rapid calculations of the number. of logs they could put Tn if only they could get hold of help like that.
 Thorpe himself, of course, made his headquarters at Camp One. During the five years he had never crossed the strait of MackinaW. The rupture with his sister had made repugnant to him all the southern country. All winter long he was more than busy at his log ging. Summers he spent at the mill. Occasionally he visited Marquette, but always on business.
 He was happy because he was too busy to be anything else. The insist ent need Of success which he had ere: ated for himself absorbed all other sen- timents. He demanded it of others vigorously. He could do no less than demand it of himself. The chief end of any man, as he saw it, was to do we'll and successfully what his life found ready.
 Success, success, success. Nothing could be of more importance. Its at tainment argued a mans efficiency in the scheme of things. Anything that interfered with it-personal comfort, inclination, affection, desire, love of ease, individual liking-was bad.
 Thorpe cared for just three people, and none of them happened to clash with his machine. They were Wallace Carpenter, little Phil and Injun Char ley. \
 Wallace was always personally agree able to Thorpe. Latterly, since the erec- ton of the mill, he had developed unex- pected acumen in the disposal of the seasons cut to wholesale dealers in Chicago. Thereafter he was often in the woods both for pleasure and to get his partners ideas on what the firm