Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-31

| DItu uOWHStUIIS W tuf IouHu etONN, OiS
as a boiler, into which the cripple
dumped huge logs Of wood from time
10 time. After breakfast Thorpe re-
| turned TO this stove and sat half doing
for what seemed TO him untold ages.
The cold OF the northern country was
initiating him.
Men came in smoked a brief pipe
and went out. After time he himself
put OH his overcoat and ventured out
into the town. 1t seemed to Thorpe u
meager affair built of lumber. mostly
Imprinted. with always the dark. men
acing fringe of the forest behind. The
great sawmill, with its tall stacks and
its rows of water barrels protection
against iire-on top, was the dominant
note. Near the mill coushed a little
red painted structure from whose stove
pipe Il column of white smoke arose,
attesting the cold, clear hundred feet
straight upward. and to whose door
number of men were directing their
steps through the snow. over the door
Thorpe could distinguish the word "Of-
fce." He followed and entered.
In a narrow aisle rallied off from the
main part of the room waited Thorpe's
companions Of the night before. The
remainder of the office gave accommo-
daton to three clerks. One Of these
glanced up inquiringly as Thorpe came
in.
II am looking for work" said Thorpe.
wait there" briefly commanded the
Clerk.
IN few moments the door Of the
inner room opened and Shearer came
out A mans head peered from wl.hin.
Come On. boys" said he.
The five applicants shuffled through.
Thorpe found himself in the presence
Of man whom lie felt to te tho natu-
raj leader of these wild, independent
spirits. lie was already a little past
middle life, and his form had lost the
elastic vigor Of youth. But his eye
was keen. clear and wrinked to Il GER
tain dry Righteousness and his figure
was Of that bulk which gives an i'm
preston of subtler weight and power
than the merely physical. You felt his
superiority even when lie was most
comradely with you. This man Thorpe
was to meet under ether conditions,
wherein the steel hand would more
plainly clink the metal
= He was now seated in n worn office
: chair before a Uttered desk. In the
close mir hung the smell of stale cigars
( and the clear fragrance of pine.
What is it, Demise he asked the
first of the mon.
} "I've been out" replied the lumber
man. "Have you got anything for me,
I Nr. Daly?'
t The mill owner laughed
2 II guess so. Report to Shearcr. Did
t you vote for the right man. Denny"
= The lumberman grinncd sheepshly
r Il don't know. sir. l didn't get that
! far"
g Better let II alone. I suppose you
and Bill want to come back too" he
: added, turning to the next two in line
3 "All right; report to Tim. Do you
want work." he inquired OF the last of
the quartet. big. bashful man, with
the shoulders Of a Hercules.
Yes. sir" answered the latter, IN
o comfortable.
: VIVA. do you want?'
I'm Il cant hook man. sir"
y where have you worked"
$ Il had a job with Morgan & Steb-
/ bins on the Clear river last winter"
l. "Al right; we need cant hook men
5 Report at seven and If they don't
want you there go TO thirteen"
8 The man went out. Daily turned to
l Thorpe with the last hcScrs OF amuse.
ment in his eyes.
y What can | do for you?" he In
quired,
It 81 am looking for work" Thorpe re.
j. piled.
= "What kind of work."
= ANY kind. so long as can learI
something about the lumber business"
The older man studied him keenly fo
i few moments.
"Have you had any other business
Il eyperiencei'
X None"
e "What have you been doing?"
l. Nothing"
4 The lumberman's eyes hardened.
y ave are a very busy firm here" h.
q said with a certain deliberation. wv
s do not carry big force OF men In an.
+ one department, and each OF those mel
e has to fill his place and slop some owe
" the sides. We do not pretend or ut
tempt 70 teach here. II you want t,
e he Il lumberman you must learn tn
Is lumber business more directly thar
= through the windows of II bookkeeper'
e office. Go into the woods. Learn a few
h first principles. Find ont the differ
d encc between Norway and white pin
J. anyway"
e After his speech the business maj
y whirled back to his desk
e. Have you anything for me to do II
I. the woods, them" the other aske'
e quietly.
h NO" said DAILY over his shoulder.
e Thorpe went out. He had made tn
q elementary discovery that even In chop
- ping wood skilled labor counts III
D. did not know where to turn next, an
l. he would not have had the money t
q 30 far in any case; so, although Shear
d cr's brusGue greeting that morning ha
II argued lack Of cordially, he resolve