The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-04
CHAPTER Ii.

CHAPTER Ii.
Wallace Carpenters search expedi-
ton had proved a failure, as Thorpe
had foreseen, but at the end of the
week, when the water began to recede,
they came upon a mass Of flesh and
bones. The man was unrecogniza bic.
The remains were wrapped in canvas
and sent for interment in the cemetery
at Marquette. Three of the others
were never found. The last did not
come to light until after the drive had
quite finished.
Down at the booms the jam crew
received the drive as fast as it came
down. From one crib to another across
the broad extent of the rivers mouth
heavy boOms were chained end to end
effectualy TO close the exit to Lake
Superior Against these the logs
carOmed softly in the slackened cur
rent, and stopped. The cribs were very
heavy with slantinS, instead of square.
tops. in order that the pressure might
be dOwnwaTds instead of sideWise. In
q short time the surface of the lagoon
was covered by a brown carpet OF logs
running in strange patterns like wind
rows Of fallen grain The drive was
all but over.
Up till now the weather had been
clear but oppressively hot for this time
of year. The heat had come suddenly
and maintained itself well. The men
had worked for the most part in I'M
dershirts. 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. distrib-
uted punches of papers. in which the
men read that the unreasonable cOndi-
lions prevailed all over the country
At length, however, il gave signs of
1T
of steel blue, harbOred great piled
thunder-heads. Towards evening the
thunder heads shifted and finally dis
sipated to be sure, but the DOrtent
was there.
Hamilton's papers began to tell of
Washouts and cloudbursts in the south
and Wests The men wished they had
some of that water here.
So finally the drive approached its
end and all concerned began in anti
cipation TO taste the WEAKNESS that
awaited them. The few remaining
tasks still confronting them. all al once
seemed more formidable than what
they had accomplished. The work for
the first time became logged. distaste-
ful. Even Thorpe was infected. IL.
TOO. wanted more than anything else
70 drop on the bed in Mrs Hatha way :
boarding house. There remained but
few things 10 do. mile % sack
influence OF freshet water After that
there would be no hurry.
He looked round at the 1ard. fatigue-
worn faces of the men about him ana
he suddenly felt d great rush Of al
lection for these comrades who had 50
unreServedly spent themselves for his
affair. Their features showed exhaus-
ton, il is true. but their eyes cleaned
still with the steady, hair 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.
.4That'n do. boys" he sail quietly to
the nearest group. She's iown.'
II was noon. The sackers looked up
81 surprise. Behind them, u their
very feet rushed the soft, smooth slope
OF Heml0ck rapids. Below them
flowed a broad. peaceful river. The
drive had passed its last obstruction.
To all intents and purposes it was
over.
Calmly. with matter-of-faet 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
doomed the tall stacks of the mill with
the little board town about II. Across
the eye spun the thread of the rail
road. Far away cleaned the broad
The men paired off naturally and fell
into a dragging, logged walk. Thorpe
found himself unexpectedly with Big
Junlxo. For a time they plodded on
without conversation. Then the big
man ventured a remark.
I'm glad she's over" said he. 1--WE
got good stake comm"
Yes" replied Thorpe, indifferently.
ct got most $500 comm" persisted
Might as well be 600 cents COM
nented Thorpe. it'd make you just as
drunk
Big Junko laughed self-consciously.
bat without the slightest resentment.
That's all right. said he, but you
betcher life I don't blow this stake
1--WE heard that talk before -
shrugged THORPE.
yes. but this is different. I'm goin'
70 git married on this. How's thst2"
Thorpe, his attention struck at last.
stared at his companion.
who is she2" he asked. abruptly
''she used to wash at Camp Four"
Thorpe diTnly remembered the woman
now-an overweighted creature with a
certain attraction Of ei6shIv blowing
hair. with a certain pleasing full
checked. full bosoned health.
The two walked on In re-established
silence. Finally, the giant. unable to
contain himself longer. broke out
Il do like that woman" said he
with q quantity deliberate seriousness
That's the finest woman in this dis
trict.'
to his eyes. There was something in
expressibly touching in those simple
words as Big Junl<o uttered them,
And when you are married, ne