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

gan to take or their socks and r,,l-
bers. Still others selected and III Ian.
terms from n pendant row near the
window and followed old jackson out
of doors. They were the teamsters
you'll find the old man in the officer
said Jackson.
Thorpe made his way across 10 the
small log cabin indicated as the Office.
and pushed open the door
A man sat ut n desk placing fruro,
on a sheet OF paper. He obtained the
figures from statistics penciled on three
thin leaves Of beechwood riveted to-
gether. In a chair by the stove lounpcd
a bukicr figure, which Thorpe con.
cluded to be that Of the "old man"
Il was sent here by shearer," said
Thorpe directly. He said you might
give me some work"
So long silence fell that the annli.
cant began to wonder if his question
had been heard.
IL might" replied the man dryly 40
last.
well, will you:" Thorpe inquired.
the humor Of the situation overcoming
him.
Have you ever worked N the woodsir
mo"
The man smoked silently.
"Ill put you on the road ia the morn.
Ing" he concluded. as though this wers
the deciding qualification.
one OF the men entered abruptly and
approached the counter. The writer at
the desk laid aside his tablets
What is 1t, Alberto he asked
".Jot Of chewiu'," was the reply
The scaler took from the shelf a long
plug Of tobacco and cut of two inches.
"Aint hittin' the van mitch. are you,
Albert" lie commented putting tho
mans name and the amount In a little
book Thorpe went out after leaving
his name for the time book. enlightened
as to the method of obtaining supplies
He promised himself some warm cloth.
ing from the Won when he should have
worked out the necessary credit.
At supper he learned something else
that he must not talk at table. For
one thing. supper vas much briefer
! affair than it would have been had ey.
cry man .elt privileged TO take his viii
in CONVEX satlon. not to speak Of the abb
sence OF noise and the presence OF
| peace. Each man asked for what he
wanted.
please pnss the beans" he SAID,
with the deliberate intoi II ron Of
man who does DOT expect t';at his re.
quest will be granted.
Besides the beans were fried Nlt
pork, boiled iotatoes, canned corn,
1T al-sa
doughnuts, and s'rong green tea.
Thorpe 'ound himself eating ravenous.
~ Of the crude fare.
That evening lie under went cate.
chism. few practical jokes. which hs
took GOOD naturedly and q vast deal
of chatting 1t 0 o'clock the lights
were all out. ny Gayig&t M pnd
dozen other men Were al |-IA hewina
yond that aad 10 be as smooth and
level rs New York boulevard.
Thorpe and :our others were set 10
work on this lond. which was 10 hQ
cut through creek bottom leading. hs
was told. to seventeen lie learned
TO use a double bitted ak,
From shortly after daylight he work.
ed. Four other men bore him compa.
ny, and twice Railway EiI:et came
b. watched their operations for d mo-
ment and moved on without comment.
After Thorpe had caught bis second
wind he enjoyed his task dndgg y
certain pleasure in the ease with which
he handled his tool.
At the end of an iuterminehle Pc
riod a faint, musical halo swelled.
echoed and died through the forest.
beautiful as spirit. II was ;akrn rp
By another voice and repeated. Thea
by another Now rear ~ bAud, now
far away. It rang a. hollow as bell
The sawyers. the swampers, tAe sstd'
ders and the team men turned end
put on their heavy blanket coats.
Down on the road Inorpe heard it
, too, and wondered what i might be.
. Come on, CUB. She means Ctew
explained old man Heath kindly.
Thorpe resumed his coat and FELL
IN behind the little procession. After
a short time he came upon hdrse and
sledge. Beyond it the cookee had
built q little camp fire. around and
over which ne had grouped big fifty
/ pound lard tins half full Of hot things
TO eat. Each man as he approa ched
picked up a Tin plate and cup from
pile near az hand
The cookee was plainly master of ds
= situation. He issued peremptory or
ders. When Erickson, the blond Swede.
attempted surreptitously 10 appropri'
ate a doughnut the youth turned on
him savagely and shouted:
"Get out of that, you big towhead.
- The men ate, perched in various a.
y titudes and places. Thorpe found II
: difficult to keep warm. The violent eN'
a erclse had heated him through ana
. now the north country cold penetrated
TO his bones. lie hudded close to the
!. fire and drank hot tea. but 1t did nor
do him very much good. In his secret
, mind he resolved to buy Que or the
? blanket mackinaws that very eVshlhs,
. The newcomers first day or nara
: work had tired him completely ne
was ready for nothing so much as MS
q bunk. But he had forgotten that II
4 was Saturday night. his status was
still to assure.
, They began with few mild tricks'
Shuttle the brogan followed hot back
!, Thorpe took all OF IL good natureoly.
- II, g,>A;,i1ual with tDlU.