Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-07

man h m country knows as much about hosses as I do. We afn't had but two sick this fall, an between you an me they's skate lot You're greenhorn, ain't your"
 "Yes," confessed Thorpe.
 We'll said Jackson rehectively, but rapidly, ''Le Fabian, he's quiet, but ban; and O'Grady, he talks loud, but you can bluff him; and Perry, he's only bad when be gets full of red likker; and Norton, he's bad when he gets mad like, and will use axes"
 Thorpe did not know he was getting valuable points on the camp bullies.
 At dark the old man lit two lamps, which served di1niy to gloze the shad- ows, and thrust logs of wood into the cast iron stove. Soon after, the men came in. They were a queer, mixed lot. There were active, clear built. precise Frenchmen, with small hands and feet and peculiarly trim way of wearing their rough garments; typical native born American lumber jacks, powerful in frame, rakish in air, reck- less in manner; big blond Scandina- vians and Swedes, strong men at the saving; an Indian or so, strangely in contrast to the rest, and variety of Irishmen, Enghshmen and Canadians These men tramped in without a word and set busily to work at various tasks Some sat on the deacon seatr and be- gan to take of their socks and rub bers, Still others selected and lit Ian, terms from pendant row near the ir1dn op1a 1I Ta of doors. They were the teamsters
 You'll find the old man in the office,' said Jackson.
 Thorpe made his way across to the small log cabin indicated as the office, and pushed open the door,
 A man sat at desk placing figures on sheet of paper. He obtained the figures from statistics penciled on three thin leaves of beechwood riveted to- gether. In chair by the stove lounged bulkier figure, which Thorpe con- cluded to be that of the 'old man."
 II was sent here by Shearer,'' said Thorpe directly. "He said you might give me some work"
 So long silence fell that. the appli- cant began to wonder if his question had been heard.
 T might replied the man dryly at last
 ''Well, will you?" Thorpe inquired, the humor of the situation overcoming him.
 Have you ever worked in the woods?''
 No"
 The man smoked silently.
 I'll put you on the road in the morn ing" he concluded, as though this were the deciding qualification.
 One of the men entered abruptly and approached the counter. The writer at the desk laid aside his tablets.
 What is it, AlbertY he asked.
 "Jot of chewin'," was the reply.
 The scaler took from the shelf a long plug of tobacco and cut off two inches.
 "A1n't htttin' the van much, are you, Albertw he commented, putting the mans name and the amount in 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 van 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 was much briefer affair than it would have been had ev- cry man felt privileged to take his will in conversation, not to speak of the ab- sence of noise and the presence of peace. Each man asked for what he wanted.
 Please pass the beans," he said, with the deliberate information of a man who does not expect that his re- quest will be granted.
 Besides the beans were fried salt pork, boiled potatoes, canned corn, mince pie, variety of cookies and doughnuts, and strong green tea. Thorpe found himself eating ravenous- ly of the crude fare.
 That evening he underwent cate chism, few practical jokes, which he took good naturedly, and a vast deal of chafing. At 9 o'clock the lights were all out By daylight he and a dozen other men were at work hewing
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