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


tone Of her brothers communication
threw her into At of the blues from
which for the first time she saw her
surroundings in depressing and dis
tasteful light. And yet he had writ
ten as he did with the kindest possible
motives.
Thorpe had the misfortune to be one
OF those individuals who, though care
less OF what people in general may
think OF them. are In corresponding
degree sensitive to the opinion of the
few they love. This feeling was fur
ther exaggerated Ivy n constitutional
shrinking from any outward manifes-
tation Of the emotions. Perhaps for
this reason he was never entirely sim
ccre with those he loved
After the disgrace OF his father Har-
ry Thorpe had done great deal Of
thinking and planning which he kept
carefully to himself. He considered
in turn the different occupations to
which he could turn his hand and neg
atlved them one by one. Few business
firms would care to employ the son Of
as shrewd an embezzler as Henry
Thorpe. Finally he came to a decision.
He communicated this decision to his
sister. 1t would have commended it.
self more logically to her had she been
able to follow step by step the consid-
Grafton that had led her brother to it.
AS the event turned, she was forced to
accept it blindly She knew that her
brother intended going west, but as TO
his hopes and plans she was in igno-
rance. A little sympathy, little mu-
tual understanding, would have meant
q great deal to her, for girl whose
mother she but dimly remembers turns
naturally TO her next of kin. Helen
Thorpe had always admired her BROTH
err but had never before needed him.
She had looked upon him as strong,
self contained, little moody.
At the beginning OF the row in the
smoking car Thorpe laid aside his let
| ter and watched with keen apprecla.
ton the direct practically of the train
mems method. When the bearded man
fell before the conductors blow, he
turned to the individual ut his side.
HE knows how to hit, doesn't he:"
he observed THAT fellow was knock
ed we'll off his feet
'He does" agreed the other dryly.
They fell into a desultory conversa-
| ton of fits and starts. Woodsmen of
the genuine sort are never laxative,
and Thorpe, as has been explained,
was constitutionaly reticent. In the
course of their disjointed remarks
Thorpe explained that he was looking
first of all TO try the Morrison e. DAILY
camps at Beeson lake.
Know anything about logging!" in
CURED the stranger.
Nothing Thorpe confessed
"Aint much show for anything Int
lumber jacks. What did you .hnk of
dongY
81 don't know" said Thorpe doubt.
fully. Il have driven horses good
deal. | thought | might drive team"
The woodsman turned slowly and
looked Thorpe over with a quizzica
eye Then he faced to the front again
and spat.
quite like" he replied, still more
dryly.
The boys remark had amused him
and he had showed it, as much as he
ever showed anything. Excepting al
ways the river men, the driver of g
team commands the highest wages
among out Of door workers.
1t is easier to drive a fire engine thar
a logging team.
But in spite of the naivete of the re
mark the woodsman had seen some
thing in Thorpe he liked. Such men be
come rather expert in the reading OF
character He revised his first inten
ton to let the conversation drop.
Il think NJ. & ID. is rather full III
just now" he remarked. I'm walkin
boss over there. The roads is abou
all made, and roadmdking is wha
a greenhorn tackles first. They's more
chance earlier in the year. But i
the old fellow he strongly accent
ed the first word-"hv Ant nothn' 70
you. Just ask FOR Tim Silcarer, an II
try TO put you on the trail for SOM
jobber's camp"
The three who had come into COLI
sion with Jimmy and Bud were getting
. noiser They had produced ston
, jug and had collected the remainder o
; the passengers. with the exception o
Shearer and Thorpe. and now wer
, passing the jug rapidly from hand T.
hand. Soon they became musical, strik
, ing up one of the wierd, long draw
out chants so popular with the shant.
boy. Thorpe shrewdly guessed hi
, companion to be man Of some weigh
, and did not hesitate to ascribe his i'm
munity from annoyance to the other
presence.
, It's a bad thing" said the walkin
, boss. II used to be at it myself, and
know"
| "Bees'n Lake. cried Jimmy flercel
. through the aperture of the door,
/ you'll find the boardin' house jus
e across over the track" said the woods
r man, holding ont his hand so lone
f See you again if You don't find jo
T.. with the old fellow. My name
S Shcarer."
= Mine is Thorpe" replied the other
\ THANK YOU
D Thorpe followed and found hlmsel
e on the frozen platform OF little dar
I railway station. Directly across tn
. track from the railway station a sir
D gle building was pricked from the dar
4 by solitary lamp in O lower stor