Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21

to crew and horses. 1t might not be
COED for much, but 1t would do no
harm.
jackson listened attentively to the
others brief recital
"Why don't gen see Tim Shearer7
He amt dom nsthin' since the lam
came down" was his COMMENT.
isn't he with the NJ. e. .. people?'
asked Thorpe.
Nope. Quit"
Flows that?"
"'Count Of Morrison. He's been him
his teeth for N. & p. right along
Somethln' behind It all, l reckon"
"Whers'll nnd him7" asked Thorpe
jackson gave the name Of small
boarding house. shortly after Thorpe
left him to omuse the others with his
unique conversation and hunted up
ehearer's stepping place
The boarding heuse proved to be 81
the typical lumber Jack clars--n mar
row stoop, n hallway and stair in the
center and an once and bar on either
side. Shcarer and half dozen other
men about his own sEe sat. their
chairs on two legs and their cork"
boots on the rounds Of the chairs.
smoking paridly In tho tcpih evening
air. He approached and attempted an
identifying scrutiny. The men, with
the tacitrrnity Of their class in the
presence Of a stranger. said nothing.
We'll. bub," finally d~awled a voice
from tho corner, "blowed that stake
you made out Of Railway yet"
That ycu, SAearer!" inquired
Thorpe. advancing. You're the man
I'm looking for
you've found me-" replied the old
man dryly.
Thorpe was requested deliberately to
'shnke hands with the owners Of six
names. Then he had chance TO i.ti-
mate quietly to fhearer that he wanted
word with him alone. The river man
rose silently and led the way mp the
straight, uncarpeted stairs, along mar
row. uncnrpetcd hall. to square. IN
carpctcd bedroom. The walls and coil
ings Of this apartment were ef uA-
painted Plancd pine. 1t contained 4
cheap bureau. one chair and a b-d ana
wash.tand to match the bureau Shear
er lit the lamp ana sat 81 the bed
what Ia IT." he asked.
81 have little pine mp in the north
ern peninsula within walking distance
Of Marquette said Thorpe. and l
want 70 get a crew a. about twenty
men. II occurred to ne that yen might
bs willing to help me-"
The river man frswned steadily at his
iAtcrlocutor from under his bushy
brows.
"new much pine you got?' he asked
finally.
About 3o0,O0o,ooO," replied Thorpe
quietly.
The old mans blue eyes fixed them.
selves with unwaverlng steadlness on
Thorpe's face.
You're jobbing some Of it. eh?" he
submitted finally rs the only probable
conclusion. DO you think you know
enough about it? Who does IT belong
to-"
1T belongs to a man named Carpcn.
ter and myself"
The river man rcndercd this slowly
for an arrrcciable interval. ana then
shot ont another question:
How'd ycu get it?'
Thorpe told him simply, emitting
nothing except the name Of the nrm
mp river. When he had finished Shear
err evinced no astonishment nor ap-
proval
You done we'll" he commented fnal-
~. Then. after another interval
Nave yeu found out who was the
men steslia the plns?"
"Yss," replied Thorpe quietly, at was
Morrison d DAILY"
The old man Eickered not an eve.
lid 10 slowly alled his pipe and lit 1t.
'I'll get YOU a crow Of men" said
he, II you'll take M a. foreman"
But is a LITTLE Job at frst." protest
ed Thorpe. Il onl- want n camp Of
twenty. 1t wouldn't be worth your
while"
"Thct's my lookout. III take the
job" replied the logger crirnly. You
got 800, coo 600 there. amt You? And
you're roin' to cut it? 1t amt such a
small job"
Tho'T. coud hardly believe his good
fortune in havir. gained so important
n recruit. With a practical man as
foreman. his mind would be relieved
Of a great deal Of worry over unfamil-
lar iet,ils Tie cav nj once that he
would himself be able to perform all
the duties Of scsler, keep In touch with
The needs Of the camp and supervise
tho campal Ign. Nevertheless he answer.
I'd he older mans glance with one rs
keen and said
look here Shearer IL you take tha
job We may AZ well understand each
other at the start. This Is going to b
my camp, and I'm gazing to be boss.
don't know much about logging. and
shall want you 10 take charge Of al
that, but l shall! want to know Just
Why you do each thing. and il my judg
ment ADVISES otherwise. my judgment
goes. II want 10 discharge a man. hs
walks without any question. l know
about what l rhall expect Of each man
and l intend 20 get it ON OF him. And
in questions OF policy mine is the say
50 every trip Now, know you're 9
good msn-one Of tho best there is
and presume I shall nnd your judg.
nent the best, but don't want any
mistakes to start with. II you want
70 BE- my foremNn on these terms just
ray 80, and III b. tickled to death to