Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-16
CHAPTER XIII.

Ct1taT 1Eh- <ALAA4A'
@HORPE returned to Camp One
shortly after dark. He found
there number of letters.
w among which was one from
Wallace Carpenter.
After commencing the camping par
ty to his companions care the young
fellow went on to say that affairs were
going badly on the board.
Some interest that l haven't been
able to make out yet has been ham
mering our stocks down day after
day." he wrote. II don't understand
it, for the stocks are good and intrin-
sically are worth more than is bid for
them right now. Some powerful con-
Germ is beating them down for a pur-
pose of it's own. Sooner or later they
will let up, and then we'll get things
back in good shape. l am amply pro-
tected now, thanks to you, and am not
at all afraid Of losing my holdings.
The only difficulty is that am unable
to predict exactly when the other fel-
lows will decide that they have accom-.
phshed whatever they are about and
let up. 1t may not be before next year.
In that case couldn't help you out on
those notes when they come due. So
put in your best ticks, old man. YOU
may have to pony up for a little while,
though Of course sooner or later can
put it all back. Then, you bet your
life, I keep out Of it. Lumberings
good enough for yours truly.
by the way, you might shine up to
Hilda Farrand and join the rest of the
fortune hunters. She's got it to throw
to the birds and in her own right Sc
riously, old fellow, don't put yourself
into false position through ignorance;
not that there is any danger to hard
ened old woodsman like you"
Thorpe went to the group Of pines by
the pole trail the following afternoon
because he had said he would, but with
a new attitude Of mind. He had come
into contact with the artificiality OF
conventional relations, and it stiffened
him.
They sat down on log. Hilda turn
ed to him with her graceful air Of con
fidence.
Nov talk to nc,r said she.
Certainly" replied Thorpe in {
practical tone Of voice. what do vol
want me to talk about?"
She shot swift, troubled glance a
him, concluded herself mistaken ant
said:
"Tell me about what you do up her
your life-all about it."
"Well," replied Thorpe formally, NV
haven't much to interest girl Xix
you. 1t is question of saw logs wit
u.s." And he went on in his dryes'
most technical manner to detail tn
process of manufacture. 1t might a
well have been bricks.
The girl did not understand. Sh
was hurt. AS surely as the sun tar
gled in the distant pine frond, she ha
seen in his eyes great passion. No
it was coldly withdrawn.
what has happened to you?" ST
asked finally out of her great sincerit
| me? Nothing" replied Thorpe.
A forced silence fell upon him. Hilc
| SeelAeu Sluuudlly " AooS AASA'NAA - -
! erie. After time she said softly:
| Don't you love this woods?'
| "Its an excellent bunch Of pine" T
piled Thorpe bluntly. eth cut BOO
4 600 at least"
| "Oh" she cried, drawing back, h
| hands pressed against the log eth
side of her, her eyes wide.
| After moment she caught her Drea
1 convulslvely, and Thorpe became &C
s. scious that she was studying him II
ID lively with quickening doubt.
ID After that, by the mercy OF &c
te there was no more talk between the
,g Unconsciously the first strain OF OPT
/. sition and of hurt surprise relaxt
81 Each thought vaguely his though
Then in the depths of the forest, p
n haps near at hand. perhaps far away
ns single hermit thrush began TO sing. /
song was of three solemn, deep, liq'
er notes. followed by slight rhetori
pause as of contemplation. and then
,e. liberately three notes more on din
ent key. 1t is the most dignified,
ID, most spiritual, the hottest of woods
,ly terances. Combined with the event
shadows and the warm soft air II
ne fered to the heart an almost 1rresisti
appeal. The mans artificial anita