Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-08

1Ou = luS III lQC OulCe.''
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
a bulhier figure, which Thorpe con-
cluded to be that of the 'sold 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.
Il might" replied the man dryly at
last.
"Well, will you?" Thorpe inquired,
the humor of the situation overcoming
him
Have you ever worked in thewoods?"
mo"
The man smoked silently.
''Pll 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, Albert?' he asked.
'Jot of chewin'," was the reply.
The scaler took from the shelf long
plug of tobacco and cut off two inches.
"Ain't hittin' the van much, are you,
Alberto" 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 alb
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, a few practical jokes, which he
took good naturally, and vast deal
Of chatting. At 8 o'clock the lights
were all out. By daylight he and a
dozen other men were at work hewing
road that had to be as smooth and
level as New York boulevard.
Thorpe and four others were set to
work on this road, which was to be
cut through creek bottom leading, he
was told, to seventeen" He learned
to use double bitted ak.
From shortly after daylight he work
ed. -Four other men bore him compa-
ny, and twice Railway himself came
by, watched their operations for mo-
ment and moved on without comment.
After Thorpe had caught his second
wind he enjoyed his task, finding a
certain pleasure in the ease with which
he handled his tool.
At the end Of an interminable pc
Rod faint, musical halo swelled,
echoed and died through the forest.
beautiful as a spirit. 1t was taken up
by another voice and repeated. Then
far away, IL rang as hollow as peii.
The sawyers, the swampers, the skid
ders and the team men turned and
put on their heavy blanket coats.
Down on the road Thorpe heard it,
too, and wondered what it might be.
Come on, bub. She means chew"
explained old man Heath kindly.
Thorpe resumed his coat and fell
in behind the little procession. After
q short time he came upon horse and
sledge. Beyond it the cookee had
built little camp fire, around and
over which he had grouped big fifty
pound lard tins half full Of hot things
to eat Each man as he approached
picked up tin plate and cup from a
pile near at hand.
The cookee was plainly master Of the
situation. He issued peremptory OF.
ders. When Erickson, the blond Swede
attempted surreptitiously to 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 at
titudes and places. Thorpe found II
difficult to keep warm. The violent ex
ercise had heated him through, and
now the north country cold penetrated
to his bones. He huddled close to the
fire and drank hot tea, but it did moi
do him very much good. In his secret
mind he resolved to buy one of the
blanket mackinaws that very evening
The newcomers first day Of hard
work had tired him completely. He
was ready for nothing so much as his
bunk. But he had forgotten that il
was Saturday, night. His status was