The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-12-21

comparatively quiet
Although his ideas were not as vet
formulated, he hoped to be able to pick
up crew Of first class men from those
who had come down with the advance.
or JAM" Of the springs drive. They
should have finished their orgies by
now and, empty of pocket, should be
found hanging about the boarding
houses and the quieter saloons. Thorpe
intended to offer good wages for good
men. He would not need more than
twenty at first, for during the APP
preaching winter he intended to log on
a very small scale indeed. The time
for expansion would come later.
With this object in view he set out
from his hotel about half past on the
day of his arrival to cruise about in
the lumber jack district. The hotel
clerk had obligingiy given him the
names of number of the quieter sa-
| looms where the boys hung OUT be-
tween bursts of prosperity. In the
| first of these Thorpe was helped ma
terially in his vague and uncertain
quest by encountering an old acquaint-
ance. Jackson Hines.
The old man peered at Thorpe.
Don't you know me" inquired
Thorpe.
Know you? You bet | do. How
are you, Harry? Where have you been
keepfn' yourself7 You look about as
fat as stall fed knittin' needle
i've been land looking in the upper
peninsula" explained Thorpe, ION the
Ossawinamakee, up in the Marquette
country"
"Shop' commented Jackson in won
der. way up thsee where the moon
changes"
IT'S fine country" went on Thorpe
so every one could hear. with a great
cutting of white pine. 1t runs as high
as twelve hundred thousand to the
forty sometimes"
Trees clean an free of limbs" ask
ed Jackson.
They're as good as the stuff over on
seventeen You remember that"
"Clean as baby's Leg" agreed Jack
son.
"Have a glass of beer?' asked
Thorpe
DRY as a tobacco box" confessed
Jackson.
So they all drank.
On sudden inspiration Thorpe re-
solved to ask the old mans advice as
to crew and horses. 1t might not be
good for much, but it would do no
harm.
Jackson listened attentively to the
others brief recital.
"Why don't you see Tim Shearer2
He amt dom nothin' since the jam
came down." was his comment
Isn't he with the NJ & D. people?"
asked Thorpe.
''Nope. Quit"
"HOw's thatY
"'Count of Morrison. He's been film
his teeth for M. & D. right along.
Somethin' behind it all. reckon"
"Where'll find him 2" asked Thorpe.
Jackson gave the name of a small
boarding house. Shortly after Thorpe
left him to amuse the others with his
unique conversation and hunted up
Shearer's stopping place.
The boarding house proved to be OF
the typical lumber jack class-a mar
row stoop. a hallway and stair in the
center and an Office and bar on either
side. Shearer and a half dozen other
men about his own age sat, their
chairs on two legs and their cork"
hGnfC @hn - -
smoking placidly in the tepid evening
air. He approached and attempted an
identifying scrutiny. The men. with
the taciturnity of their class in the
presence Of a stranger. said nothing.
swell, bub," finally drawied voice
from the corner. .'blowed that stake
you made out of Railway YETI"
'"That you. Shearer2' 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
"shake hands with the owners of six
names. Then he had chance to init
mate quietly to Shearer that he wanted
a word with him alone The river man
rose silently and led the way up the
straight. uncarpeted stairs. along a mar
row, uncarpeted hall. to square. I'M
carpeted bedroom. The walls and cell
ings Of this apartment were OF I'M
painted planned pine. 1t contained O
cheap bureau. one chair and bed and
to match the bureau Shear
er Lit the lamp and sat on the bed.
What is it?'' he asked
II have little pine up in the north |
ern peninsula within walking distance |
of Marquette" said Thorpe, "and / |
want to get a crew of about twenty |
men. 1t occurred to me that you might |
be willing to help me-"
The river man frowned steadily at his
lnterl0cutor from under his bushy |
brows.
"How much pine you got?" he asked
finally.