Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-03

getnef. In Il cnalF Dy tue SlOSc louuSeA
buikier figure, which Thorpe con-
cluded to be that of the "old 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.
II might" replied the man dryly at
last
"Well, will your" Thorpe inquired,
the humor of the situation overcoming
him.
Have you ever worked in thewoodsr
mo"
The man smoked silently.
I'll 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 1t, Alberta" he asked.
'Jot of chewin'," was the reply.
The scaler took from the shelf a long
plug Of tobacco and cut OFT two inches.
"Ain't hittin' the van much, are you.
Albert:'' 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
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
ioughnuts, and strong green ten.
Thorpe found himself eating ravenous-
~ OF the crude fare.
That evening he underwent a cate
chism. few practical jokes. which he
took good naturally, and a vast deal
of chatting. At o'clock the lights
were all out. BY daylight he and
dozen other men were at work hewing
a road that had to be as smooth and
level as New York boulevard
Thorpe and four others We're 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
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 spirit. 1t was taken up
by another voice and repeated. Then
by another. Now near at hand, now
far away, it rang as hollow as bell.
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 1t,
too, and wondered what it might be.
.Cone on, bub. She means chew"
explained old man Heath kindly.
Thorpe resumed his coat and fell
in behind the little procession. AFTER
short time he came upon horse and
sledge. BEYOND it the cookee had
built a little camp fire, around ana
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
pile near dt hand.
The cookie was plainly master OF the
situation. He issued perempt0ry Or
ders. When Erickson, the blond Swede,
attempted surreptitiously to approprl-
ate a doughnut the youth turned on
him sayagcly and shouted:
"Get out Of that, you big toWhead!'
The men ate, perched i'll various at
titudes and places. Thorpe found 1t
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 not
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 1t
was Saturday night. His status was
still to assure.
They began with a few mild tricks.
Shuttle the brogan followed hot back.
Thorpe took all of it good naturedly.
Finally a tall individual with a thin.
white face, reptilian forehead, red
dish hair and long, babboon arms sug-
eested tossing In blanket. Thorpe
looked at the low ceiling and declined.
ELM with the game as long as you