Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-04-21
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
n IN the Office shanty one evening
about week later Railway and
his scaler happened to be talk
| " ing over the situation. The
scaler, whose name was Dyer, slouched
back in the shadow watching his
great honest superior as a crafty,
dainty cat might watch the blunder-
tngs Of st. Bernard. Dyer had a pre-
else little black mustache, whose ends
he was constantly twisting into points;
black eyebrows, and long, effeminate,
black lashes. The two men conversed
in short, elliptical sentences. using
| many technical terms.
"That seventeen white pine is going
to underrun," said Dyer. ''It won't
skid over 3,OOO."
"1ts small stuff" agreed Railway,
"and so much the worse for us. But
the company II stand in on it, because
small stuff like that always overruns
on the mill CUT
The scaler nodded comprehension.
"When are you going to dry haul
that Norway across Pike lake?'
Tomorrow. She springs, but the
book says five inches of ice will hold
q team, and there's more than that.
How much are we putting in day
now?"
"About 100000"
| Railway fell silent.
''That's mighty little for such a
crew." he observed at last doubtfully.
II always said you were too easy
with them. You got to drive them
more"
"Well, it's rough country" apollo
gtzed Railway, trying, as was his Gus
tom, to find excuses for the other par
ty as soon as he was agreed with in
his blame. There's any amount of
pot holes, and then we've had so much
snow the ground amt really froze I'M
derneath. 1t gets pretty soft in some
OF them swamps. Can't figure on put
ting up as much in this country as we
used to down on the Muskegon.''
The scaler smiled thin smile all to
himself behind the stove. Dyer knew
perfectly we'll that the work was be-
hind, and he knew the reason. For
some time the men had been relaxing
their efforts. They had worked hon
estly enough, but certain snap and
vim had lacked This was because
Railway had been too easy with them.
Your true lumber jack adores of all
things in creation man whom he
feels to be stronger than himself If
his employer is big enough to drive
him. then he is willing to be driven to
the last ounce of his strength. But
once he gets the notion that his "boss"
is afraid of or for him or his feelings
or his health, he loses interest in his
working for that man. AS you value
your authority, the love of your men
and the completion Of your work. keep
a bluff brow and an unbending single
ness of purpose.
Thorpe had already commented on
the feeling among the men. though.
owing to his inexperience, he was not
able to estimate it's full value. The
men were inclined to a semiapologetic
air when they spoke Of their connec-
ton with the camp. Instead of being
honored as one Of series Of jobs this
seemed to be considered as merely
temporary halting place in which they
took no pride and from which they
looked forward in anticipation or back
In memory to better things.
"Old Shearer, he's the bully boy
said Bob stratton. II remember when
he was foreman Of NJ. & D. at Camp
o. Saw-we did hustle them saw logs
in! should rise to remark! Out in
the woods by first streak of day. re
call one mornin' she was pretty cold.
and the boys grumbled some about turn
in out. Cold says Tim. you sons of
guns! You got your chico. It may be
too cold for you in the woods. but it's
q blame sight too hot for you in hades.
and you're goin' to one or the other!'
And he meant it too. Them was great
days! Forty million year and not a
hitch!"
The next morning Railway trans
ferred Molly and Jenny. with little Fa
bian Laveque and two Of the younger
men. to Pike lake. There earlier in
the season number Of pines had been
.felled out on the ice. cut in logs and
left in expectation Of ice thick enough
to bear the travoy 'dray." Owing to
tie fact that the shores Of Pine lake
were extremely PERCEPTIONS It had been
inpossible to travoy ths loss up over
IL HUI.