The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-11-23

L JO0 ~NA DAoAA hAA4p d1A CAIJs LIT y OulY
bad when he gets full Of red Iikker;
and Norton, he's bad when he gets
mad like. and will use axes"
Thorpe did not know he was getting
| valuable points on the camp DULLES.
At dark the old man lit two lamps.
which served dimly to gloze the shad-
ows, and thrust logs of wood into the
cast iron stove. Soon after. the men
came in. They were a queer, mixed
| lot. There were active, clear built,
precise Frenchmen, with small hands
and feet and peculiarly trim way of
wearing their rough garments; typical
native born American lumber Jacks.
powerful in frame, rakish in air, reck-
less in manner; big blond Scandina-
VANS and Swedes, strong men at the
J saving; an Indian or so, strangely in
contrast to the rest, and a variety Of
Irishmen, Englishmen and Canadians.
These men tramped in without a word
and set busily to work at various tasks.
Some sat on the deacon seat" and be-
gan to take off their socks and rub
bers. Still others selected and lit lam
terms from pendant row near the
window and followed old Jackson out
Of doors. They were the teamsters.
you'll find the old man in the office I"
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 Iounged
bulkier figure, which Thorpe con-
cluded to be that of the 'old man."
Il was sent here by Shearer," said
Thorpe directly. "He said you might
| give me some work"
So long a silence fell that the appli-
cant began to wonder If his question
had been heard.
II might" replied the man dryly at
last.
swell, will your Thorpe inquired,
the humor of the situation overcoming
| him..
"Haye you ever worked in the woods?'
"No."
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 founter. The writer at
the desk laid aside his tablets.
"What is ii, AlbertY' 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,
Albert" he commented, putting the
mans name and the amount in O 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 a much briefer
affair than 1t 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 be
| wanted.
please pass the BEANS" he said,
with the deliberate intonation of q
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.
~ of the crude fare
That evening he underwent cate
chism, few practical jokes, which be
took good naturally, and a 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, be
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 a 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 q faint, musical halo swelled,
echoed and died through the forest,
beautiful as a spirit. 1t was taken up
by another voice and repeated. Then
By another. Now near at hand, now
far away, il rang as hollow as a bell.
The sawyefs, 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
i A.. 1aoI,;,,l kbo I;4kIo .1-oaoerf1y, f+ar