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

unpaluteu, WIFI always Tue uaiA' aiiSii
acing fringe OF the forest behind. The
great sawinilI, with it's tall stacks and
its rows of water barrels protection
against iire--on top, was the DOMINANT
note. Near the mill coughed little
red painted structure from whose stove
pipe column of white smoke arose,
attesting the cold, clear hundred feet
straight upward, and to whose door
number OF men were directing their
steps through the snow. Over the door
| Thorpe could distinguish the word vi
fee" He followed and entered.
In a narrow aisle rallied off from the
main part of the room waited Thorpe's
companions of the night before. The
remainder of the Office gave accommo-
dalton to three clerks. One of these
glanced up inquiringly as Thorpe came
! in.
81 am looking for work." said Thorpe.
| "Wait there" briefly commanded the
clerk.
4 In a few moments the door OF the
inner room opened and Shearer came
out A mans head peered from within.
( "Come on. boys" said he.
| The five applicants shuffled through.
! Thorpe found himself In the presence
! Of man whom he felt to be the natu-
/; ral leader of these wild, independent
spirits. He was already a little past
middle life, and his form had lost the
elastic vigor of youth. But his eye
! was keen. clear and wrinkled to GER
tain dry Righteousness, and his figure
| was of that bulk which gives an i'm
! preston of sabtler weight and power
/ than the merely physical. You felt his
| superiority even when he was most
| comradely with you. This man Thorpe
was to meet under other conditions,
wherein the steel hand would more
plainly clink the metal.
| He was now seated in worn office
| chair before Uttered desk. In the
| close air hung the smell of stale cigars
ard the clear fragrance of pine.
.sWhat is it, Dennis:" he asked the
/ first of the men.
i've been out" replied the lumber
man. Have you got anything for me,
| Mr.. Daly!"
! The mill owner laughed.
81 guess so. Report to Shearer. Did
you vote for the right man, DennyY
The lumberman grinned sheepishly.
81 don't know, sir. didn't get that
far
Better let 1T alone. / suppose you
| and Bill want to come back too|' he
| added turning to the next two in line.
"All right: report to Tim. Do you
| want work." lie inquired OF the last OF
the quartet. big, bashful man, with
the shoulders of Hercules.
Eyes. sir" answered the latter, un-
comfortable.
What do you want?"
I'm cant hook man. sir"
'Where have you workedy'
81 had job with Morgan & Steb-
bins on the Clear river last winter"
"All right; we need cant hook men.
Report at seven, and IL they don't
want you there go to thirteen"
The man went out. DAILY turned to
Thorpe with the last fickers OF amuse-
ment in his eyes.
"What can | do for your" he in
quired.
81 am looking for work." Thorpe re-
piled.
What kind of work?'
'>Any kind, so long as l can learn
something about the lumber business"
| The older man studied him keenly for
/ n few moments
Have you had any other business
experience?
"None."
"What have you been doing?"
"Nothing."
| The lumbermans eyes hardened.
| 1--WE are very busy firm here" he
said, with certain deliberation. I'VE
do not carry big force OF men in any
one department. and each OF those men
has to fill his place and slop some over
| the sides. We do not pretend or at
tempt to teach here II you want to
be a lumberman you must learn the
| lumber business more directly than
through the windows of bookkeepers
office. Go into the woods. Learn few
first principles. Find out the differ
ence between Norway and white pine
anyway"
After his speech the business man
whirled back to his desk.
"Have you anything for me to do In
the woods, then?" the other asked
quietly.
NO" said DAILY over his shoulder.
Thorpe went out. He had made the
elementary discovery that even in chop
ping wood skilled labor counts. lie
did not know where to turn next, ana
he would not have had the money to
go far in any case; So although Shear
er's brusaue greeting that morning had
argued lack of cordiality, he resolved
to remind the river man of his prom
Used assistance.
| That noon he carried out his resolve.
go up and tackle Railway" said
Shearer Hes tJebbinS for US on the
Cass branch. He needs' men for road
ing, know, because he's behind. You'll
get job there"
"Where is it?" asked Thorpe.