Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-18


mains were wrapped in canvas and
sent for interment to the cemetery ut
Marquette. Three of the others were
never found. The last did not come to
light until after the drive had quite fin
ishcd.
Down at the booms the jam crew
received the drive as fast as it came
down. From one crib to another across
the broad extent of the rivers mouth
heavy booIns were chained end TO end
effectually TO close the exit 10 Lake
Superior Against these the logs car
omed softly in the slackened current
and stopped. The cribs were very
heavy. with slanting instead of square
tops. in order that the pressure might
be downward instead of sidewise. In
short time the surface of the lagoon
was covered by brown carpet Of logs
running in strange patterns Ike wind
rows of fallen grain. The drive was
all but over.
Up till now the weather had been
clear but opprcssively hot for this
time of year. The heat had come sud
denly and maintained itself well. The
men had worked for the most part in
undershirts. They were as much in
the water as out OF it, for the icy bath
had become almost grateful. Hamil-
ton, the journalist. who had attached
himself definitely to the drive, distrib-
uted lunches of papers, in which the
men read that the unreasonable cond-
tons prevailed all over the country.
At length. however. it gave signs OF
breaking The sky which had been of
a steel blue harbored great piled thun-
der heads. Toward evening the thun-
der heads shifted and finally dissipat-
ed. to be sure. but the portcnt was
there.
Hamilton's papers began to tell OF
washoNts and cloudbursts in the south
and west. Tho men wished they had
some of that water here.
So finally the drive approached its
end and all concerned began in autici-
patton to taste the WEAKNESS that
awaited them. The few remaining
tasks still confronting them al! ut once
seemed moro Formidable than what
they lad accomplished. The work for
the first time became logged. distastc-
full Even Thorpe was infected. He,
too. wanted more than anything else
10 dron on he bed in Mrs. Uathaway's
boarding house. There remained but
Il fow things 10 do. y mile Of sackins
would carry the drive beyond the in
tucnce OF freShet water. After that
there would le no hurry.
lie looked round at the hard. fatigue
worn faces of The men about him. and
''h I"r tl,--' cuhlIa"eS VINO h"" $" un-
I'f'FNrl.Y spent themselves l"r MS ~
l'lr' h'F I'".ui'S showed oNhauN-
uoI'' IL l. true ou' lhoir eyes cleaned
SUI WIN t'' Sl"otN' nan humorous
purpose OF III" pioneer. w hen lhcy
caV%lt ms glance tH'y Grnned good
humoreoly.
All at once Thorpe turned ana start
eu Tor the pank.
THAT III do, boys he said quietly TO
the nearest group shes down.
1t was noon. The sackers looked up
an surprise. Behind Them to their very
Ieet' rusned 'he solt smooth slope or
iehIock rapios' below thehl moved n
proau, peace1ui river Inc drive mad
possea us last opst'uct'on' 10 all IN
tents ana purposes II was over
'aiihly' WIN matter OF TACT nlrect-
ness as lnoueh they mao not achleVed
Tic i'nPoSslpie' 'hey siiouiuercd 'helr
peaVeys ana struck INTO the proad wag-
on ROAD. In the middle distance ioomeh
inc tall stacN" OF inc null WIN inc IN
lie Do"'" 'o"h "pou' H. Across nv eye
spun IT," AssaG Of the railroad. Ear
away tieamed the broad eXpanses OF
Lake Superior.
The men paired off naturally and fell
into dragging, logged walk. Thorpe
found himself unexpectedly with Big
Junko. For time they plodded on
without conversation, Then the big
man venlhred remark.
I'm glad she's over" said he. Il got
good stake comm
yes" replied Thorpe indifferently.
Il got most $500 comm" persisted
Junko,
might as well be GOO cents com
mented Thorpe. at d make you Just
as drunk"
Big JuHlo laughed self consciously,
but without the slightest resentment.
"Thats all right" said he, "but you
betcher life | don't blow this stake"