Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-11
CHAPTER xI.

to 1horpe noFpe hheu lne
boy because he was open heart
ed. free from atfectation, assumptiye
of no superiority-in short, because he
was direct and sincere. Wallace. on
his part. adored in Thorpe the free,
open air life, the adventurous quality.
the quiet. hidden power, the resource
fulness and the self sutticiency of the
pioneer. He did anything at all. He
accepted Thorpe for what he thought
him to be rather than for what he
might think him to be.
Little by little the eager questions
of the youth extracted full statement
of the situation. He learned of the
timber thieves up the river, of their
present operations and their probable
plans. of the valuable pine lying still
unclaimed. of Thorpes stealthy raid
into the enemy's country.
"Why. it's great! It's better than any
book ever readf'
He wanted to know what he could do
to help.
Nothing except keep quiet" replied
Thorpe. You mustn't try to act any
different If the men from up river
come by, be just as cordial to them as
you can and don't act mysterious and
important"
"All right" agreed Wallace, bubbling
with excitement. "And then what do
you do-after you get the timber esti-
mated?"
TIL go south and try, quietly, to
raise some money. That will be diff
cult because, you see people don't know
me. and am not in position to let
| them look over the timber. OF course
| It will be merely question of my
| judgment They can so themselves to
the lana ONCE ana pay rnrIr money.
There won't be any chance OF my max
Ing way with that. The investors will
become possessed Of certain 'descrip-
tons lying in this country. all right
| enough. The rub is, VIII they have
enough confidence in me and my judg-
ment to believe the timber to be what
I represent it?"
| II See" commented Wallace, sudden
ly grave.
|
a crisp decision new to his voice, "will
you take little walk with me down
by the dam? I want to talk with
you"
They strolled to the edge of the bank
and stood for a moment looking at the
swirling waters.
Il want you to tell me oil about log
ging," began Wallace. Start from the
beginning. Suppose, for instance-what
would be your first mover
They sat side by side on log. and
Thorpe explained. The excitement OF
war was in it. When he had finished.
/ Wallace drew q deep breath.
when am home" said he simply,
II live in big house on the Lake
Shore drive. 1t is heated by steam and
lighted by electricity. l touch but
ton or turn screw and at once l am
4 lighted and warmed. At certain hours
meals are served me. don't know
how they are cooked or where the ma
terials come from. Since leaving col
lege have spent little time down
town every day, and then I've played
golf or tennis or ridden horse in the
park. We do little limitations of the
real thing with blue ribbons tied to
them and think we are camping or
roughing it. This life Of yours Is glo-
rious, is vital; it means something III
the march of the world"
The young fellow spoke with unex-
pected swiftness and earnestness.
Thorpe looked at him in surprise.
II know what you are thinking
said the boy, flushing. You are sur
prised that / can be in earnest about
anything
Thorpe watched him with sympa-
thetic eyes. but with lips that obsti-
nately refused to say one word.
II left college at nineteen because
/ my father died." Wallace went on. Il
] am now just twenty-one. A large es-
/ tate descended to me, and have had
to care for its investment all alone. !
have one sister: that is all"
$50 have In' cried Thorpe and stop
ped.
THE estates have not suffered" went
on the boy simply. II have done well
with them. But" he cried fiercely, Il
hate it! 1t is petty and mean and wor-
rying and nagging. Now, Harry, !
have a proposal to make you. 1t is this;
You need $4,000 to buy your land. Let
me supply it and come in as half part
ner."
An expression of doubt crossed the
land lockers face.
ooh, pleasev' cried the boy. Il do
want to get in something real. 1t will
be the making Of me-"
"Now, see here" interposed Thorpe
suddenly. "You don't even know my
name"
II know you," replied the boy.
.My name is Harry Thorpe" pursued
the other. my father was Henry
Thorpe an embezzler."
Harry" replied Wallace soberly, u
am sorry made you say that. do not
care for your name, except, perhaps. to
put it in the articles Of partnership
and l have no concern with your an
cestry. tell you, it is favor to lei
me in on this deal. l don't know any
thing about numbering, but I've got
eyes. l can see that big timber stand
ing up thick and tall. and know PEG
pie make profits in the business"
Thorpe considered few moments IL
silence.
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