Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-17

~ had established itself, and all
| was going well.
The first move of the M. & d. com
pany had been one of Cancellation.
| Thorpe was approached by the walking
] boss CT the camps up river. Inc man
did not pretend any hypocritical friend
ship for the younger firm. His propo-
sition was entirely one Of mutual ad-
vantage. The company had gone TO
considerable expense in constructing
| the pier Of stone cribs. 1t would be
| impossible for the steamer to land at
any other point. Thorpe had undisput-
Ell possession of the shore, but the com
pany could as indisputably remove tho
dock. Let it stay where it was. Both
| COMPANIES could then use it for theiI
mutual convenience. To this Thorpe
agreed.
| The actual logging was opening up
we'll. Both Shearer and Thorpe agreed
| that it would not do to be too ambitious
4 the first year. They set about clearing
| their banking ground about half mile
below the first dam. and during the six
weeks before snowfall cut three short
roads Of half mile each. APPROX
matnly 100000 feet would be put In
from these roads. which could be ex-
tended in years to come, while another
million could be travoyed directly to
the landing from It's immediate vicinity.
| "lvext year." said Tim, well get In
90, 100000. That railroad III get along
/ {ha, III hQ
plenty"
i Through the lengthening evenings
they sat crouched on wooden boxes
either side Of the stove, conversing
rarely, gazing at enc spot with steady
persistency which was only an outward
| Indication Of tile persistency with
which their minds held to the work in
| hand Tim, the older at the business.
| showed this trail: more strongly than
Thorpe. The old man thought Of moth
| Ing but logging. Nothing was too small
| to escape his deliberate scrutiny. Moth
| ing was in SO perfect state that It did
not bear one more inspection. He
| played the logging as chess player
his game.
| LII Tic iucu . Sdnp ihS view AOuhSSCA,
smoked, danced or played cards. In
those days no one thought of forbid
/ ding gambling One evening Thorpe
| who had been too busy to remember
| Phirs violin, strolled over and looked
| through the window. A dance was in
| progress. The men were walt
/ whirlng snlemnly round and rou
I ,1r- rh al lDl,
1 sleeves, Just above the elbow. AT eve
1 third step of the waltz they stamp
ono foot.
Perched on cracker box sat Phi
| Ills head was thrust forward aiuGs
aggressively over his instrument, All
lis eyes glarei at the dancing me
with the old wolflike CLEAN. AS h
/ played he drew the bow across with u
Gwift Jerk, thrust it back with another,
threw his shoulders from one side to
The other in abrupt time to the MUSIC.
And the music! Thorpe unconsciousy
shuddered, then sighed in pity. 1t was
| ntrocious. 1t was not even in tune.
1 The performer seemed to grind 1t out
with fierce delight. in which appear
ed little of the aesthetic pleasure of
/ the artist. Thorpe was at a loss to de-
| fine it.
1 "Poor Philw he said to himself. He
has the musical soul without even the
musical ear"
Next day. while passing out, of the
cook camp, he addressed one of the
! men.
"Well, Billy" he inquired, "how do
| you like your fiddler"
"All right" replied Billy, with en-
| phasis. she's got some go to her.
The work proceeded finely, and yet
the young. lumberman had sense
enough to know that while a crew
such as this is supremely effective it
requires careful handling to keep it
good humore1 and willing. He knew
every man by his first name and each
day made it point to talk with him
for moment or so. The subject was
invariably some phase of the work.
Thorpe never permitted himself the ia
miliarity Of introducing any other topic.
He never replied directly to an objec-
ton or request but listened to it non
committally and later without expla-
nation or reasoning. acted as his judg-
ment dictated. Even Shearer, with
4 whom he was in most intimate contact,
respected this trait in him. Gradually
! he came to feel that he was making q
| way with h; men. 1t was d status not
assured as yet nor ever very firm, but u
status for all that.
Then one day one of the best men, a
teamster came in to make some objec-
ton to the cooking. As a matter of
fact, the cooking was perfectly good,
but the lumber jack is great hand to
growl, and lie usually begins with his
food
Thorpe listened to his vague objec-
tons in silence.
"All right" he remarked simply.
Next day he touched the man on the
shoulder just as he was starting to
work.
"Step into the Office and get your
time" said he.
whats the matter" asked the man.
II don't ID I'd you any longer"
The two entered the little office.
Thorpe looked through the ledger and
van book and finally handed the man
his slip.
"Ill have no GROWERS in this camp"