Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-24

OJlDWdy. we Calleu Qllu luJuu SudIles.
He was my first friend in the north
woods. He helped me get my timber
This spring he killed mana good
job, too-and is hiding now. 1 wish
knew where he is. But We'll see him
some day. He'll come back when the
thing blows over. See! See"
''What" they all asked, breathless.
ITS gone. Over beyond the hills
there caught glimpse of Superior"
''You are ridiculous, Harry" protest
ed Helen Thorpe laughingly. II never
saw you so. You are regular boy"
do you like boys?" he asked grayely |
of Hilda.
"Adore them!" she cried.
Gall right; don't care" he answered
his sister in triumph.
The air brakes began to make them
selves felt, and shortly the train came
to grinding stop.
"What station is this:" Thorpe asked
the colored porter.
"Shingleville, sah,' the latter replied.
II thought so. Wallace, when did
their mill burn, anyway? l haven't
heard about it,"
Last spring, about the time you
went down."
SIS that so? How did it happen?"
"They claim incendiarism," parried
Wallace cautiously.
Thorpe pondered moment, then
laughed. 81 am in the mixed attitude
of the small boy" he observed. who
isn't wicked enough to wish anybody's
property destroyed. but who wishes
| that if there is fire, to be where he
can see it, l am sorry those fellows
had to lose their mill, but it was a
good thing for us. The man who set
that fire did us a good turn. If it
hadn't been for the burning of their
mill they would have made stronger
fight against us in the stock market"
Wallace and Hilda exchanged
glances. The girl was long since aware
Of the inside history of those days.
! you'll have to tell them that" she
whispered over the back of her seat
sit will please them"
"Our station is next!'' cried Thorpe
"and it's only little ways. Come
get ready"
They all crowded into the narrow
passageway near the door, for the trair
barely paused.
"All right, sah.' said the porter
swinging down his little step.
Thorpe ran down to help the ladies
He was nearly taken from his feet b.
a wildcat yell, and moment later tina
result was actually accomplished b.
a rush Of men that tossed him bodil.
) on to its shoulders. At the same me
ment the mill and tug whistles begal
, to screech and miscellaneous tirearm
! exploded. Even the locomotive engineer
, in the spirit of the occasion. leane
, down heartily on his whistle rop'
The sawdust street was filled wit
screaming, jostling men. The home
Of the town We're brilliantly drape
a with cheesecloth, flags and bunting.
> For moment Thorpe could not max
e out what had happened. This turmo
was SO different from the dead quiet {
desertion lie had expected that he We
:, unable to gather his faculties. A
!, about him were familiar faces upturl
: ed to his own He distinguished IL
;. broad, square shoulders of Scotty Pa
= sons, Jack Hyland, Kerlie, Bryan NJ
!, loney; Ellis grinned at him from II
press; Billy Camp, the fat and shin
drive cook; Mason, the foreman of I'll
mill; over beyond howled Solly, IL
:, tug captain; Rolway Charley, Short
the chore boy; everywhere were fe
lures that he knew.
% AS his dimming eyes travelled he
- and there, one by one the Eighth
- Forty. the best crew of men ever gat
:, cred in the northAnd, impressed thel
:. selves in his consciousness. On t
;, outskirts ssuntered the tail form
!, Tim Shearer, straw peeping from |
a meath his lax white mustache. his ey
- glimmering under his flax white ey
brows.
their burden on the raised platform
H. the Office steps. Thorpe turned a
he fronted the crowd.
rn At once pandemonium broke loose.
though the previous performance b
he been nothing but low voiced rehe
,r, sal.
lis "Oh. aren't you proud of him?' ga
ed Hilda, squeezing Helens arm W
he little sob.
cd In moment Wallace Carpenter,
20 countenance glowing with pride 6
en- pleasure, mounted the platform o
ad stood beside his friend, while Nor
ok. and the two young ladies stopped b
a way up the steps.
he At once the racket ceased. Ev
III. one stood at attention.
nj Mr. thorpe, wallace began,
an the request of your friends here. l. =.