The Yale expositor., 1905-01-27


perslstency wnlcn was onIy an outward
indication of the persistency with
which their minds held to the work In
hand. Tim, the older at the business.
showed this trait more strongly than
Thorpe. The old man thought Of moth
Ing but logging. Nothing was too small
10 escape his deliberate scrutiny. Moth
Ing was in so perfect state that 1t did
not bear one more inspection. He
played the logging as chess player
his game.
In the mems camp the crew lounged,
smoked. danced or played cards. In
those days no one thought of forbid
ling gambling. One evening Thorpe
who had been too busy to remember
PhiPs violin, strolled over and looked
through the window. A dance was In
progress. The men were waltzlng,
whirling solemnly round and round,
gripping firmly each others loose
sleeves just above the elbow. At every
third step of the waltz they stamped
one foot.
Perched on a cracker box sat Phil.
His head was thrust forward almost
aggressively over his instrument, and
his eyes glared at the dancing men
with the old wolhike gleam. AS he
played he drew the bow across with n
swift 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 unconsciously
shuddered, then sighed in pity. 1t was
atrocious. 1t was not even in tune.
The performer seemed to grind it 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.
"Poor Philv' he said to himself. "IIe
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 crew
such as this is supremely effective it
requires careful handling to keep it
good humored and willing. He knew
every man by his first name and each
day made it 4 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-
tiOn or a request, but listened to it non
committally and later, without eXpla-
nation or reasoning. acted as his judg-
ment dictated. Even Shearer with
whom he was in most intimate contact,
respected this trait in him. Gradually
he came to feel that he was making a
way with his men. 1t was n status not
assured as yet nor ever very firm, but Il
status for all that.
Then one day one of the best men, a
teamster came in to make some objec-
tion to the cooking. AS a matter of
fact, the cooking was perfectly good,
but the lumber jack is a great hand to
growl, and he usually begins with his
food.
Thorpe listened to his vague objec-
tions in silence.
"All right" he remarked simply.
Next day he touched the man on the
shoulder just as he was starting to
work.
f,ta ~ Onn
time" said he.
whats the matter" asked the man
81 don't need you any longer"
The two entered the little office
Thorpe looked through the ledger and
van book and finally handed the man
his slip.
"Pll have no GROWERS in this camp,
said Thorpe, with decision.
"By thunder" cried the man, ''you"-
"You get out of herep' cried Thorpe
with q concentrated blaze of energetic
passion that made the fellow step back
81 amt goin' to get on the wrong
side of the law by foolin' with thi:
Office" cried the other at the door, "bu
! If / had you outside for q minute
| Leave IDlS OluCe. SnOuIeu thorpe
"S'pose you make meP challenged
the man insolently.
In moment the defiance had come
endangering the careful structure
Thorpe had reared with such pains
The young man was suddenly angry il
exactly the same blind, unreasoninl
manner as when he had leaped single
handed to tackle Dyer's crew.
Without a word he sprang across th'
shack. seized a two bladed ak from the
pile behind the door, swung it AROUND
his head and cast it full at the nov
frightened teamster. The latter lodged
and the swirling steel buried itself il
the snow bank beyond. Without an in
stants hesitation Thorpe reached bacl
for another. The man took TO hi
heels.
81 don't want to see you around herr
again. shouted Thorpe after him.
Then i'm moment he returned to th'
office and sat down, overcome with con
triton.
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