The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

n MI MOFIlSon q Daly OF Sag1-
nav. but then numbering at
Beeson Lake, lent some money
10 man named Crothers, TAX
ing in return a mortgage on what was
known as the Crothers tract Of white
pine. In due time, as Crothers did not
liquidate, the firm became possessed of
this tract. They hardly knew what TO
do with it,
The timber was situated some fifty
miles from the railroad in a country
that threw all sorts of difficulties
across the logger's path and had to be
hauled from nine to fifteen miles to
the river Both Morrison and DAILY
groaned in spirit. Supplies would have
TO be toted in TO last the entire winter,
for when the snow came, communica-
tion over fifty miles of forest road
would be as good as cut off. Whom
could they trust among the lesser fore
men Of their woods force? Whom
could they spare among the greater?
At this Juncture they called to them
Tim Shearer, their walking boss and
the greatest riverman in the State.
You'll have to job her." said Tim
promptly.
who would be hired at any price to
go up in that country on a ten-mile
haul?" demanded DAILY skeptically.
Jest one man." replied Tim, AN 1
know where TO find him
He returned with an individual at
the sight of whom the partners glanced
toward each other in doubt and dis
may. But there seemed to be no help
for X. A contract was drawn up in
which the firm agreed to pay Sc a
thousand, merchantable scale, for ali
sawlogs banked at a rOllway to be sit
uated a given number of miles from
the forks Of Cass branch; while on his
side James Bourke, better known as
the Rough Red" agreed to put in at
least 3.50O,OOO feet.
THAT means a crew of wild Irish
men, said Morrison.
And that means they'll just slaugh-
ter the pine" added Daily. They'll
saw high and crooked, they'll chuck the
tops-xho are we gcing TO send TO
scale for 'em?"
Morrison sighed. 81 hate to do it;
there's only Fitz can make it 60"
So then they called to them another
Of their best men, named Fitz Patrick,
and sent him away alone to protect the
firms interests in the depths Of the
wilderness.
The Rough Red was a big broad
faced man, with eyes far apart and a
bushy red beard. He wore a dingy
nacknaw coat, q dingy black and
white checked flannel shirt, dingy blue
trousers, tucked into high socks and
lumberrnRn's rubbers. The only spot of
color in mis- costume was the flaming
red sash OF the voyageur which he
passed twice around his waist When
at work his little wide eyes ffickered
with balcful wicked light, his huge
voice beloved through the woods in
torrent Of 1mprecations and commands,
his splendid muscles swelled visibly
even under his loose blanket coat, as he
wrenched suddenly and savagely at
some mans stubborn cant-hook stock
A hint Of reluctance or opposition
brought his fist to the mark with ire
sstible impact. Then he would pluck
his victim from the snow and kick him
TO work with a savage jest that raised
q laugh from everybody-excepting the
object Of it.
At night he stormed back through the
forest at the head Of his band, Shrek
ing wild blasphemy at the silent night,
irreverent, domineering, bold, with a
certain tang Of Irish good nature that
made him the beloved Of Irishmen.
In the work was little system, but
much efficacy. The men gambled,
drank. fought, without a word Of pro-
test from their leader. With an ordi-
nary crew such performances would
have meant slight accomplishment, but
these wild Irishmen, with their blood
shot eyes, their ready jests. their
equally ready fists, plunged into the
business of banking logs with all the
abandon of a carouse-2nd the work
was d9ne-