The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-15

Wtnty-uNe thousand.
Then IN call 1t twenty 1--WE thou
SAINT. too, responded Cardiff, prompt
ly Externally Durham remained
cool, but internally he was aglow
with a warm. glad smile.
Wen, guess the price Is near
enough right, boys. II we can only
get together on the question OF de-
livery. OF course. it is understood
that time is the essence of this cor
tract When can you deliver those
ties in our yards at Archer, Mr.. Car
dlf?"
The black brows Of the Badger repre-
sentative contracted as he gazed deep
into the silent woods. Between April
ist and 10th. depending on how soon the
breakup comes" Findlay sat looking
at them in grim silence. and Dunham.
after giving him plenty OF time IN
which to make bid. husked dry
cough from his voice and went on
thoughtfully:
Pretty late, but | don't suppose
can ask you to deliver them by airship
at those figures Our minds have met
as to the price, and, Of comSe. which
one OF you gets the contract makes no
difference to me. But inasmuch as Mr
Cardiff spoke arst and Mir Findiay can't
better the bid suppose might as wen
let Cardiff"
Hold on, broke in Findlay as his
jaw suddenly thrust itself out III give
YOU $4,000 bond that will deliver
those ties at Archer. March list, 80 days
before Mr. Cardlh's date, do / get that
contract"
Dunham glanced at Cardiff. and car
ain. staring stupidity at his rival. said
nothing at all So presently, Dunham
answered yes, and at that word Find
lay arose
So. with that the incident ended, and
John Findlay strobe away. as many am
other victor has done. his heart thump-
ing triumphantly and mis- brain sick
with fear.
Long and bitter had been the Gs5t
that he and his half invalid brother joe
had waged in those cold north woods,
and to lose out now spelled ruin just
as their star OF hope was rising brightly
above the horizon.
"Of course, there is only one way TO
carry out that contract. Joe, said John,
"and that is to build aii ice road from
/ Camp 3 to Archer When | fixed the
date with Dunham | thought you and !
/ could figure out route through this
swamp and ridge country, but It seems
/ that we can't make good. And there Is
/ only one man know who can and he Is
James Livingston Flint. White Horse,
we used 10 call him-and, OF course. as
our luck would have Il, he is way up
In Alaska country somewhere, But I'm
going after him. I'll be back before
the first OF December and I'm bring him
with me- alive If possible. but anyway
IN bring him ia rather have Flint
dead than any other man Ia the PIN
cries alive"
So that night John Findlay packed
his grip and departed for the white
land. Il was way out Seminow way
that Findlay found his man.
White Horse built the road in lit
tie less than three weeks. but he only
slept on an average Of four hours a
night while he did t. AS for the men
who worked under him during ,hat
frenzled period. they cursed him with
out intermission while the work was
going on. and are still Dragging about
having had hand and foot in IT,
or course It seems incredible. but IL
is astonishing how much 20 hard-driven
men and 20 good teams can do in three
weeks when they work Is hours a day
The road was finished on the gath or
December, and II was a good thing to
look at
Christmas morning came clear and
bitterly cold. Heavy feet crunehed the
brittle snow without the cook shop of
amp 9. and at the first sound White
Horse thrust a heavy. automatic pistol
into his pocket and then leaned in
dOiently against the logs with his
hands buried deeply IN his pocket.
The next instant the door was burst
open and IN lurehed a body OF woods
men who. crowding into the corners OF
the cabin. left the center Of the floor
empty. while Lebeau. who led them.
stepped forward anu spoke;
Bah. you man from Chill Cat Like
dog you work us In ze cold 70 make
ne cursed ice road Like a loup garou
you drive us and swing your cant-hook
when ze moon shine Come, you. every
man, follow along With me. Joe Lebeau.
and | will show you Joy. We will drink.
we will dance. we viii make ridicuie.
Come with Joe Lebye i"
Out into the open air he swaggered,
his band behind him and White Horse
heard them go roaring down the ice
road with nearly the whole camp en-
train And as the last yell died away
the forehead OF the walking boss
wrlnkled like pool into which a pebble
Is tossed and tense lines bound his lips
closely togefher For he wall knpvy thar