The Monticellonian., 1906-08-09

superior X Western railroad had ue 7ided to sink spur dcep into the body Bf the woods and connect Ar sher with Turtle Junction. Dunhams thc gray old timber faX that had charge uf That bureau. sent for tine representatives of the Badger Lgm- Der company. and of Findiay & Brother Curdin and Findlay the rep feseHtativea. came the next morning to Dunham's office.
 Now. boys" he said as the rivals glowered al each other through the smoke fog. seeing that we are all here together we might as well drop sentiment and have a little medicine talk The $. X ". wants those ties at bedrock price. and it wants them as soon as man can deliver them. What are your figures, Cardiff2'
 Thirty thousand dollars said Cardin. as he thieved quick glance at his rival from across the Manito- wish
 Aid yours. John2"
 Twenty-Five thousand"
 Then Ill call it twenty five thou sand too. responded Cardiff, prompt ly. Externally Dunham remained cool. but internally he was aslow with warm. glad smile
 Well, guess the price is near enough right. boys. if we can only get together on the question Of de- livery. Of course, it is understood that time is the essence of this con tract When can you deliver those ties in our yards at Archer MT. Car. diff2
 The black brows Of the Badger repre- sentative contracted as he gaZed deep into the silent woods Between April 1st and 10th. depending on how soon the break-up comes" Findlay sat looking at them in grim silence. and Durham, after giving him plenty of time Tn which fo make bid husked a dry cough from his voice and went on thouehtfully:
 Pretty late. but l don't suppose can ask you to deliver them by airship at those figures Our minds have met as to the price. and. of course, which one of you gets the contract makes no difference to me. But inasmuch as Mir Cardifl spoke first and Mir Findlay can't better the bid suppose l might as well let Cardiff .
 Hold on. broke in Findlay as his jaw suddenly thrust Itself out. If give you q s50.eoo bond that l will deliver those ties at Archer March list, 30 days before Mr Gardiffs date. do get that contraet?"
 Dunham glanced at Cardiff, and Car din. staring stupidly at his riNa. said nothing at all So. presently. nnnham answered yes, and at that word Find lay arose.
 Sc. with that the incident ended. and John Findlay strode away, as many an- other victor has done. his heart thump- ing trinmphantly and his brain sick with fear.
 Long and bitter had been the fight that he and his half invalid brother Joe had waged in those cold north woods. and to lose out now spelled rum just as their star ef 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 an ice road from Camp to Archer. When l fixed the date with Dunham thought you and l could figure out route through this swamp and ridge country. but il seems that we cant make good. And there is only one man know who can and he is James Livingston Flint. White Horse, We used to call him-and. of course. as our luck would have it. he is way up in Alaska country somewhere But III going after him. HI be back before the first of December and I'll bring him with me. alive If possible. but anyway I'll bring him. I'd rather have Flint dead than any other man in 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 Ftndlay 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 night while he did it. As for the men who worked under him during that trenzied period. they cursed him with out iNtermissiou while the work was going on. and are still hraggiug about having had hand and foot in it.
 Of course il seems incredible. but t is astonishing how much . hard-driven men and % good teams can do i'll three weeks when they work lS hours ii day. The road was finished on the 9ath ot December. and it was good thing n book at.
 Christmas morning came clear and bitterly cold. Heavy feet crunched the brittle snow without the cook shop af amp S. and at the first sound White Horse thrust a heavy, automatic pistol into his pocket and then leaned in dolently against the logs with his hands buried deeply in his pocket,
 The next instant the door WAS burst open and in lurehed body of woods men who. erowding into the corners of the cabin. left the center of the floor empty. while Lebeau. who led them stepped forward and spoke:
 Bah. you man from Chill Cat Like dog you work us in ze cold 10 make 4e cursed ice road Like loup garou you drive us ani swing your cAnt-h hook when Ee moon shine Come, you. every man follow along with me. Joe Lebeau. and will show you joy. Ne will drink. We will dance We will make ridirule