River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-09


body of the woods and connect Ar
cher with Turtle Junction. Durham,
the gray old timber fox that had
charge of that bureau, sent for the
representatives of the Badger. Lum-
Der company. and of Findlay &
Brother. Cardiff and Findlay, the rep
resentatives, came the next morning to
Dunham's Office.
Now, boys" he said as the rivals
glowered at each other through the
smoke Og, Seeing that we are all
here together we might as well drop
sentiment and have a little medicine
talk The S. &s w wants those ties
at bedrock price, and it wants them
as soon as man can deliver them.
What are your figures, Cardiff?"
Thirty thousand dollars, SAID
Cardiff, as he thieved a quick glance
at his rival from across the Mantle
wish
And yours, John?"
"TwGnty-five thousand"
"Then I'll call it twenty-five thou
sand. too" responded Cardiff, prompt
ly. Externally Durham remained
cool, but internally he was agloW
with warm, glad smile.
well, 1 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, Mr.. Car
diff"
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
breakup comes" Findlay sat looking
at them In grim silence, and Durham,
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 course, which
one of you gets the contract makes no
difference to me. But inasmuch as Mr..
Cardiff spoke first and Mr.. Findlay can't
better the bid | suppose might as we'll
let Cardiff"
Hold on" broke in Findlay as his
law suddenly thrust itself out. IF give
you a $4,000 bond that l will deliver
those ties at Archer, March LIST, 30 days
before Mr. Cardiff's date, do get that
contract?"
Durham glanced at Cardiff, and Car
diff, staring stupidity at his rival, said
nothing at all. So, presently, Durham
answered Eyes" and at that word Find
lay arose.
So, with that the incident ended, and
John Findlay strobe away, as many an
other victor has done, his heart thump-
ing triumphantly and mis- 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 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,
land that is to build an ice road from
Camp 8 to Archer. When l fixed the
date with Durham l thought you and 1
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 to call him-and, of course, as
our luck would have it, 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'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. 1t 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 it. AS for the men
who worked under him during that
frenzied period, they cursed him with
out fntermission while the work was
going on, and are still Dragging about
having had hand and foot in it.
OF course it seems incredible, but it
is astonishing how much 20 hard-driven
men and 20 good teams can do in three
weeks when they work Is hours day.
The road was finished on the oath OF
December, and it was a good thing to
look at.
Christmas morning came clear and
bitterly cold. Heavy feet crunched the
brittle snow without the cook shop of
lamp 5, 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 lurched 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 and spoke:
bah, you man from Chill Cat Like
a dog you work us in re cold to make
re cursed ice road Like loup garou
you drive us and swing your cant-hook
man, follow along with me, Joe Lebeau.
and will show you joy. We will drink,
we will dance. we will make ridicule.
Come with Joe Lebeau."
Ont info tho oman dir ho cua conrnh