The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-11-06

tract or Wnlte pine. In Que time, as
Crothers did not liquldate, the firm be-
came 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 communlca-
ton 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 force2 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 lib her." said Tim
promptly.
"who would be hired at any price
to go up in that country on a ten mile
haulI" demanded DAILY skeptically.
Jest one man." replied Tim, IAN I
know where to find him"
He returned with an individual at
the sight of whom the partners glanc-
ed toward each other in doubt and
dismay. But there seemed no help for
II. A contract was drawn up in which
the firm agreed to pay SO a thousand,
merchantable scale, for all saw logs
banked at a rOllway to be situated a
given number of miles from the forks
Of Cass branch, while on his side
James BouCke, better known as the
Rough Red, agreed to put in at least
three and a half million feet. After
the latter had scrawled his signature
he lurched from the office, softly rub
bling his hairy freckled hand where
the pen had touched it.
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. Who are we going 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 big. broad
faced man with eyes far apart and a
bushy red beard. He wore a dingy
mackinaw coat. a dingy black and
white checked flannel shirt. dlngy blue
trousers tucked into high socks and
lumberman's rubbers. The only spot
Of color in his costume was the fam
ing red sash of the vOyageur which he
passed twice around his waist When
at work his little wide eyes flickered
with a baleful wicked light his huge
voice beloved through the woods I'm a
torrent of imprecatiOns and COM
mands, his splendid muscles swelled
yisibly even under his loose blanket
coat as he wrenched suddenly and
saVagely at some mans stubborn cant
book stock. A hint of reluctance or OPP
position brought his fist to the mark
with irresistible impact Then he
would pluck his victim from the snow
and kick him to work, with a savage
lest that raised a laugh from every
oody-excepting the object Of it.
In the work was little system. but
much efficrcy. The men gambled.
frank fought without word of pro-
test from their leader With an Ordi-
nary crew such performances would
lave meant slight accomplishment, but
.hese wild Irishmen with their blood
Ihot eyes their ready jests their
equally ready fists plunged into the
business Of banking logs with all the
abandon Of a carOuse-and the work
was done.
Law I'm that wilderness was not,
saving that which the Rough Red
.hose to administer. Except in one
Instance, penalty more severe than
beating thee was none, for the men
sould not equal their leader in break
ing the greater and lesser laws of
morality. The one instance was that
pf young Barney Mallan, who, while
drunk, mishandled a horse so severely
rs to lame It, Him the Rough Red
called to formal account.
Don't We know that horses can't be
had?" be demanded, singularly enough
without an oath. "Come here"
The man approached. With single
powerful blow of a starting bar the
Rough Red broke his tibia.
TRY tn lameness yerself," said the
Rough Red grimly.
On Thanksgiving day the entire
place went on prolonged drunk.
rhe Rough Red distinguished himself
BY rolling the round stove through the
ioor into the snow. He was badly
burned in accomplishing this delicate
lest, but minded the smart no more
han he did the Gdmiring cheers Of his
maudlin but cumulative mates FitZ
Patrick extinguished a dozen little
Tres that the Goals had started, shifted
he intoxicated Mallan's leg out Of the
hanger Of some ones falling on It, and
departed from that roaring hell hole
% the fringe OF the solemn forest. And
mis- brings us to Fitz Patrick.
Fitz Patr * was q tall, slow man