The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-06


work, Then when tho last pow
mark had been made and the table
Ind been closed with n snap OF tiaN"
the Rough Red stepped forward
"Ye have finished with this ~
way?" asked the foreman IN soft g
tones.
81 have" answered FiE ratrl
briefly.
.Ye have forgot 20 scale one stick"
"No."
"Therc Is a stick still not marked
81 culled It."
"Why?"
"lt was not sawed straight"
Fitz Patrick threw his head back
proudly, answering his man At case "
an accomplished sworasman, The
Rough Red shifted his feet. .nlnoe,
awed In spite Of himself. one after
another the men dropped their eyes
and stood still at ease. The scalcr
turned away, his heel caught n root
he stumbled; instantly the pack was
on him, for the power OF his c$c was
broken.
Mad with rage they kicked ard heat
and tore at Fl;z ratrick's hudd'cl
form long after consciousness had lcti
II. Then an owl hootci FROM t@e
shadow Of the wCod. or . rrH e vl.il
swept by, or fox barred o. roAc
other little thIrs happened, SO that
In blind uureasolia,, pauE they tel.
Titz Patrick rega!ned his wits In
pain and so knew lie was S;.ll on earth.
Every movement cost h!"l q c,ona asd
some agency outside hlMjcl, il9,c,ed
added torture. After n lo2g time he
knew II was the cook. who was ilrmly
but kindly kneadIng his l.A5S and
knuckllng his hair, The r&a proved
to be In n maze Of woa!er@ eat over his
patients teuaclty cf ne.
II watched yc." he ,s";...GTci soo;h.
ingly. II did not care Interfere. But
| ken to yo' $ soon ns coaId. See!
Here's a fire th-t built for yc and
some tea. Take Il little. And no bones
broke. True for ye yc'rc hearty
man and strong. with u biz ri3iclcs
on We tit to flsh; II Roag,l Eed man to
man. Get tn use OF yc're legs, darlint,
an I'll take We to camp, for It's fair
drunk they are by now. Sure, an !
tole ye they'd Kill ye"'
But they didn't" muttered Fitz Pat
rick, with a CLEAN Of humor.
Sure twas not their fault-nor yere
own
Hours later as 1t seemed they moved
slowly In the direction Of camp. The
cold had stiffened Fitx Patrick's cuts
and bruises. Every step shot a red
wave OF torture through his brain
They came In sight Of camp. 1t was
silent. Both knew that the men had
drunk themselves into a stupor.
"Id like T. kill tn whole layout as
she sleeps" snarled the cook, shaking
his fist.
$50 would l." replied Fitz Patrick.
Then as they looked thin wreath ol
smoke curied from under the oper
doorway and spread lazily In the frosty
air. Another followed, another, stil
another. The cabin was afre.
They've kicked over the stov'
again." said Fitz Patrick, seating MIN
self on a stump. His eyes blazed viii
wrath and bitterness. "a.
"What yo' goin' to do" asked tn
cook.
"sit here" replied Fitz Patrick grim
ly.
The cook started forward.
"Stopr shouted the scaler fiercely
"If you move a step I'll break you
backw
The cook stared at him through SAT
Ger eyes.
"But they'd be burnt alive" he Of
jected wildly.
"They ought to be-" snarled the sea
er. ut amt their fault I'm here
help them. 'Tis their own deed tha
I'm now lyin' beyant there In tn 10
est, unable to help myself. Do you III
derstand? I'm yet out there IN u
woodsw
"Ab. wirra, wirra" walled the cool
wringing his hands. 9TH poor iads
He began to weep.
Fitz Patrick stared straight In frol
of him for a moment. Then he struc
his forehead and with wonderful ag
lty, considering the injuries he had b'
lust received, tore down the hill In Il
direction of the smoldering cabin. III
cook followed him joyfully. Togeth
. they put out the fire. The men snort
, like beasts, undlsturbed by all u
tumult. :.
otis tn soft heart ye have. art
, ali. Fitz," said the cook delightfully."-
the two washed their hands In prepar
ton for lunch. "Ye could not be
!, Z zee tn lads burn" +.
Fitz Patrick glowered at him for
, instant from beneath his square brow
"They can go to hell for all OF me
!. be answered finally, "but my peoT
want these logs put In this winter, q
q there's nobody else to put them In"