The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-12
On the Trail of Big Finger"

Boyd sat at his desk and conapIacent-
" received the responding army of un-
employed. measuring each man in turn.
asking question or two of this one
or that one, and turning them away
18th excuses and q graciousness that
served ia part to allay the disappoint-
ment born of blighted hopes.
For two days during the same Inn
tied period. Alderman and Jimmie Cole
man sat quietly in Boyd's adjoining
room, with the door barely ajar, listen
ing with all thsir ears. and wondering
at times if they were not victims of a
huge practical joke or performers in
some. colossal farce. ~
About noon of the second day, how
ever. ds his predecessor was about de-
parting. a man entered whose appear
ance Immediately aroused in Boyd a
much more lively interest.
Hes was tan and narrow. like a lath.
above six feet in his stockings, with
slipping shoulders, long arms and hands,
a depressed chest. a neck like that Of a
picked bird, on which was awkwardly
poised a small head nearly as round as
a bullet Though not over 50 years old.
he was wTinkled and weakened. with
skin as worn and weather-beaten as
the sun and winds of the sea could
make it. His lurching gait, the mo-
ment he came over the threshold. told
Boyd that the stranger was a seaman.
Turn the key. my man." he said.
eaFelessly. Il don't. want more than
one of you fellows in here at-once-
presume you call in RESPONSE to my adj
veftisement"
The man removed his wooden cap,
then settled his printed Bingham shirt
he wore no collaF-lower about his
thin, protruding neck.
BE you Mr.. Boyd?" he asked. with
a doubtful stare and voice as piping
as boatswain's whistle.
Yes said Boyd, nodding. Take a
chair while you remain
The mans long, lanky legs doubled
like a jack-knife when he sat down.
and then he fished from his vest pocket
scrap of crumpled newspaper con-
tanning Boyd's advertisement.
IF this 'ere's yourn-" he began
Yes, that is my ad. ali right" in
terposed Boyd. And Pm sorry, too,
that 1 ever inserted it. I've had half
a thousand loafers here in the past two
days, and not a mothers son of them
would take the job I offered him Talk
about mems wanting work, - there
nothing in it. It's money without work
that most of them want. can't get
enc to go 10 Mexico with me, and agree
to remain there a year"
A grin. indescribabJy crafty, had
gradually risen over his hearers rather
repulSiye face
''Thet SOP said he, shrilly. WAL.
sir, I'm not tibet cut of a man."
You'd be willing to go?"
AYE. I would
And remain there a year with me?''
AYE, or longer
Can you stand a hot climate?"
IL oI,o II. =
audibly- 81 reckon so, 'Tain't half as
hot in Mexico as It's in one place I've
herd tell Of"
Boyd joined in the fellows insinuat-
ing laugh, displaying satisfaction well
calculated to please him and place him
at his ease. At the same time, how
ever, ae fell 20 absently tapping on the
top of his desk with his pencil
The two men in the adjoining room
Instantly pricked up their ears
=. IIaye yelseyer done any paper hang
fnsse inquired Boyd
Nope" and the small head on the
long neck wagged with the negative.
But this ere say vs." .e.
That experiences is not necessary. .
put in Boyd, affably. -:That's quite
right, my man. / have enough of ex-
perienced hands, but 1 want a couple
OF helpers. There's $50 month in it,
including board and lodging How
would that hit you?"
Right atween wind and water"
grinned the man readily.
You'd be willing to get away this
week.
I'm ready now. sir; say the word"
Good enough laughed Boyd. ct
shall wish you to remain there. with
Iae, however. If you co.
eFslI do that ri OIL
the better"
You're the first man I've struck who
talked business" declared Boyd in
tones of hearty approval. Mot got
any family to be bothering over your
long absence. have yeu?%
Nope" the man terseIy retoined,
with another leer. "Nobodyll bother
me, once I'm web away. The longer
the cruise. sir. the better IN like it,"
You speak like a man who has fol-
lowed the sea- smiled Boyd
AYE, summit"
Then you could work handily on a
staging without losing your head"
Il reckon so. If lose my head
cause I'm high up, it'll be the first
time"
Whats your name, my ,nanT'
'Thad Targon sir. Short fur Thad-
Gus. A fine name to give a man. WASH t
it?'
Boyd Joined I'm the shrill, derisive
laugh with which the last was said, and
saw that, despite his own earlier eau
tion, Targon was without the least sus-
picion of having been drawn into a net
Are you lodging here in town, Mr..
Targen2" he inquired lightly.
jest now / be-" nodded Targon.
You may leave your address before
you go" smiled Boyd. I'VE shall get
away by Saturday. Have you ever done
any carpenter work, Mr.. Targon?''
WAL, summit" Targon demurred.
mot overmuch."
Il thought you possibly had been a
ships carpenter" explained Boyd pleas
antly. But that doesn't matter. You'll
be mostly required to work on a stag