Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-05

u ODT1SImdS LlHle the SnOW ldg uCCP
~ in the woods, and Mr.. Stoddard's
- logging crew were doing prosper
MSrU{fi{d GUS business. They were hauling
83x4G from the stump-meaning from
where the trees were chopped-ln-
tending to take the yarded logs late In the
winter
An addition had been built to the camp-a
small room, twelve feet wide and eighteen feet
long. A door was cut through from the main
camp, and in this room, which contained a
small window, cooking store was placed.
Tables were also put up, and then places IN
the main camp filled by an extension OF the
berths, for the crew had been largely increased
in numbers.
In this dining hail." as Rocky Mountain
called it, the camp chest was kept and the
youthful clerk slept upon a raised bunk near
the doorway leading into the new apartment.
He had improved wonderfully in personal
appearance, and look of confidence hereto
swapping for team, Rocky Mountain was
tending sled, and Reddy White was chopping.
"T'll bet plug O terbacker that me an
Rocky an little Rob kin fit more lumber than
any other crew in the woods, Reddy had
said.
But no one was inclined to dispute him.
In numbering parance, each set of men at
tending team is called Grew"
Between Reddy and Rocky strong friend
ship had sprung up, and the stalwart young
chopper Woulu AT any tine ASSIST 1ho eieu
tender or swamper.
The horses driven by Bill McGregor were
much the heaviest pair In the woods; but
his lumber was not as well fitted, his roads
were not so well swamped, nor the turns as
well skidded Consequently, his loads would
bind on the turns in the roads and his team
did a great deal of unnecessary work.
As result of this, the horses attended by
Reddy White, Rocky and Rob, though one Of
the lightest pairs in the concern. throve, and
grew fat, while they gave promise of doing
the largest winters work of any, each team 8
log account being kept separately. =,
Black Bill darkly limited that, as the log
accounts were kept by Bob Archer, he could
doctor the books and bring his own team
in ahead every time.
landing men, who rendered their accounts
nightly of each teams work for the day.
When the teams first commenced to haul
from the stump to the landing, Mr.. Stoddard
took Rob aside.
We to give in full count of the logs to the
scaler 1surveyor1. Don't give in more'n two
thirds of 'em. | have to pay high stumpage,
an the land owners will git more'n the wuth
of their logs standin them.
Poor Rob was dumfounded. Render false
account! Do fraudulent deed! Would his
father be proud of him then!
For moment he quailed.
Then a resolute light shone in his eyes. It
was not the shrinking boy who had asked Mr..
Stoddard for work that answered him now so
Pho mo. sir. If keep your books, will keep
them perfectly square. never did dishon-
est thing yet and | don't mean to-"
1t was the, mans turn to quail now. He
worked his huge hands together nervously.
Then he said, angrily:
WHO talks about dishonesty? A mans
got to hold his own with these thieves an
land sharks"
At Christmas three of the teams went out
of the woods to spend the holiday and bring
back loads of supplies, and the crews attend
ing them went also; but Black Bill remained,
as did the team with which Rob and his