The Green Forest tribune., 1909-09-24

was lQuuSluS Ou Lue NtIdllud Ol Ilo log bungalow, feeling well content with the outcome of a good week s work
 There was a slight rustling among the pine needles, and he turned his head Approaching him. with slow and not very confident footsteps, was q man-one of the derelicts of ciVili- zation His face, evidently young, had the stubby growth of a ten days beard; his eyes had a hungry, yet hopeful look; his clothes were faded and tattered.
 'Well?' said Denham questioningly.
 'I understand you want men, MT. Denham,' replied the man.
 The superintendent started at the voice. It was quality entirely out of accord with the dilapidated appear ance of the owner. He looked again, keenly this time, and then pulled his own hat down over his eyes.
 What can you do?" he demanded.
 String up wires, look after cenduc- tors, assemble a dynamo. or rewind and armature,9 replied the man sim ply.
 Veil" said Denham, after a pause, you'll have to confess, my friend, that your appearance doesn't back up your statements. Whats wrong with you?7
 'Klondike and whisky! Too much money one time, too little another!"
 ,F 1,ir hot Denham noted the weary, despairing look of the man.
 Got any more to tell?" he asked abruptly.
 Not about myself-you would not care to hear it. It's just the old, mis- erable story-homesickness, the ex- citement of success, then taking things as they come; going with the current, mentally and morally. Still" he added slowly, q think, if 1 got to handling the juice again, I'd be all right. I don't want to make promises, but-give me a chance, won't you?"
 Yes" said Denham, after looking across the lake a few moments You can report at the power-house on Monday morning
 It was six weeks before Denham saw him again. Jones had been placed under the poWer-house engineer, and by him put to work on the transmits sion line. This kept him in the woods, replacing guy-lines and an- chors, climbing poles, and inspecting conductofs. He was out of Denham' s sight altogether, but not out of his mind. The superintendent made in- quiries and found that Jones was do. ing well.
 When Denham saw him he was at the top of a twentyfoot pole. The superintendent waited till he. descend ed, and then held out his hand.
 Well, Bob Fullerton, how do you like it?'
 The man started with. "so you know me. then?" .,..
 q knew you the first day, Bob; but as you wished to keep it to yourself, I thought I wouldn't break in Great Scott, man! you don't suppose I'd forget my old college chum, do you?"
 T didn't know, Denham. Guess I was pretty well disguised"
 That's all over now, old man."
 ''I hope so," said Fullerton wistfully. "This life is good for me. I'm all right when I'm on the old work"
 Tt isn't much of a job for you,' said Denham, but there are chances. There's one now. We've got to put a new night engineer on. Shipley's s going to Seattle. You can have the job if you want it. It means better pay, of course, and a chance to show what's in you.''
 "Of course I'll take it, Denham, and I'll hold it down, too, guess
 Fullerton had been running the dyn- amos for about week when one of the wind storms which were not un- common in that mountainous country occurred It reached it's height about two o'clock in the morning, and the engineer paced up and down the pow er-house floor, his ears intently listen ing for fuses blowing out. Occasion ally he stepped to the door and list ened to the roar of the wind and the terrific skipping and crashing of the great trees.
 Suddenly he heard a crash just out side the house, and glance from the window showed a stream of wicked blue sparks. flying from the roof of the small wooden tool-house. The first line-pole had come down, bringing the wire across the roof of that she'd In. stantly he sprang to the switch and pulled it out. Then he ran to the wa ter-gate and shut off the power # was long screw, and it took him over half minute to close the gate, and by that time the roof of the shed which was as dry as finder, was in flames. Then, with horror that whit ened his face, he remembered that there were four kegs of giant-powder in that shed-enough to blow the en tire plant out of the township.
 With a gasp of despair he seized the key and rushed to the shed-fumbling badly at the great padlock-while ths flames were even then licking over the caves. Wrenching the door open he sprang in, seized keg, carried il out. and flung it some distance away A second and third time he repeated this. dodging in beneath a seethine mass of flame from which sparks and burning chips were already falling As he reached the door for the fourth time, couple of short, light rafters fell in, accompanied by a mass oi smaller stuff, showering down direct ly upon the remaining keg. With a howl of dismay he sprang back and dasheds away, but before he had gone