The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-09-01

series of frozen lakes. The ride was
an unpleasant one for Leon. He
had been obliged to run part of the
way to save himself from freezing.
Nobody had given him the slightest
hint as to the kind of clothing req
uisite for such an expedition, SO that
with the inexperience and confidence
of youngster he had ventured into
an arctic wilderness attired in the
ordinary winter garments of the city.
The camp proved to be cluster
of hnts perched upon a hill over
looking a waste of frozen water.
The sight was not inspiring. Neither
was it inspiring to Leon to discover
that with the exception of the walk
ing boss and the storekeeper he was
the only English-speaking man in
the crowd. The morning following
his arrival he was awakened from a
feverish sleep by terrifying clangor
which he discovered later was pro-
duced by the cook, banging coal
oil can with a bar Of iron. Seeing
the crowd hurrying in certain di-
rection, he followed and landed up
in the cook shack, where he was
handed a dish of beans that felt and
tasted like wood chips, a cup of cof-
fee that resembled linseed oil in
flavor and hunk Of black bread that
smelled like brewery and tasted like
| sauer kraut. Leon gently pushed
the delicacies aside and went back
to the bunk house to wash. Break
fast over, the walking boss passed
from door to door of the bunk houses
groaning, Roll out!" On ahum-
mock little removed from the path
way that led to where the gangs
were working stood the walking boss
receiving the laborers as they filed
past. As Leon came into focus he
called out:
/ Hi! You with the collar!'
| Leon went over to him.
| What in hell are you doing here?'
he asked.
i've come to work." answered
Leon simply.
j ITO work? Not here, you don't
You go to the Office and get you
| time"
/ But l am willing to work" re
} monstrated Leon, and besides, lie
have no money to take me back"
| The walking boss looked at him
waved his hand in the direction o
the storehouse and walked away.
Perplexed and disappointed. Leol
went to see the storekeeper ant
stated the case to him. Prett,
hard lines, old man." said the store
keeper, shaking his head, but prob
ably you'll meet some teams goin
. in your direction"
t Icons face lit up. Is there
3 chance of that?" he inquired.
s'Surep' answered the storekeepel
!. Teams go backward and forwar
all the time you know"
Thank you! Thank you yer
: muchp' said Leon gratefully.
! dreaded the prospect of journeyin
t the trail alone, but if there are team
g along it, why it is not SO bad as
!. imagined"
y Not bad! No, certainly not!" e.
a claimed the storekeeper with sim'
I; lated enthusiasm.
He was lying and he knew it. E
K knew that there would be no team
o along the trail for days, perha]
II weeks, as well as he knew that Leon
g chance of arriving at his destinatie
: unharmed were slim.seBut he feare
IT for his job. Feared to arouse Il
y ire of the walking boss by protes
q ing against what in his heart he b
& lieved to be murder. And who shs
n blame him? The fellowship of whi'
n we boast is thing of circumstanc
y and convenience.
c. Walk as fast as you can, old man
Of he said when Leon bade him goo
le bye.
y Leon promised he would and lie
For the first couple of miles the
e. instructions were obeyed. But t
at travelling was hard. His leath
g, boots froze to his feet biting into t
= flesh like steel vises. After awh
IN q dull, throbbing pain between
I'd shoulders caused him to vince
n every inspiration. He discarded
st- baggage and experienced little
OK lief, but his joints ached and
X head was dizzy. Presently it co
ed menced to snow and the wind
on creasing drove the fakes against hi
he Bending low that he might not l.