The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-18


a long time. There was no sign
of life about the cabin abandoned
by Gregson and Thorne. 1t was
probable that the two men who
had passed along the path had re-
turned to the camp by anothe,
trail, and still keeping as much
within the shadows as possible he
went to the door and entered.
With his feet propped in front
of the big box stove sat Jackpine.
The Indian rose as Rowland en-
tered, and something in the
sullen gloom of his face caused
the young engineer to eye him
questioningly.
Any one been here, Jack
pine?"
The old sled ge-driver gave his
head negative shake and hunch-
ed his shoulders, pointing at the
same time to the table, on which
lay a carefully folded piece of
paper.
"Thorne," he grunted.
Howland spread out the paper
in the light OF, the lamp, and read:
my Dear Rowland:
81 forgot to tell you that our
mail sledge starts for LIE Pas to-
monrrow at noon, and as I'm
planning on going down with it j
want you to get over as early as
you can in the morning. Can put
you on to everything in the camp
between eight and twelve.
"Thorne."
A whistle of establishment es-
capped Howland's lips.
Where do you sleep, jack
pine?" he asked suddenly.
Cabin in edge of woods" re-
piled the Indian.
How about breakfast? Thorne
hasn't put me on to the grub line
yet"
"Thorne say you eat with heem
in mornin'. 1 come early--wake
you. After heem go-tomorrow
eat here"
"You needn't wake me" said
Rowland, throwing off his coat
"Ill find Thorne-probably be,
for he's UP. Good night"
Jackpine had half opened the
door, and for moment the en-
gineer caught a glimpse of his
dark, grinning face looking back
over his shoulder. He hesitated
as if about to speak, and then
with mouthful of his inimitable
chuckles, he went out.
After boiling the door Rowland
lighted a small table lamp, enter
ed the sleeping room and prepar-
ed for bed.
Got to have a little sleep nc
matter II things are going off like
a Fourth of July celebration" he
grumbled, and rolled between the
sheets.
In spite of his old habit of ris.
ing with the breaking of dawn il
was Jackpine who awakened him
a few hours later. The camp was
hardly astir when he followed the
Indian down among the log cabins
to Thorne's quarters. The senior
engineer was already dressed.
Sorry to hustle you so, How.
land" he greeted, 'tbut I've got
to go down with the mail. Just
between you and me l don't be.
lieve the camp doctor is much on
his job. I've got a deuced bad
shoulder and a worse arm, and
I'm going down to a good sur
geon as fast as 1 can"
Didn't they send Weston ur
with your" asked >Howland. He
kne what Weston was the best
accident man" in the company's
employ.
"Yes-Weston," replied the
senior, eying him sharply. 81
don't can to smay he's not a good
man, Rowland" he amended
quickly. but he doesn't quite
seem to take hold of this hurt of
mine. BY the way, l looked over
our payroll and there is no Crois-
set on it,"
For an hour after breakfast the
two men were busy with papers,
| hldpO anu III w lh6o lCIdtiNt. W
the camp work. Rowland had
kept in close touch with opera
tons from Chicago and by the
time they were ready to leave for
outside inspection he was conf
dent that he could take hold with
out the personal assistance OF
either Gregson or Thorne. Before
that hour had passed he was GER
tain of at least one either thing
that 1t was not incompetency that
was taking the two senior en-
glneers back to the home office.
He had half expected Ito find the
working-end in the same disor-
ganized condition as it's chiefs.
But If Gregson and Thorne had
been laboring under tremendous
strain of some kind 1t was not re-
Elected in the company's work, as
shown in the office records which
the latter had spread out before
him.
That's big six months
work." said Thorne when they
had finished. GOOD Lord, man,
when we first came up here a
jack-rabbit couldn't hop through
this place where you're sitting,
and now see what we've gotl
Fifty cabins, four mess-halls. two