The Emmett index., 1911-07-20


rolled between the sheets
In spite of his old habit OF rising
with the breaking OF dawn it was Jack.
pine 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 quar-
ters. The senior engineer was already
dressed.
"SOrry TO hustle you so. Rowland" b"
he greeted. but I've got to 20 down
with the mail just between you and
me | don't believe the camp doctor Is
! much on his Job I've got deuced
/ bad shoulder and worse arm. and
/ I'm going down TO good surgeon as
/ fast az | can"
For an hour after breakfast the two
men were busy with papers. maps and
drawings relative TO the camp work.
Before that hour had passed he was
certain OF at least one other thing
that 1t was not incompetency that was
taking the two senior engineers back
to the home office. He had half ex-
pected TO find the working end in the
same disorganized condition as its
chiefs. But II Gregson and Thorne had
been lahoring under tremendous
strain of some kind II was not reflected
I'm 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 jack rabbit couldn't hop through
this place where you're sitting, and
now see what we've got-fifty cabins,
four mess halls. two of the biggest
warehouses north OF Winnipeg. a post
office. hospital. three blacksmith
shops and-a shipyard!
"A shlpyardr' exclaimed Rowland in
genuine surprise.
"Sure. with n fifty ton ship half built
and frozen stiff In the ice. You can
finish her In the spring. and you'll find
her mighty useful for bringing supplies
from the head OF the WekuskO. We're
using horses on the ice now. Had
deuced hard time In getting fifty OF
'em up from lie Pas. And. besides all
this. we've got six miles of roadbed
built 10 the south and three TO the
north. We've got sub-camp at each
working end. but most of the men still
prefer to come In at night" He drag
ged himself slowly and painfully to his
feet as knock sounded at the door.
That's Macdonald. our camp super
intendent." he explained. Told him
TO be here at g He's corker for TAX
ing hold OF things"
A little. wiry. red headed man hop
ped in as Thorne threw open the door.
The moment his eyes fell on Howland
he sprang forward with outstretched
hand. smiling and bobbing his head.
"Howland. OF course" he cried.
"Glad to see you! Five minutes late
awful sorry-but they're having the
devils own time over at Il coyote we're
going to blow this morning, and that's
what kept me-"
From Howland he whlrled on the
senior with the sudden movement Of
a cricket
''How's the arm. Thorne7 And II
lucIe any htiCg III NNui WI buS 'Sii
me II Jackpine brought me the ciga-
rettes from lie Pas. II he forgot them,
as the mail did. I'll have his life as
sure
"He brought them" said Thorne
"But how about this coyote. Mac? |
thought 1t was ready to fire.
so II is-now. The south ridge is
scheduled to so up at 10 o'clock. Wen
blow up the big north mountains
some time tonight TIN make glo-
rious fireworks-l25 barrels Of powder /
and four fifty-pound cases Of dyna-
mite-and II you can't walk that far.
Thorne. wen take you up on sledge.
Mustn't allow you TO miss it"
SORRY. but Ill have TO, Mac. I'm |
going south with the mail"
Macdonald seemed to be the life and I
law OF the camp. and he wondered /
more and more at Thorue's demeanor. I
He began TO note that there was .
strange nervousness about Thorue [
when they were among the men, an
uneasy alertness in his eyes. rs though .
he were looking for some particular
face among those they encountered.
II want Howiand to see this south
coyote go up" said Macdonald. Can
you spare him? Wen be back before
noon"
Certainly" replied Thorue. Come
and take dinner with me at -"
Rowland fancied that there was a
certain tone Of relief In the seniors
voice. but he made no mention OF it TO
the superintendent as they walked
swiftly TO the scene Of the blowout"
The coyote was ready for firing when
they arrived. The coyote itself-a tun-
mel of fifty feet dug into lhe solid rock
Of the mountain and terminating in a
chamber packed with explosives-was
closed by masses of broken rock, ram
med tight, and Macdonald showed his