The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-07

be greeted. "but I've got to 20 down
with the mail. Just between yon and
me | don't believe the camp doctor ia
much on his job. I've got deuced
bad shoulder and a worse arm. and
I'm going down to a good surgeon ns
fast as 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 it 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 if Gregson and Thorne hnd
been laboring nnder tremendous
strain Of some kind it was not reflected
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 mp
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. post
office. hospital. three blacksmith
shops and-a shipyard"
"A shipyardr exclaimed. Howland in
genuine surprise.
Sure with fifty ton ship half built
finish her in the spring. and you'll find
her mighty useful for bringing supplies
from the he'd of the WekuskO. We're
using horses on the ice now. Had a
deuced hard time in getting fifty Of
'em up from lie Pas And. besides oil
this. we've got six miles Of roadbed
built to 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 s. 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
be 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 a coyote were
going to blow this morning. and that's
what kept me-"
From Howland he whirled on the
senior with the sudden movement OF
a cricket.
"How's the arm. Thorne? And Il
there's any mercy in your corpus tel
me if Jackpine brought me the ciga
rettes from lie Pas. II he forgot them
as the mail did. I'll have his life a!
| sure
"He brought them," said Thorne
"But how about this coyote. Mac?
thought it was ready to fire"
$50 It is-now The south ridge i
scheduled to go up at 10 o'clock. Wei
blow up the big north mountains
some time tonight. It'll make glo
rious fireworks-lo5 barrels of powde
and four ffty-pound cases Of dyna
mite-and If you cant walk that far
Thorne. we'll take you up on sledge
Mustn't allow you to miss it,"
"Sorry. but I'll have to. Mac. Tn
going south with the mail"
Macdonald seemed to be the life ant
law of the camp. and he wondered
more and more at Thorne's demeanol
He began to note that there was
strange nervousness about Thorn
when they were among the men. al
uneasy alertness in his eyes. as thoug
he were looking for some particula
face among those they encountered.
81 want Howland to see this sout
royote go up" said Macdonald. "Ca
you spare him? Wen be back befor
noon"
Certainly" replied Thorne. "Com
and take dinner with me at r."
Howiand fancied that there was
certain tone of relief In the senior
voice. but he made no mention of it
the superintendent as they Wake
swiftly to the scene of the blowout
The coyote was ready for firing whe
they arrived The coyote itself-a tut
mel of fifty feet dug into the solid roc
NJ tha mountain and Terminating In
chamber packed with explosives-wa
closed BY masses of broken rock. ran
med tight, and Macdonald showed b