The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-03
THE EVENING STORY
Music at Camby's Mill.
(By Alfred Howe Davis.)


Ever since Enos and his mandolin
had come to the mill, Harvey Wood
ward had been in a black mood. A
mandolin or any other musical in
strument for that matter, was a nov
city there and the lum bermen, except
Woodward, were constantly urging
Enos to play. for them during the
long evenings. But it was not the
fact that the men had taken a de-
cided liking to Enos and his man
dolin that caused the trouble.
The fact of the matter was that
Lonna, the only woman within eight
miles Of Camby's mill, was frequent
~ forgetting the card table of late
and woodward had watched her
growing interest in the boy with sur1y
concern. His attentions to Lonna
from the first had been SO marked
him by old Candy, the girls father,
to make room in the crew for another
man. But Woodward had refrained
from bothering Lonna thereafter for a
| time. and at his request she had in
terceded for him with her father.
Woodward had been allowed to re-
main.
1t was one evening in late fall and
a crowd of the men who had just re-
ceived their bimonthly pay were
gathered in the chuckhouse. Some of
the crew had gone down to Pine to
celebrate the occasion of a pay check
by promptly spending it. But most
of the hands about Camby's were con-
for the very purpose. in large part,
! they had taken Jobs at the mill for a
| dollar a day and keep.
| Lanterns hung about the long room
of the chuckhouse. Many of the men
were reading. Old Billy Ryan was
smoking contentedly over in one cor
| ner, while Lonna and Harvey Wood
ward were playing cards near the
open door. AS often as each game
was finished, SO often did the girl
Lonna's reputation as card player
extended far among the hills, much
to the pride of old Candy, and to
/ the regret of many Of the mill men
who had attempted to try out the
girls prowess.
That night she had attempted to
induce, Enos to play with her but the
young fellow had refused. AS a mat
ter of fact he had been in the camp
but two weeks, and the money he re-
ceived that pay day was hardly
enough to meet debt he had con-
tracted in the form of loan from
| Timber Ho1brook, foreman Of the
mill. Holbrook had taken Enos under
| his especial care and had initiated
| him into the ways of skids and logs.
| Suddenly the door blew open, and
| the lantern above the card table flick
cred and went out. woodward drew
dwindled His face was flushed.
Now you come on he shouted to
| Enos; then jumped to his feet and
walked over to the table where Enos
and Holbrook were sitting.
"Give US tune, kid, drawled Tim
| Der, looking up critically at Wood
ward. 1--WE need a tune worse than
| you need cards."
Old Ryan and Lonna Joined in the
request. The girl picked up the man
| dolin case and taking out the instru-
ment handed it to Enos.
please play" she begged, looking
| at him intently.
Hes going to sit in a game"
Woodward declared and stepped close
| to Enos who rose to his feet.
GO on away" growled old Ryan.
Cant you see we are going to have
! tune?'
Enos sat down again and began
running his fingers over the strings of
| the instrument. Woodward made a
move as If he would strike the play
| er, but dozen sullen commands in
| duced him to sit down. Soon he
| arose and with a sneer walked over to
| the door; then turned and Joined a
| group sitting at a table a distance
| from Enos and Timber.
| The chords of an old song floated
through the room. Enos' music was the
| first that some of the mill folks had
heard in years. Lonna had never heard
a musical instrument before Enos came,
1
her eyes travelling from the mandolin to
/ the boys face and back again. Trailing
branches of giant aspens rustled upon the
room was intent on the music. "A con-
Der coyote howled and another answer
ed from the higher hills
| woodward eyed Enos and the girl from
his far corner. Every one else in the
roo mwas intent on the music. A con-
slant line of tobacco smoke drifted out
the door.
AS Enos concluded something suspfc-
I iousIy like tears stood in old Ryan's eyes,
i while Timber tried to hide his emotion
by sinking his teeth in plug OF stale
| tobacco.
The girl drew near Enos as he finished
and seated herself a few feet from him.
her black eyes fixed on his race.
Woodward had watched her every move,
| and as the song ended and EnoS put the
| instrument into the case Woodward rush
| ed forward and. selling the mandolin,
dashed it to the floor, and sent boot heel
| crashing through the light wood At the
| same instant Timber jumped to his feet
and with full swing knocked Woodward
| to the floor.
| spoke in fury.
| 'FYou leave the mill tomorrow, Wood
ward. The boys have decided they dom
need you any more. You amt done moth
| ing since you come here except peddle bad
whisky, and we are through with you
/ Woodward glanced around the room, but
| not a man spoke up for him.
! s'You go down with me-, continued Tim
Der. BE ready in the morning: I'm go
| for you The old man owes you twenty
| five dollars Wen see how much it Will
take of that to get the kid a new machine.
| You get the rest
| Inst before the song had ended Old
/ RYAN had carefully knocked the ashes
| out of his pipe and had gone outside.
| I'onna had followed him a moment later.
| F,nos was furnbling with the broken bits
of his mandolin when Timber leaned over
him
he WHISPERED. I'm the doorway there-see
herr"
pieces of the instrument together. placed