Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-12-08
CHAPTER n.
An Amazing Arrival

An Amazing Arrival.
II was quitting time-quitting time
in the coast country, which means
whatever time the light fades. Pres
emily the loggers came creeping down
the trail, sturdy men in spiked boots
laced to the knee, blue flannel shirts,
and. for the most part. corduroys
They trooped down TO the cook-shack,
long building of implanted pine, its
two side doors leading. the one into
the dining room, the other sheltered
by a rude porch, into the kitchen.
Inside, Ma" Daily, a white-haired
general OF meals and men in their or
der, creaked heavily from oven to
pine sink, her placid face flaming with
the heat of the great steel range.
The eating room was long and mar
row, its pine floor innocent of cover.
ing. From end to end ran two long
tables, neat in white oilcloth. with in.
tervals of catehup bottles, pepper
sauce, sugar bowls. cream pitchers.
and solidly built receptacles for salt
and pepper. Along both edges stood
an army of white earthenware plates,
fanked by bone-handled knives and
forks and tin spoons.
At the west, beside an open door.
was high pine desk Uttered with pa
pers, telephone hung at one side. A
small table stood before a window.
with rocking chair in proximity
one of those low, old-fashioned rock
ing chairs that old women use. and
that invariably hold a patchwork
cushion with green fringe. and white
knitted tidy. That rocker was part of
Daily's camp. 1t had followed the
march of progress as the camp cut its
way into the hills.
Its my one comfort" Ma was wont
to say, though land knows l don't
get to set in it more'n quarter what
I'd like"
AS the loggers slid noisily on to the
benches. their caulks giving up the
mud they had held purposely for the
swept floor, Siletz came and went, set
ting the substantial viands in the
open spaces left in the expanse of
white oilcloth. She exchanged a word
here and there, always a sensible
word, something of the work. the day.
or the men themselves. She was put
ting plate of cookies, sugar-sanded,
with currants on top, between Jim
Anworthy and a black-haired Pole.
when foot struck the step at the
west door. There was something in
the sound that drew every head
around at once. A stranger stood
against the misty darkness between
the jambs.
He was young, apparently about
twenty-five or six. well set up, with
straight shoulders above narrow hips
and poise that claimed instant at
tention. He removed his soft hat,
holding it in his hand, while his
bright, blue eyes looked impersonally
over the room. Over his shoulder a
pair of big, dark ones peered anxious
ly, while a black muzzle with a small.
white patch nosed his elbow aside.
John Daily?"
1t was call that demanded, not a
question.
From the head of the nearest table
giant OF man, easy natured, lax
featured, loose joints banded together
by steel sinews, rose lumberingly.
I'm him." he said.
The man in the door brought his
eyes sharply to focus on his face, read
ing it with lightning rapidity.
I'm the Dillingworth Lumber COM
pany-or most of it," he said clearly,
land I've come to stay. Where shall
l put my horse?"
There was a startled silence after
these amazing words. An unexpressed
ejaculation went from face to face up
and down the tables. Then John Daily
showed why he was the best foreman
in that region. He got himself loose
from the end bench and walked over
to the door.
"All right, Mr."
He waited easily, as If it was per-
fectly natural for strangers to drop
from a hilltop and announce them
selves the ruling power of the country.
or more strictly speaking one of the
ruling powers, for there were two.