Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-08-25

|
Forestry boys?"
Yes. The supervisors Office is here.
and these boys are his help"
| This information added to Norcross'
interest and cheered him Il little. He
knew something Of the United States
forest service and had been told that
many Of the rangers were college men.
He resolved to make their acquaint-
ance. IF I'm to stay here they will
help me endure the exile" he said.
After breakfast he went forth to
find the postot1ice. expecting a letter Of
Instructions from Meeker. He found
nothing of the sort. and this quite dis
concerted him.
1.-The stage is gone.' the postmistress
day after tomorrow. You might reach
Meeker by using the government
phone, however"
| where will find the government,
phone?"1' =. ~
Down in the supervisors Office.
They're very accommodating. They'll
let you use it if you tell them who
you want TO reacn ~.
! ii was Impossible to- miss the for
estry building for the reason that
handsome flag huttered above it. The
door being open. Norcross perceived
from the threshold a young clerk at
work on a typewriter. while in cor
ner close by the window another and
older man was working intentIy on a
map.
lis this the office Of the forest super
visor?" asked the youth.
| The man at the machine looked up
and pleasantly answered.: ut Is. but
the supervisor is not in yet. Is there
j., snything~l can do for you?
lit may he you can. l am on my
way to Mreker'S mill for little out
! ing Perhaps you could tell me where
| Meeker''s mill is and how ! can best
ret there. - 80 ii, .ss @s
/, sThelma:l at the map meditated
..It's not far. some eighteen or twenty
Emiles. bu, It's over prer:t rough
rail-" S&#
"What kind Of a place Is tty'
| Every charming. You'll like it. Roll
1
mountain country. %
| This officer was plain featured
man Of about thirtyhye, with keen
and clear eyes. His voice. though
| strongly nasal. possessed note Of
manly sincerity. AS he studied his
| visitor he smiled.
you look brand new. Haven't had
time to season check. have you?
NO I I'm a stranger in strange
land" -. g.
Out for your health?
"Yes. My name is Norcross. I'm
| just getting over a,severe illness. ana
I'm up here to lay around and fish and
recuperate-if can -
<"You can-you will. You can't help
| it, the other assured him.. Join one
Of our surveying crews for a week and
I'll mellow that suit Of yours ind make.
real mountaineer Of you. l see you
wear a Sigma Chi pin. What was
! your school?'' -
81 am a Son of Eli Last years
class
1:ne other man displayed his fob.
I'm ten classes ahead of you. MY
name is Nash. I'm what they call an
expert I'm up here doing some es-
timating and surveying for big ditch
they're putting in. | was rather In
hopes you had come to join our ranks.
We sons Of Eli are holding the conser-
. walton fort these days. and we need
help"
my knowledge Of your work is rath-
er vague admitted NOrcross. MY
father is in the lumber business. but
his point Of view isn't exactly yours"
HE Stays 'em. does hep
"He did. He helped devastate Michi-
gan"
After me the deluge. know the
kind. Why not make yourself sort
of vicariOuS atonement?"
Norcross smiled Il had not thought
of that. 1t would help some. wouldn't
it?''
1t certainly would, There's no great
money in the work. but it's about thu
most enlic htcned Of all the govern
mental bureaus"
NorcruSS w:lS strongly drawn to thi:
forester whose tone was that OF
highly trained specialist. Il rode UP
tn the stage yesterday with Miss Fer
rie McFHr.ane."
The supervisors daughterT
''She seemed IL fine western Types
'She'S not Il type: she's an individual.
She haSn her like anywhere I've gone
She cuts II wide swath up here Being
an only child. she's both son and
daughter to McFariane. She knows
more about forestry than her father
In fact. half the time he depends ulA
her Judgment"
Noruross was interested. but did not
want to take up valuable time. He
said. will you let me use your tele-
phone to Meeker's?''
Every sorry. but our line is out of
order. You'll have to wait day or 50.
or use the mails. You're too late for
today's stage. but it's only short ride
across"
AS they were talking a girl came gall
Looping up to the hitching post and slid
from her horse. 1t was Berea McFar