Gilpin observer., 1916-05-04
CHAPTER TX.
Hampden and the East Belt.

In the press OF business and the
pleasant moiling over the whole old
city of New York with Miss Ordway,
Sandry forgot all about Hampden in
the next few days. Ma Daily had moth.
ing to say. keeping a grim silence,
which Sandry noticed. AS for Siletz,
she followed her with fascinated eyes
whenever she appeared. Miss Ordway
did not eat with the men. Her morn.
inEs were given up entirely to the in
cessant clicking of the typewriter in
the seclusion of the little room, and
she emerged after the noon hour, ate
with Ma Daily and Siletz. and inva-
riably took a short walk in the after
noon.
In the evenings Sandry came in, and
they sat In the empty eating room, dis
cussing with common knowledge
that seemed to shut them apart to-
gether. the things of the great out
side world. At such times Siletz lis
tened In quiet eagerness, her dark face
aglow and her eyes like mysterious
pools in the shadow of her heavy hair.
That week there were several arri-
walls at Dailys camp-well-clad, re-
sponsible-looking business men from
Portland; and before they left, Sandry
had landed such an order for logs as
plunged the camp into the hardest
work, longest hours and highest over
time 1t had ever known.
Also he sent out word to Toledo that
he had use for all the men he could
lay hands on.
An extra crew was put to building
the log trail up through the slashed
opening to the East Belt, and activity
characterized the hills.
The incessant shrill toots of the don.
key. the scream and cough of it's fussy
labors. the rumble and clatter of the
log train, began to be music In San
dry's ears. and the letters he wrote
to his father became brighter. filed
with the exhilaration of accomplish
ment.
For a day or two the work went
forward finely and the new logs of the
fresh-laid trail cleaned white against
the green of the mountain. Then Col
Inns, sent into the uncut timber ahead
to blaze for 1urther operations. re-
turned to the works in double.uuick
time.
John" he said to the foreman. for
none Of the men would award Sandry
the right of consultation unless II was
unavoidable. even yet. so distinct and
deep-rooted was their aversion to the
Easterner and his rawness; John.
they's a new homesteader's shack set.
tin square acrost the trail"
"The hell you say! Hampden!"
The logger nodded. The purport of
Hampden's visit had been freely
spread in the camp.
Daily turned to Sandry.
''They's a new cabin settin' acrost
our trail up in the track between
here'n the East Belt. Mr.. Sandry. Let's
go up an take look at it," he said.
Il guess Hampden's pushin' his bluff. "
With a surge of anger Sandry
turned abruptly. and the two men
struck up the new trail.
I'll have to settle that man. Daily"
said the owner; has he been doing
such things ever since the two com.
panies have been rivals?"
Pretty much. Sometimes we've
been doin' en- returned Daily grim.
ly. Sandry laughed.
We'll, you Westerners believe In
fixing things first-hand, anyway, which
helps some'
Far up in the heavy timber they
came into small natural clearing
some 200 feet in extent. set like a
hole amid the solid bulk of the close
crowding pines. In the center was q
tiny log shack. shakeroofed, without
doors or windows. the very least q
man might do in grudging compliance
with the homestead law. They looked
at 1t from all sides. noticed a few
blazes on the nearest trees, read a
clumsily executed trespass notice. and
returned to camp.
And us with our big contract with
the Portland Lumber mills!" said San.
dry. Il begin to see. Daily, you
gather out ten men and 10 up and
take that shack to pieces Just as quick
as you know how. Don't leave q
trace. Bring the timbers away and
start telling from that end to meet the
trail"
AS the foreman went among tho
men picking his crew. Sandry turned
down across the slough toward the Of
fee. Once settled at his desk ho took
out the records of the Dillingworth
company and began systematic
search for word OF the narrow tract oi
hill and timber between the camp and
the fine East Belt.
When Daily returned at quitting
time to report the demolition of the
cabin and the start of the new cutting
BE- had found nothip