The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-10-05


| addressed to him, Caleb knew that Il
, was Stephens comment for which ALI
son was angling. and hard upon his
casual statement the boys head came
sharply around
She'll run nigh double that" he
swallowed the bait She'll run double
and mebby a trife more"
Nor did Allison even smile now.
What makes you think SOP he
asked.
Again there came the boys pat an
swer
Il amt thinkin'," he scid. Its Jest
there. They're close set, them trees.
| and they're clear, clean to the tops.
There amt stump there that won't
run near ten standard"
Allison squinted and finally nodded
his head
Maybe" he agreed; maybe"
But later Caleb saw him enter some
figures In his small. black bound note
book.
That night the episode was repeated
with a bit of variation. They had set
up their tent and made camp a little
before nightfall. Far below them. hid
den by the trees. the east branch cut
a threadlike cash through the center
Of valley broad enough and round
enough to have been veritable am
phitheater of the gods. The whole
great hollow was clothed with ever
green. a sea Of dripping tops In the
semigloom. and Allison. when he had
set aside his plate and lighted his pipe,
lifted hand In a gesture which en-
braced 1t all.
"If you weren't so lazy Drained, CAL"
he said, that sight would stir In you
something more than a mere apprecia-
ton of what you call the 'sublimity of
sheer immensely For the man who
can look ahead ten or a dozen years
there is an undreamed Of fortune right
here In this valley"
Caleb yawned.
"No doubt" he agreed. But l didn't
coin that phrase for immense fortunes.
I guess I'm old fashioned enough to
like 1t a whole lot better Just as 1t is "
Then he became suddenly aware OF
the tense earnestness with which
Stephen O'Mara was listening. And
when Allison. thinking aloud. unused
that the cost Of driving the timber
down the shallow stream to the faroff
mills would be perhaps prohibitive
words fairly Ieaped to the boys lips.
but they-they won't be drivin' that
timber by floods when they git to
tacklin' these here valleys" be ex-
claimed. "Old Tom ses when they
really git to lumberin' these mountains
they'll skid 1t daown to the railroad
tracks and yank it out by steamr'
That sober statement in the piping
voice had strange effect upon ALI
son. He leaned forward. a sort of
guarded astonishment in his attitude.
to peer at the childish face In the fire
glow Then he seemed to remember
that 1t was just bit Of woods waif
who had spoken. But Caleb. who was !
lazy Drained in some matters sensed
that Steve had put into words ALI
sons own unspoken thought. Just as
Allison at that moment voiced the
question which he was about to utter
himself
81 suppose 1t was this-this Old Tom
who taught you all these things you
know about timber?' he said. curious.
Steve pondered the question.
"Wal-ll. yes" he answered at last
"Old Tom learned me some. but-but
most Of 1t kind of feel as II always
knowed."
The boy was fast asleep. curled up
beneath the blankets when Caleb final
ly preached that night the matter
which had kept him awake the entire
night before. And when he had fin
ished Allison sat quiet for a long time
before he offered any reply.
"You mean he began at length.
81 Just mean that I'm going to give
him his chance" Caleb cut in. His
voice was hushed. but vehement.
why. man. think what he has this
minute to start with-a brain as clear
as a diamond absolutely fresh. abso
lutely unspoiled or tagged with the
nonsensical folderol which makes up
the bulk of the usual boys education
Of his age and working knowledge.
for instance. OF this north country
which most men envy! why, tue pos
sibilities are limitless.'
Allison pulled his pipe in silence.
"No doubt you're right" he admit
ted. "In ten years. with technical
education to back up his practical
knowledge. he might prove priceless to
some one who had need Of such a
specialist, always assuming. of course,
T. oannrdtnn RI
Use But the possibilities are limitless.
too. in the other directions. aren't
they?'
"Meaningr" invited Caleb.
well. you don't know any too much
concerning his antecedents. do your
Allison suggested. And still"-
81 don't have to-" Caleb interrupted.
mot after one look at him."
land still II you catch a hoy young
enough" Allison finished serenely.
''you can make a fairly presentable
gentleman out Of almost any material.
with time enough and money enough
to teach tim what to do
You can" Caleb came back, "but,
no matter how mnch money you spend.
you can't make the sort of a gentle
man out Of him that knows without
being taught what not to do! They
they have to be born to that. Dexter"
And there they let 1t drop. But the
NEXT morning when they were alone
upon the brook Caleb. after several
false starts, managed to reopen the
subject with the boy himself.
HAS 1t ever occurred to you, Steve"