Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08

'You're homo, anyway" no said.
"1hat's something."
bench covered with Oilcloth. Chairs
there were none. a narrow movable
bench on each side of the fixed table
furnished seating capacity for twenty
men, provided none objected to an &C.
casional nudging from his neighbours
elbow. The Dishes different from any
she had over eaten from, were of cnor-
mously thick porcelain, dead white,
variously Clipped and cracked with fine
seams But the food, if plain, was OF
excellent quality, Hastily cooked. She
discovered herself with nm appetite
wholly independent OF silver and cut
glass and linen. The tin spoons and
steel knives and forks narrowed her
aesthetic sense without impairing her
ability to satisfy hunger.
They had the dining room to them
selves. Through Il single shiplnp parti-
tlon rose Il rumble OF masculine talk,
where the logging crew loafcd in their
DunlihouSc. The cook served them with
out any ceremony, putting everything
on the table Mt oncc--Soup, meat, vcgc-
tables, bread pudding For dessert, cof-
Fec IN tall tin pot. Benton intro.
duccd him tn his sister. He withdrew
hastily to the Kitchen, and they saw
no more of him.
"Charlic," the girl said paintivcly,
when the man had closed the door be.
hind him. Il don't quite fnthom your
social customs out here. Is one sup
posed to know everybody that one on.
countcrS?"
Just about" he grinncd. "Log;.crS,
Siwashcs and the natives in general
Can't very we'll help it, sis. There's so
few people IN this neck Of the woods
that nobody can afford to be exclusive
at least, nobody who lives here any
length Of time. You can't tell when
you may have to call on your ncighbor
or the follow working for you In Il mat
fGr OF life and death almost * MIN
couldn't possibly maintain, the same nt-
titudc toward bunch OF loggers work
ing under him That would be considered
proper back where we came FROM
Take me, for instance, and my case is
no different from any man operating on
"
reputation OF being swell headed and
they'd put me in the hole at every turn.
They wouldn't care what they did or
how 1t was done. Ten to one couldn't
keep capable working crew three
weeks on end. On the other hand, take
bunch of logscrs on II payroll work
ing for man that meets them on an
equal footing-why, they'll 20 to IL
end back again for him. They're as
loyal as soldiers to the flag. They're
n mighty. self sufficient, independent lot,
these lumbcrjackS, and that goes for
most everybody knocking about in this
sountry-loggcrs. prospectors, miners,
settlers and all. If you're what they
term all right you can do anything
and they'll back you up. If you go to
putting Oh airs and trying to assert
yourself rs superior being they'll 20
out OF their way to hand you packages
of trouble"
II see," she observed thoughtfully.
Zones compelled by circumstances to
practice democracy"
Something like that" he responded
carelessly and went OH eating his sup
per.
II should have been man." Miss Es-
tella Benton pensively remarked. "Then
l could put on oyeralls and make my
self useful instead Of being drone
There doesn't seem to be anything here
1 can do. | could keep house-only
you haven't any house to keep, there
fore no need OF Il housekGeper."
"Say, Stell, can you cook2" asked her
brother.
"a little" Stella rejoincd guardedly.
"Why do you ~
""hy, your wall about being q man
and putting OIL overalIs and digging In
reminded me that IL you liked you may
have a chance to get on your apron and
show us what You can do" he laughed
'MattS about due to go on tear He's
been on the water wagon now about his
limit. The first man that comes along
with a bottle OF whisky Matt will get
1t and quit and head for town. I was
wondering if you could keep the gang
from starving to death If that happen
ed. The last time I had to get In and
COOK for two weeks myself. And 1
can't run logging crew from the cook
shanty very we'll"
Il dare say l could manage" Stella
returned obviously. "1'his seems to be
terrible place for drinking. Is 1t the
accepted thing to get drunk at all times
and In publlc?"
It's about the only excitement there
ls,' Benton smiled tolerantly. II guess
there Is no more drinking out here than
any other part of this North American
continent. Only n man here gets drunk
openly and riotously without any effort
TO hide 1t aud without 1t being consid-
cred anything but natural lapse
That's one thing You'll have to get used
to out here, Stcll-I mean that what
yicns on La,.