Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-04-01
CHAPTER I-continued.


p
Harris left his wife with a company
Of other women In the government i'm
migration building while he set out to
ind, IL possible. lodgings where she
might live until he was ready to take
her to the homestead country. He
must first make a trip of exploration
himself. and as. this might require sew.
eral weeks his present consideration
was to place her In proper surround
tngs before he left. He inquired at
many doors for lodgings for himself
and wife, or for his wife alone. The
response ranged from curt announce
ments that the inmates ''ain't takln'
bOarders" to sympathetic assurances
that II 1t were possible to find room
for another 1t would be done, but the
house was already crowded to suffoca-
ton. In two hours Harris, notwith-
standing his stout frame and his
young enthusiasm, dragged himself
somewhat disconsolately back to the
immigration building with the infor-
nation that his search had been fruit
less.
At the door he met Tom Morrison
and another. whom he recognized as
the teller of Indian stories which had
captivated the children of his car.
"And what luck have We had?" asked
Morrison, Selling the young man by
the arm. "Little, I'll be thinkin', by
the smile ye're forcin' up. But what
am thinkin' Off Mr.. McCrae is from
way out In the Wakopa county. and
an old timer on the prairie"
"Aieck McCrae." said the big man.
''Wes leave our .misters' east Of the
Great Lakes. An Aim not from Wa
kopa. unless you give that name to all
the country from Pembina crossing to
Turtle mountain. Aim doing bust
ness all through there, an no more
partial to one place than another"
what Is your line of business, Mr..
McCrae3" asked Harris.
"Aleck. said, an Aleck 1t is."
"All right" said the other, laugh
Ing. "What is your business, AleckT
MY business Is assisting settlers to
get located on suitable land, an exc
ing out my own living by the process.
Tom here tells me you're hunting a
house for the wife. All know Emerson
TOO well to suppose you have found
one"
II haven't. for fact" said Harris
reminded Of the urgency of his mis-
sion.
ITS out OF the question:" said Nc
Craze, "IIcsdes. it's not SO necessary
MS you think. What with the bad
time our train made. nm the good
time the stock train made. an the
fact Tia, they started ahead of us
they're in the yards now. That's a
piece of luck, to start WITH
But can't put my wife in stock
ear !" protested Harris.
"fhere> worse places" McCrae an.
swcred, ca!my worrying Il cousdcra-
BILE section from plug of black chew
ing tobacco, Worse places, All should
say. Alive seen times when u good
warm stock car would have passed for
heaven. But that amt what All have
in mind. Wen all turn In an get the
stock unloaded hitch up the horses,
pack a load. an get away. Alive been
making canvass. an All find we have
six or seven families who can be ready
to pull out this afternoon. My team
viii go along, with good tent an
some cooking outfit. Everyone has
bedding. so we're all right for that.
Now, IL we all hustle we can be start
ed by A o'clock. an out ten or II miles
before we pitch camp. How does 1t
suit your"
"What do you say, Mr.. M0rrisOn"
II think Alexis plan Is best. I've
my wife and the two girls. and there's
norroof for their heads here. 1t suits
me-"
"If It's ali settled" continued Nc
Crae. who had the leaders knack Of
suppressing indecision at the psyche
logical moment, wen all turn In with
the unloading of the stock"
they were to join party for 'the
front" that very afternoon. She re-
ceived the news jOyously.
In few minutes all hands, both
men and women. were busy at the
cars. Many hands made the work
light. and by mid-afternoon six sleighs
were loaded for the journey. All the
women and children were to go with
the party; Morrison and one or two
hired men would remain In Emerson,
complete the unloading, and take
charge Of the effects until the teams
should return from their long journey.
McCrae, on account of his knowledge
of the town and of the needs of the
journey, was chosen to secure the sup
plies.
Each settlers sleigh carried that
which seemed most Indispensable.
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