Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-01-14

mother died. he began taking his
drinks between pay-days. Then he
took to going down to Sequoia on
Saturday nights and coming back on
the mad-traln, the maddest Of the lot.
! suppose he was lonely, too. He
didn't get real bad. however, till
about two years ago"
well, we have to get logs to the
mill, and We can't get them with cd
John Barleycorn for a woods-boss,
MORA. So we're going to change
woods-bOsses, and the new woOds-boss
will not be driven off the job, because
I'm going to stay up here a couple Of
weeks and break him in myself. But
how do you manage to get money to
clothe yourself? Sinclair tells me
Mac needs every cent Of his two hun
dred and fifty dollars month to enjoy
| himself"
Il used to steal from him." the girl
| admitted. "Then l grew ashamed Of
that, and for the past six months I've
been earning my own living. Mr.. Sin
clair was very kind. He gave me
job waiting on table in the camp din
ing room. You see, I had TO have
something here. 1 couldn't leave my
father He had to have somebody to
take care of him. Don't you see, Mr.,
Bryce"
Sinclair Is a fuzzy old fool" Bryce
declared with emphasis. 'The idea Of
our wOOds-boss's daughter singing
hash to lumberjacks. Poor MORA :"
He took one of her hands in his,
noting the callous spots on the plump
palm, the thick fnger-joints that hint
ed so Of toll the nails that had never
been manicured save by MORA herself.
DO you remember when I was a boy,
MORA, how I used to come up to the
logging to hunt and fish? al
ways lived with the McTavishes then
And in September, when the buckle
berries were ripe, we used to go out
and pick them together. Poor MORA
Why, we're old pals. and I'll be shot
if I'm going TO see you suffer. Listen,
MORA. I'm going to fire your father,
as I've said, because he's working for
old ]. B. now, not the Cardigan Red
wood Lumber company. really ought
to pension him after his long years in
the Cardigan service, but I'll be
hanged if we can afford pensions any
more-particularly to keep a man in
booze; so the best our old woods-boss
gets from me is this shanty, or another !
like it when We move to new cuttings,
and a perpetual meaI-ticket for our
camp dining room while the Cardi- |
gans remain IN business. I'd finance /
him for trip 70 some state institu-
ton where they sometimes reclaim
such wreckage, If 1 didn't think he's
too old a dog to be taught new tricks"
Perhaps" she suggested sadly.
you had better talk the matter over
with him"
mo, I'd rather not. I'm fond Of your
father, MORA. He was a man when
1 saw him Iast-such q man as these
woods will never see again-and I
don't want to see him again until he's
cold sober. I'll write him letter. As
for you, NORA, you're fired. too. I'll
not have you waiting on table in my
loyging-camp-no by a jugful You're
to come down to Sequoia and go TO
work in our office We can use you on
the books, helping Sinclair, and re-
ieve him of the task of billing, check
ng tallies, and looking after the pay
roll. I'll pay you a hundred dollars
/ month, MORA. Can you get along
IN tbat?"
Her hard hand closed over his
lightly, but she did not speak.
"AIl right. MORA. It's a go, then.
There, there, girl, don't cry. We
Jardigans had twenty-five years of
aithful service from Donald McTav-
Sh before he commenced slipping;
Ifter all, we owe him something. !
hink"
She drew his hand suddenly to her
Ups and kissed it; her hot tears Of ;
oy fell on il, but her heart was too I
ull for mere words. /
"Fiddle-de-dee. MORA Buck up" I
e protested. hugely pleased, but en- 6
withal. 1.-The way you take /
his. one would think you had expect 5
d me TO go back on an old pal and {
ad been pleasantly surprised when /
idn't Cheer up. Mora I'll tell you v
hat I'll do. TIL advance you two S
lonths' salary for-well, you'll need {
lot Of clothes and things In SeQuoia I
lat you don't need here. And I'm /,
lad I've managed to settle the Nc "
avish hash without kicking up row |,
nd hurting your feelings. Poor old s
-acl I'm sorry can't bear with him. n
ut we simply have to have the logs, r
)u know" r,
He rose. stopped. and pinched her lc
lr; for had he not known her since
and had they not gathered nj
together in the long re
70? She was sister to him-just an OF
her one OF HIS problems-and moth tr
g more. Report on the job as soon tv
possible. Moira," he called TO her y,
ON the gate. hs
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