The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-14
XIX

| XIX
The previous day and night had
been full of revelation for Ned; and
as he started forth from the cabin
with his ak, there occurred a little
scene that tended even further to IL.
lustrate his changing viewpoint. Gloat-
ing with triumph at the younger
mans subsection. Doonisdorf called
sardonically from the cabin doorway:
Il trust 1 can't help you in any
May?" he asked.
Discerning the premeditated insult
in his tone. Ned whirled to face him.
Then for an instant he stood SILVER.
ing with wrath.
Yes" he answered His promise
to say ''sir" was forgotten in his
rage. You can, at least treat me
with the respect deserved by a--good
workman"
Little, amused lines came about
Doomsdorf's fierce eyes. "A good
workman. eh?" he echoed. Eyes. you
did work fair enough yesterday. Wait
just minute"
He turned into his door, in a mo.
ment reappearing with saw and
several iron wedges from among his
supplies Of tools. He put them In
Ned's hands, and the latter received
them with a delight never experienced
at any favor Of fortune in the past.
AS he worked. the stiffness and
| pain that yesterdays toll had left in
| his muscles seemed to pass away. The
ak swung easily in his arms. When
the first. tree was chopped down. he
set Lenore and Bess at trimming off
the branches and saving twelve-foot
| logs for the hut.
1t came about that he chonped
| down several trees before the two
! girls had finished cutting and trim
ming the first. Seemingly Lenore had
not yet recovered from the trying
experience OF two nights before. for
she wholly failed to do any part OF the
work. What was done at this end Of
the labor Bess did alone. The unrnis-
taxable inference was that Ned would
have to double his own speed in order
to avoid the lash at night
The day turned out to be not great
" different from the one preceding.
Again Ned worked to absolute ex-
haustion; the only apparent change
seemed to be that he Accomplished a
greater amount Of work before ne
finally fell insensible in the snow.
This was the twilight hour, and prone
in the snow he lay like a warrior
among his fallen. About him was a
ring OF trees chopped down and, with
Bess, aid, trimmed of their limbs
| notched and sawed into lengths, for
the cabin. They had only to be lifted
one upon another. to form the cabin
walls.
Bess had collapsed. too, as the tw1.
light hour drew on; and I,enore alone
was able to walk unaided to the shack
Again Ned lay insensible on the floor
/ beside the stoves but tonight, long
past the supper hour, he was able to
remove his own wet clothes and TO
tdevour some of the unsavory left.
! overs. from the meal.
The third day was given to lifting
| the great logs, one upon another for
the walls Of the cabin. IT was. in
reality, the hardest work he had vet
done, as to shift each log into place
took every ounce of lifting power the
man had. The girls could help him
but little here. for both of them to-
| Gether did mot seem to be able to
handle an and of the great logs. He
found he had to lift each end IN turn.
Yet he was able to drag to the cabin
tonight. and torpid with fatigue, take
his place at the crude supper table.
He didn't remember getting up from
his chair, stripping OF part of his
wet clothes and falling among the
blankets that Doomsdorf had left for
his use on the floor Almost at once
It was dawn again. t
new, more vivid consciousness
was upon him when he wakened. The
stabbing ache in his legs and arms
was mostly worn off now: but there
was a sharp pain in the small Of his
back that at first seemed absolutely
uncomfortable. But It waned. too, as
he went to the work Of finishing the
cabin. laying the roof and hanging
the crude door
+ It was with a certain vague quality
OF pleasure that he regarded this
cabin he had built with his own
/ hands. finished now, except for the
thinking Of the logs. 1t was the first
creative work he had ever done, and
he looked at it and saw that It was
good.
The cabin itself was roomy and
snug; here he could find seclusion
from Doomsdorf and his imperturb-
able squaw.
! Doomsdorf gave him a rusted, dis
carded stove; and it was almost Joy
/ to see it standing. in its PLACED With
Doomsdorf's permission, he devoted a
full day to procuring fuel for It.
Four days more the three Of them
worked at the task OF laying In fuel
! Ned doing the Hons share Of the
work, Of course; Bess toillng to the
limit Of her fine young strength: Le-
more making the merest prstense. The
result Of the latter's idleness was. of
course, that her two companions had
! to divide her share of work between
them. Every day Doomsdorf allotted
them certain duties-so many trees to
lcut up into stove wood. or some other
! & So = : : |l|Ill