Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-02-02
keep afloat with what we have

avn altal 4 mat w 4fC q
or go down.
She paused and John had a queer
feeling: annoyance at her apparent
competence.
"Sn0w came early and we're going
TO have trouble with 1t. We have four
teen miles of railroad through chop
pings where drifting will be certain. |
was worried tonight and went looking
for Tiny and Way-Bill- my engineer
and conductor-to nave them take the
pillow u if it didn't LET up. That's
how | happened to see your reception.
The snow has stopped we're safe for
tonight. How long we'll be safe. no
one can tell. Without fighting snow
we've been unable to build up a re-
serve of logs in the millyard. A three
day shut down would ruin us"
She paused again and her eyes shift
ed a moment from his intent scrutiny.
She talked like a man. a business man.
but that change in her face indicated
to John that she was playing up to a
part. downing her weaknesses cad linn
itations with an effort which gaze her
a superficial Veneer OF coldness. hard
ness.
NO, things haven't been going so
well in the woods. | kept Royce, my
fathers old superintendent. on because
| could trust him absolutely and
/ =. | need men | can trusf"--the
shell she had built about herself giving
way ever so little for the moment.
I'VE were just getting along when Mr..
Belknap himself came up to Kamp-
fest
Johns mouth frightened and his
brows gathered closer.
.He seems to have arranged things
very well. For a year Mr.. Gorbel. his
partner. has been asking me to put a
price On the property. | have refused.
After Mr.. Belknap left. the process OF
forcing us out began. They overtaxed
our railroad with their logs: then Mr..
Belknap's hired thug put my superin-
tendent out of the picture. The camp
foreman, Mark Saunders. isn't up to
the job. Two others who are good
loggers won't come. now that the
story has got around that Tom Belk-
nap is after the Richards hide.
"That is the situation she ended
abruptly. That's what a superin-
tendent will have to confront Who
are you to do it2s
He smiled, despite the unpleasant
conviction that this Ellen Richards
was going TO be amazingly hard to
deal with. and reached into a pocket
for his bill-fold.
"A fellow doesn't like to polish his
own medals" he laughed. a bit nervous
ly. as he considered the thin Ice ON
which he was treading. I've only
held one job that amounted to any
thing"-fngering through the papers
In the wallet. I'VE had four years in
forestry school. but the value of that
remains to be proven. | suppose" He
handed over Sandy's letter. Il don't
know what you expect In the way of
personal qualifications. | swear when
1t isn't always necessary; ! smoke
cigarettes. I've been known TO drink
some. | don't know all that there is
to know about hardwood logging by a
long shot"
She was not reading the letter;
watching him, instead, as though his
words or intrigued her.
I'D be interested in this job prin-
/ c;paIlv hoc1urc n u-nuJd u-ou1d
show what | could do. and I'm curious
to know how good or how bad | am.
I've done my best to size up my own
shortcomings as for the rest. I'll leave
1t to Sandy Misunderstanding towards
the letter she held.
The girls eyes dropped to the
scrawl and her mouth twitched. Tt
was coming now. he felt She was
going TO jump at the chance of getting
helpl He leaned forward a bit.
That's a fine letter. Mr.. Steele she
said. witch Hill. / don't know
the company" She looked at him as
If Slightly puzzled and paused a mo-
ment. Then. decisiveiy: "rd like to
have you 20 to camp with me tomor-
row morning. After a few hours on
the job I'll give you an answer
She rose with a manner of dis
missal and John Belknap. m%asauerad-
ing now as John Steele. got to his feet,
| annoyed and COMPOUNDED.
"Fair enough" he said: 1t was all
there was to say. What timer"
Seven sharp, in the mill-yard.
Good night. And once more. | thank
you for for what you did here"
"That was all right" he said. "T,d
be glad to take on a row with a hand
| like Gorhelir
He did not heed the slight huskiness
that had been In her voice, Indication
that thinking back TO her encounter
brought a recurrence of fright. He did
not care what went on In the mind or
the heart OF Ellen Richards except for
what she might think or feel of him
as an applicant for a chance TO show
his father. indeed, what he was
wound on
CHAPTER Ill
He uaS In fho milI-vurd aorfr u,,.oL