Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-03-29
CHAPTER ix--Contlnued

aAkO
What happened? Anybody hurt?
Who was 1t? Chattering
then, as John, still painting, shaking
with cold, dragged himself out.
"All right !" he gasped, and then
to Ole, 'Much obliged.
Seemed to swim an hour look
ing for a hole!"
"Py gosh, John, you come by a
fire now - said Ole as, water stream
ing from his wooden clothing, John
made his way to shore across the
logs.
He was shivering, but he shook his
head.
mot now, Ole, Not yeti Got some
thing to do, first"
AS he trotted around the pond,
under the slide and made for the
car from which four thousand feet
of logs had rumbled down to men,
ace him, Ole put down his pike
pole and followed.
Careful, OLE" the boy eau
toned, teeth chattering. Don't step
In his tracks. Got a match?"
Edging along SO that his feet
would not obliterate any of the traces
there in the newly-fallen snow, the
older man drew matches from his
pocket and lighted one.
HE came In from yonder," John
said, pointing to lumber piles. "He
stood there behind that truck a
while; squatted down, see? Here's
where his weight rocked up or the
balls Of his feet. Came over
here and afterwards went out that
way. See where he ran?~
"Who, Yohn?" Ole asked, puzzled.
whoever tripped the stakes to let
the load down on mel" John
laughed harshly. "You didn't think
they just let go, did you, OleT
"Yumpin' Yesus!" breathed his
companion.
Hustle with the light now. Let's
see WHIT we an see
Together they bent low over the
tracks, while Ole struck a fresh
match.
New rubbers, see, Olef -. See
that star brand In the heelf Old
ones wouldn't leave a clean mark like
that: looks like the work Of a
die /. Heavy big man."
Quickly he spanned the footprints
with spread fingers to gauge the d.
mansions of the footmarks. Long
stopper, tool See how fer he stepped
when he lit out for cover? Tall as /
am, OLE"
The Swed was ~speechless until
John, staring off into the shadows
Of the lumber yard, involuntarily
moaned with the cold.
"Py gosh, Yonny, you come by a
fire now quick !"
He went then, standing before
open fire-box In the boiler room, un.
dressing there, staring at the roar
ing orange mass of blazing wood
which drove the cold from his body
and set his garments steaming. The
fighting light In his eyes was some
thing TO behold, and IS he later
changed from his half-dried clothing
In his room, rubbing his great body
briskly to drive out the last of the
chill, his movements we're quick and
sharp, possessing a distinctly vim
dictive quality.
He did not eat. He went, instead.
from store to store where footgear
was sold In Kampfest. In the third
and last place where he might find q
clew the proprietor advised one to
bet his life he had rubbers.
John did not listen as the man ex-
tolled the virtues Of his wares. He
held a rubber In his hand, gazing at
the raised star in the heel.
"Sold many?'
"Well, not many. Only two pairs
yet You ask the boys, though
They'll tell you they fit fine around
the foot Try n on and"
mot now. Who bought2"
The merchant scratched his head
and told him the names of his pur.
chasers. The last man mentioned
crystalized the suspicion that haC
been in Johns mind.
The recreation hall was accom-
modating its usual evening throne
when John entered. Baxter was sit
ting agains. the wall, a pimply faced
lad grinning at him from one side
another loafer sitting bent far for
ward; elbows on his knees; syco
plants. He looked up, perhaps (
trife warily, as John approached
His hands were In his pockets, on,
foot crossed over the other knee.
Put up your foot, Baxter |" Johl
said sharply, coming to a halt be
fore him.
The man started.
"Who says so?" he asked trucu
lently.
II do. Put 1t upl"
The man laughed.
IF you want my foot up" b
Srowled. drawing his hands from hi
pockets. "you 60 down and git |
and"
John went down with a swoop an