Plentywood herald., 1933-03-23

Not now. Ole. Not yeti Got some
thing TO do. first
As he trotted around the pond. un
der the slide and made for the cal
from which four thousand feet of log.
had rumhled down to menace him
Ole put down his pike-poie and fol
lowed.
As the Swede rounded the half-emp
tied car he saw John sauatted low te
the snow.
Careful, Ole." the boy cautioned
teeth chattering @Don't step In his
tracks. Got match?-
Edging along so that his feet would
not obIiterate 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. see7 Here's where his
weight rocked up on the balls of his
feet -. Came over here and after
wards went ont that way. See where
he rans-
who. Yohns" Ole asked. puzzled
Whoever tripped the stakes to LET
the load down on mela John laughed
harshly. @You didn't think they lust
let 60. did you. Ole.r
"Yumpin' Yesus." breathed his com
nanion.
Hustle with the light now. Let's
see what We can see!H
Together they bent low over the
tracks. while Ole struck fresh match.
New rubbers. see. Ole? See
That star brand In the heel? Old
ones wouldn't leave clean mark like
that. looks like the work of
die- Heavy big man.
Quickly he spanned the footprints with
spread fingers to gauge the dimensions
OF the footmarks Long stopper. too
See how far he stepped when he lit
out for cover7 Tall as ! am. Oles
lhe SEede was speeches. until
John, staring off into the shadows of
the lumber yard, fnvoluntarily moaned
with the cold
Pr gosh. Yonny, you come by q
fire now quick y
Lie went then. standing before open
fre-box in the boiler room. undressing
there staring at the roaring. orange
mass of blazing wood which drove the
cold from his body and set his gar
ments steaming- The fighting light In
his eyes was something to behold,
and rs 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
were quick and sharp, possessing a
distinctly yindIctiye 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 a
ciew the proprietor advised one to bet
his life he had rubbers.
New stock Just opened 'em this
week" he said They're the best
buy for the money I've found and"
John did not listen as the man ey-
folled the virtues of his wares. He
held a rubber in his hand, gazing at
the raised star In the heel with ITS
constellation Of little stars about it. at
the heavy, crepe sole like the surface
OF spring mushroom.
'4Sold manyz'
Well, not many. Only two pafrs.
yet You ask the boys, though. THEY'LL
tell you they fit fine around the foot
Try one ON and
Not now. Who bought?-
The merchant scratched his head
and told him the names of his mr.
chasers The last man mentioned
crystalized the suspicion that had been
In Johns mind.
The recreation hall was accommo- |
dating its usual evening throng when !
John entered He passed among |
tables where smear and checkers en- |
gagged attention, went past the fire.
place towards the pool tables with
their shaded green lights.
Baxter was sitting against the wall. /
q pimply faced lad grinning at him
from one side; another loafer sitting
bent far forward. elbows on his
knees. sycophants He looked up. per-
haps trifie warily, as John ap-
preached His hands were in his
pockets. one foot crossed over the
other knee
Put up your foot, Baxterir John
said sharply. coming to q halt before
him
The man started
sHuhgs he asked.
Put up your footir
Who says sofv he asked trucu-
emily
Il do. Put Ii upIr
The man laughed
IF you want my foot up.r he
,rOwled. drawing his hands from his
,ockets. .you 60 down and git IT
md"
John went down with swoop and d
.rouch. = swing Of his one hand. fasten-
NJ On the mans ankle, a backward
way. dragging Baxter from his chair
rith = thud. crash, an oath.
One lex In the air, held there by
hat hand. seated on the floor for q
piit second. the man gawped while his