The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-19
wNU Service


thought l could get away with 1t
and you might never do anything
about 1t, and a thousand dollars
"Oh, that r'-as if 1t didn't mat
ter, and Jim cleared his throat with
a great noise. "Wasn't thinkin' about
that, Drake. About Stevie, here, l
mean. Bad enough for grown
man to monkey with weather and
get froze up, but takin' fine little
duffer like Stevie into it. That
proves you a fool"
Sure. But I'm thinking about
the money, Jim. And that I'm
thief, now"
Never mind that, Drake. Nobody,
much, knows but us. And a thou
sands nothing"
But it is It's more money than
I'd ever hoped to have at one time.
1t was enough to give me start at
something. oh, I've got to tell it
all to you, Jim, or I'll go crazy !"
This was so odd that Stevie just
had to get his face up so he could
see. II could keep on bein' just a
clerk for you, or for some other
camp, and bringin' my boy up in the
bush where he'd never have a
chance. Since Molly died there's
been nobody to look after him and
it got me. That's no excuse.
won't give Stevie as an excuse for
bein' a thief, Jim. It's just'-he
made a helpless gesture with one
hand-"just that l amt made the
grade and want to do things for
him. never stopped to think
he might find out l was thief
some time"
The stiffness which followed was
so contrasted that it impressed even
the little boy.
I'm going to take that thousand
away from you, Drake" Jim said
slowly. ut amt what come after.
| trailed you because l knew you
didn't respect the weather as a man
should, pacbin' a little codger. But
now I'm goln' to take that thousand.
II wouldn't be fair to Stevie, not to,
even II | didn't need it. l got kids
of my own, Drake, young Jim and
Katie. 1t amt fair to your kids to
do anything but stay honest
But by then the place was getting
really warm and after one has been
cold for so long and Is so comfort
able, now, eyes will get heavy, no
matter what your father and boss
as important as Jim Flynn are say
ing. The voice close to the boy
rumbled on. growing sterner as the
child slept, but never becoming un-
kindly; just talking from the heart,
as a strong and tolerant man will
TO a weaker.
A far-sighted man, this Jim. He
had even brought bread and bacon
and after the boy had slept long
time they broiled strips of bacon
on sticks and ate bread and pre-
pared for a night of waiting out
the storm.
When it lifted the brakes went
on down the river through world
of binding white, leaving Flynn
TO return to camp, and now and
again as he trudged along the man
would say:
Hes so good, he amt human,
Stevie! He's saved you more
than you'll ever know he has. He's
even given us a job outside where
there'll be nobody to know and
plague you about bein' bein'
my son. Oh, we've got to do some
thing for Jim some time, you and
/.
He said that over and over: that
the brakes would have to do some
thing for Jim. And all through the
years that followed he said it until
the obligation was indelibly stamped
on Steve brakes consciousness.
Swiftly the boy grew up, matur-
ing as those will who are forced
not only to fight their own battles
but to fight for those who should,
by all natural law, be their pro-
tectors. Early in life he came to
regard his father as a pathetic fig
ure, to shield him, to do his level
best to bolster the mans insufficient
courage. He accepted the respon-
sibility without protest. When a
mans father is a weakling and has
no one on earth but his son, what
else is there to do?
They never saw Jim Flynn again.
He had finished his job on the north
shore Of Superior and went to op-
crate elsewhere. Now and again
they heard of him, though, and fire.
quently talked of him.
Always, at such times, the elder
Drake would say:
"If we ever get the chance,
Stevie :"
You bet !" his growing son would
agree. IF we ever get the chance
Wen bust ourselves wide open to
do something for old Jim"
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Copperheads Not Vicious