The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-15
CHAPTER V

Just at breakfast time, while Ben
was providing the mill, admitting 70
himself that perhaps it was time to
look at his hole card-the letter that
the old cruiser had sent to him with
its intriguing fIscriprion-a stranger
0ehind a light driving team swung into
The mill-yard, stopped and tied his
horses. na ~
"Well, you had a fre!" he said as
Ben approached. See you've still got a
mill standing. though"
standing, yes. But that's all you
can say for IT," -
That's tough I" The man eyed him
In genuine concern. "Are you by any
chance Ben Elliott?"
81 am" -. r- "a.
Elliott, my names Blackmore. Glad
90 see you'll was in here and talked
with Harrington week before last and
he was saving out some veneer logs
for me. I'm with the Veneer Export
ing corporation and we're in the mar
ket for quite few cars of stuff. Won
der If | could interest you In a deal.
Markets right good and we're In need
of some more stuff to fill out a ship
ment. Maybe with your mill shut
down you might be interested"
THAT'S close guess. Shoot!"
"TH pay you a hundred and twenty
dollars a thousand for birds eye maple
and ninety dollars for veneer birch ;
standard specifications and delivery in
side of two weeks on, say, thirty thou
sand. l know you're busy, so l name
the top and pass any dickering."
A hundred and twenty. And
ninety for birch! Ben's heart leaped
but he gave no outward indication of
the great relief that surged through
him.
1.-TWO weeks?" he asked.
"Yes, and less. Let's see. I'll
have to have thirty thousand deliv-
cred in just eleven days to be safe in
getting 'em to Montreal on time. I'll
take fifty thousand at the price but
the thirty will have to be loaded and
on track first"
''That'n be fast production"
"All of rhatl But If / can't get the
stuff from you l can from Brandon by
going up a few dollars a thousand.
My cards are on the table, Elliott. Can
we deal?"
Ben considered, rubbing his chin
with knuckle. He looked up the road
which led toward camp to see man
approaching with that quick, space-de-
,vouring stride of the woodsman.
"Had breakfast ." no asked
mo" .zy- 49,
Blanket your team and go eat. I'll
have an answer for you by the time
you're through" So
AS the veneer buyer entered the
boarding house Bird-Eye Blaine-the
traveller from camp-had reached the
mill-yard.
For the love av-" he began, turn.
ing his amazed stare from the mill to
Elliott.
Yes, a fire, Bird-Eye. Never mind
that now. Where'd you get your
name2" - t1,s
ME namel Say, where does amy
man"
Il mean Bird-Eye.' Why do they
call you thar?" ~
"Oh, thatl Why, l looked veneer
stuff from Brandon for years ontil |
got sick with disgust fer ts' mon.
Il see. And you've been on the Hoot
Owl for three years. haven't you? Know
the timber pretty well?"
Il know livery quarter. stake by its
first name"
"How much bird's-eye and veneer
birch is there within draying distance
of the steel? Let's get down to cases.
Do you think there's ten thousand?
Or ffty?" ~
Fifty Nav! Tin?"-twisting his
head. "Twict that, anyhow. Nd on
rwinty-three the IS another bunch av
ut. Scattered all through, too but
punched, Misther Elliott, Ioike We don't
see ut frequent. That makes ut easy
to git out"
What I'm getting at is this: With
the crew I've got could we get thirty
thousand out In ten days?"
Bird-Eye shrugged.
"Domn, by, but that's chore With
this crew av hay tossers?" He shook
his head. ''Mebby you could =. you
md Paul Bunyan. Most men couldn't
even so much as start"
"Wait here. I'll see you in few
minutes" w
He entered Buffers house where
Able Armitage slipped coffee gloomily,
neglecting the food on his plate.
"This is the nineteenth" Ben said.
with what bank balance we have, how
much must we get together to meet the
payroll, that one note that you think
can't be renewed and interest on
others tbat'll be due? My figures are
all up at camp" al
Able considered at length.
"Three thousand might let us out.
Why?"
He put that question dryly.
81 just wondered" Ben turned to
Butler. "How many men will you need
to get the mill In shape? mean, how
many can you use and not have them
falling over each otherT
"Oh, four or five besides myself"
Ben nodded. "That'lI give me If
teen of the mill crew to throw into the
woods" His eyes snapped as he looked
back at Able. "a half hour ago was
feeling about half licked. I'll make
the three thousand by the first or break
my neck"
"What are you getting at. BennyT'
Able demanded. q 81
A'-4-s- -----