The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-03-01
CHAPTER v


Just at breakfast time, while Ben
was prowling the mill, admitting TO
himself that perhaps it was time to
look at his iole card-the letter that
the old cruiser had sent to him with
its intriguing inscription-a stranger
behind a light driving team swung into
the mill-yard, stopped and tied his
horses.
swell, you had fret" 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,"
"Thats toughl" The man eyed him
in genuine concern. "Are you by any
chance Ben Elliott?"
81 am"
"Elliott my names Blackmore. Glad
to see you'll l 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 ship
ment. Maybe with your mill shut
down you might be interested"
"That's a close guess. Shooti"
"I'll 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. I know you're busy, so I 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.
Eyes, and less. Let's see. Til
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'l be fast production"
"All of that! But if / can't get the
stuff from you can from Brandon by
going up a few dollars a thousand.
NV 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 a man
approaching with that quick, space-de-
youring stride of the woodsman.
Had breakfast?" he asked.
"No."
Blanket your team and go eat. I'll
have an answer for you by the time
you're through"
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.
Eyes, fire, Bird-Eye. Never mind
that now. Where'd you get your
name?"
me namel Say, where does amy
man"
II mean Bird-Eye.' Why do they
call you that?"
"Oh, thatI Why, l looked veneer
stuff from Brandon for years ontil /
got sick with disgust fer IT, mon."
;, II see. And you've been on the Hoor
Owl for three years, haven't you? Know
the timber pretty well?''
II know livery quarter stake by its
first namew
"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 fifty?"
"Fifty Nav! Tin?'-twisting his
head. "Twict that, anyhow. Nd on
rwinty-three the s another bunch av
ut. Scattered all through, too, but
punched, Misther Elliott, loike 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 chorel 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"
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 that'll be due7 My figures are
all up at camp"
Able considered at length.
"Three thousand might let us out
Why?"