Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

steak ‘comes im. WITHOUT GLOVES. No, ‘MacAlister ain’t got nothin’ 4o say about it. They’s three men app’inted by the court. Appraisers, they call ‘em. MacAlister picks out one, an’ Bledgett picks out one, an’ them two picks out the other one. They go over the ground an’ figger what the damages is.” “How do they figger the damages?” “ Cruise the tunber an’ figger out the stumpage.” ‘But, hell, man,” cried Leonard, “ that ain’t no way to figger that piece of timber! Look at the way it’s be’n handled! An’ look at the young stuff! Would they make Blodgett pay for the young stuff same as the big sticks?” “You ort to know by this time what log- gin’ men thinks of young stuff,’ answered Neely. For a long time Leonard was silent, and when he spoke it was as much to himself as to the boss. “‘ He’s be’n a long time workin’ that tim- ber. He’s got young stuff comin’ along that’s better’n six inches through, that was seedlin’s he set out in them back strips. An’ the big stuff stands thicker to-day than it stands right here where it ain’t never be’n touched. It’s what he’s laid by fer Zev —that young stuff is—an’ by God, she’s goim’ to have it! ‘They won’t be no dam on Wild Goose, Neely, but how we goin’ to stop it?” The boss knecked the ashes from his pipe against the corner of the stove. ‘“ Maybe we can’t stop it,” he answered. ““ Anyway, we’ve got quite a little time to figger it out. It might be we'll have to make a trip to St. Paul.” “Vd make a trip to hell to save her timber,” said Leonard, as he drew on his cap and mittens. “ But if I de old Blodgett ‘li go along with me.” “ Best to do it accordin’ to law,” advised Neely. ‘“Law’s all right if it works,” admitted -Leonard. “If it don’t, then we got to try some other way.” Opening the door, he stepped out into the starlit clearing. Two weeks later the three level men = came out of the weeds, and again Leonard tried to engage them in casual conversa- — 581. tion, but their answers were brief and — evasive. Evidently they had been advised not to talk. January passed without Leonard finding time to visit MacAlister’s cabin. One morning early in February, Elija Blodgett — himself stepped from the logging train, and proceeded at once to Number Nine, where he spent the night. Late the following aiternoen he returned to Number Eight, and, after supper, retired with Neely to the little office. By way of opening the cun- versation, Blodgett expressed approval of the progress made in the timber. “You have done very well, Neely, very well,” he said, rubbing his bony hands te- gether close to the stove. - “ Another sixty days will see the last of the timber on the cars, and the price is still mounting, Neely, still mounting.” “That’s good,” the boss replied. “ Yes, sixty days will see the finish. Then I s’pose you'll be tacklin’ the back tract next winter.” “ Just so, Neely, just so. And it was to arrange for that that I came up here. A terrible trip, Neely, at this time of year— a most uncomfortable and disagreeable journey.” “Well, they don’t run no Pullmans on this loggin’ spur,” admitted the boss with a grin. “ But cabooses ain’t so bad when you git use’ to ’°em. Looks like you could of waited till spring, though, if you ain’t figgerin’ on goin’ into the back tract till next fall.” “And so I could, Neely, so FE could, if it were not for the fact that the back tract offers very exceptional difficulties in the matter of getting the logs to the mills. It is, as you know, completely surrounded by a very considerable swamp, and were we forced to extend the railroad through this swamp the expense would be prohibitive.” Neely was about to interrupt, but Blod- gett motioned him to silence. ‘‘ Just a mo- ment, Neely, just a moment. As I say, it was this that induced me to undertake this trip inte the woods. And now, before we proceed further, and to avoid needless repe-— tition of instructions, I will ask you to se- lect a man from the crew who may be de- —_ upon to stand loyally by us. cCOomicboo oO S He — com: