First at the North Pole

s low but there was no wind, and he did not mind the cold, for he had plenty of good red blood in his veins. All he was worried abo

I get. Even if I went hunting and brought down a deer or two, or a moose, that wouldn't bring in enough. If I were a regular guide I might get a job with t

sounds of the axes, and the shouts of the men to "stand from under" as a mighty monarch of the for

und?" he asked, of th

e clerk scarcely looked up from th

ill he

w-he's gone

an opening for a chop

r men last week, and we're going to l

hdrew. He had had a walk of nearly five miles for n

ramp to the Elroy place-that's six miles from here-but what's the use? I'll wear out b

ber of men were at work. Just then the twelve o'clock whistle

saw a brawny chopper named Bill Carrow approaching. Carrow h

uth. "Going to feed the

w are you?" And the l

t I'd feel bette

too bad. I don't suppose

ny-said they were discharging

the panic last year, you know." Bill Ca

I can wai

me and I'll fill you up. Your father d

tantial dinner, which Carrow procured from the camp cook. It was disposed of in a corner of the mess cab

"If I was you, I'd not lift my finger to support him. He was the laziest young feller I ever knew

only leave me alone and not tr

r father left-I know all abou

ake him do

him on a rail, or tar and feather

hen he gets in a rage." Andy did not want any mo

amed Hopton call on you lately

er heard of hi

and farm lands. He came here a week or so ago, thinking you had a jo

e him. What

siness. But he did ask me, confidential like-after he found out that I had

e he had time to think. "Did he-that is,

land anywhere. He looked satisfied at that an

was h

ight tell you at the offi

ood, nor did he wish to disclose the secret left by his parent

and continued to cough, until the awkward question was forgotten. Other workmen came up, and the talk became ge

office. He found the clerk smoking a pipe and reading a Bangor n

as Andy came in. "We can

ion, if you'll be kind enough to give

ou mean A. Q. Hopton,

eal in tim

nk he

is he

rtland, and another in

ow where h

ss some days ago. Perhaps

nk y

d acres of land?" and the

on the road," answered Andy, with a grin. And then, as there seemed nothing more

A. Q. Hopton know about the lumber tract in Michigan? Was

couldn't make head or tail of them. I guess it would take a smart lawyer to get to the bottom of it

erviewed Uncle Si? And if so, how much had Uncle Si been able to tell the real estate de

him to account for it!" cried the youth, vehemently. "After this he has got to leave my affai

home at once and interview his uncle. For the time being he lost his

he told himself. "I'll just stop at the store

st while the storekeeper put up the few things he desired. These he paid f

obacco," said the storekeeper.

it himself, Mr. Sands,"

ht, Andy, jus

I buy, and he

e volumes. He handed over some change that was due. "By the way, did yo

. Hop

's th

he

re you lived when your uncle came along for the toba

ds our

real estate man had a sleigh, a

Mr. Hopt

your uncle said he had them. Mr. Hopton said something about

is uncle had found the timber claim papers, and was going t

imself, and catching up his bundles he left the general store, a