The Boss of Wind River

rs had silvered his mane it was as red as any danger flag that ever wagged athwart steel rails. He held strong opinions, he

ct chronic nightmare. Twenty odd years before he had called to him one Dorsey

n, removed his pipe, scratched

t a sheet of foolscap. "Here's the n

paper. "What do you

u," said Crooks. "Get at her and finish he

Dorsey. "She'll

there an added veranda or bow window was offered in mitigation of the original crime; but its stark, ungraceful outline remained a continual offence to the eye. That was outside. Inside it was different. The rooms were big and airy and

rew to womanhood, a straight, lithe, slender, dark-haired young tyrant, with his own fearlessness and directness

, and either went back to his office in the evenings or spent them quietly at the club. But on th

g men were making exceedingly light conversation to two young women. William Crooks was nowher

u, Joe. I've been look

d Kent. "And then, naturally,

understand, of course. Come up and be p

one I

my guest for a few wee

d colouring of a flower. Her smile was simply distracting. Her voice was low and musical, and her laughter carried a little trill that stuck in the memory like the first bird

e down the walk

ou, Joe. I've been lo

esence by day, clustered around her closely. Each was quite positive that her glances and laughter held a meaning for him which the others did not share. The charmed circle, momentarily broken by the entrance of Kent, closed again. They talked at Miss

imself and Miss Jack

" she

, than

Is it love at first

petition is too keen. Besides, Jack,

urprise. "I waive my prior claim," she added, with a laugh.

Joe admitted. "Is she related to Hugh Garw

Jack briefly. "

accounts for the obvious de

it isn't nice. She c

. I was speaki

re a young man I'd fall in love with her. It w

her glance had met his and she had given him a friendly smile. It seemed to hint at an understanding between them-as if

same time he began to feel a slight aversion to the four men who monopolized her; but he explained this to himself quite honestly on the ground that it was bo

n, emerging upon the veranda, "why don't yo

ack. "Sit down and make yourself at

t to talk over some business with you, Joe. You wo

Don't keep him al

ng at her fondly. "Come on, J

ffed birds and fish, guns and rods adorned the walls. A huge table in the centre of the room bore a mass of papers in which pipes, cartrid

e asked, "how

. "I'm just beginning to learn the rop

me if you get stuck; but work things out for yourse

don't see how I'm to

Don't worry about the notes or renewals. Only-I may as well talk straight to you, Joe-I don't want to increase my liabilities without I have to. U

try to get along. Anyway, I never thoug

"Come to me as if I were your father, boy. I'll go with you a

and shook it, an action which embarra

ed. "Don't be a blamed young foo

n, Mr. Crooks. By the way, what would you think of turning my bu

king to you?" d

rman dropped in

did he

icular. He just happened in, being in town.

here or see anybody without he wants somethin

s listened intently

onsider it," he said. "Now he comes to you. Huh!" He smoked in silence fo

of stock for his services," said Joe, and he thought the comm

lumberman bluntly. "If you fell in with his p

gested that I retain a

In about six months he'd iss

do that unless

own your drives, cut them up into lumber, and the demand will take care of the rest. That's how it used to be. It isn't so now. Timber is getting scarcer and prices are going up. There is a scramble for what timber limits are lef

the same time he thought

to the divide. You'd better send a couple of cruisers into Wind River and let them work east ov

en there now,"

this bidding work

r tenders and accepts th

sometimes the boys pooled on 'em. Now what happens is this: The government may open any timber for sale on any man's application, and they are supposed to advertise for tenders. If the applicant isn't a friend they wo

d. "You're not friendly to the p

itated for

of his name-if I get what I want. Oh, I know it's rotten, but I have to stand for it or shut down. Your father did the same thing; you'll have to do it, too. I'm not d

ishment, not unmix

d for a hundred thousand, composed of a young lawyer, a bookkeeper, a real estate man, and an insurance agent-individuals, mind you, who couldn't raise

suspicion that Crooks was stringing him crossed his min

go, and I turned it down. It came through a firm of lawyers for clients unnamed. Since then I've had a run of bad luck. My sales h

im that bad luck, which often runs in grooves, had g

s enough for me. I'm going to find out why, because if I don't I may as well quit playing." He banged his big fist viciously on the table. "I'll know the reason why!"

and feet. Few men then had cared to arouse Bill Crooks. Now the old fighting spirit surged up and took possessio

e all evening. Edith and I have been waiting alone for half

young fellows without Jo

his tone. "Anything the matter,

dly. "Business bothers-nothing to worry about.

. I won't; but for being rude to me you sh

. Crooks," said Mi

nows it," said Crooks, but followed his dau

oice. She struck a chord, and Crooks, his face beaming and his ill humour forgotten, with the preliminary whi

t shanty boys, an'

in cruel frosts, but s

rotten, an' the rol

eavey sticks while

ways out, me boys, an'

' grease yer boots, an

f water is the ne

of her, an' keep he

a thunderous fist. Jack's clear alto and Joe's

mes dow-un, when t

id our money, an' it's

with whiskey when the

in the sidewalks when

re, Mr. Crooks!" He nodded at her i

ads will never lift

ck wid the frost, nor

rowlin' logs that ha

to get it so-it ma

s out, me lads, an' le

thin the woods ten's

before ye take the

e's in Heaven watch t

rts dow-un, when th

in Heaven he wud sw

k again, an' a so

eath him as he drives

t's sad, fatalistic, reckless-anything and everything it

gh," said Crooks, winking at J

Jack. "A shantyman requires sentiment or murder, and prefera

hundred verses, more or less. I'm going t

, Joe," laughed Jack.

aid Crooks. "Jack

e. "I feel it my duty to set an e

n, the way you us

an be expressed by a pair of blue eyes. Joe felt that, unless he was an absol