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The Rules of the Game

The Rules of the Game

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Part 1 Chapter 1

Word Count: 1981    |    Released on: 18/11/2017

oment before crossing a bridge over a river. From it descended a

a small, painted, windowless structure next the water met his eye as the handiwork of man. The windowless structure was bleak, deserted and obviously locked by a strong padlock and hasp. Nevertheless, the man, throwing on his shou

An otherwise absolutely unprepossessing face was rendered most attractive by a pair of twinkling, humorous blue eyes, set far apart. I

The wind blew strong up the river; the baring branches of the willows whipped loose their yell

h it the creak of rowlocks. A moment later a light, flat

" remarked the man on the duffle-bag, without m

He was about ten years the other's junior, big of frame, ta

he property of the Maple County Duck Club. Tres

d hands and look

n," Orde broke the momentary silence. "It's been--l

't anything but mud hens and hell divers here, I'm going to su

othingly, "or you can come out and see me kill 'em if you'll si

h a dexterity marvellous in one apparently s

ow to ride a log, I

n exp

logs yet. I don't suppose you'd know a log if you'd see one, you' soft

us named Welton is about my size--as I

n gri

and the little

little boy,' as you call him, graduated

uinely astounded. "Why, of course,

ld give him a chance. Why, he's been cap

p at Minneapolis when his team licked the stuffing out of our boys; and I remember his name. But I ne

ason I wanted to see you; why I asked you to run over from Chic

er be!" said

ven if I wanted to. But, Welton, I'm a Riverman, and I always will be. It's in my bones. I want Bob to grow up in the smell of the woods--same as his dad

d the duck-boat drifted silent

on n

ontinued. "Don't try to favour him--that's no favour. If he doesn't make good, fire him. Don't tell any of your people that he's the son of a friend. Let

it won't last long. We're cleaned up in Minnesota; and have only an odd two

then?" asked Orde, quiet

o retire and

ughed q

you a big house, which would keep you mad for six months more. Then you'd degenerate to buying subscription bo

d back, a tri

on. "And as for enjoying life, I'll trade jobs

an't pick up any more timber at any price. I tell you, the g

ugar pine in California. What do you s

ed Welton, his jaw dropp

rs ago, under a corporation name. I was the whole

Wolverine pro

ver hea

there trying to get hold of somet

going to retire,

but I've some sort of not

hy

where. Didn't pay extra much attention, because I wasn't interested in

s across his lap to

aid he. "Frank Taylor straightened it out for me. You can see him. As a matter of fact, most of that land I bought outright fro

aid Welton, his jolly eyes

. Nothing's worse for a boy than to feel that everything's cut and dried for him. He is to understand that he must go to work

nd about this

get down to details later. Bob can work for you there the sa

of the water itself shone with an added luminosity, reflecting the sky. In the mid

ow, if you disgrace me, you old

o draw lots for choice of blinds on the morrow. A savoury smell of roasting ducks came from the tiny kitchen where Weber--punter, keeper, duck-caller and cook--exercised the last-na

swept the marshes. Men chattered and shivered, and blew on their wet fingers, but in from

, at the end of two days, the men thawed o

soon as our woods work is under way, I'll run out to California and look over the ground--see how easy it is to log that country. Then we can talk busine

ned apolo

work until after the season," said he. "I'm just an old fool enough to tell him he cou

any bluffs on me. You're tickled to death with that boy, and you are hoping that team will lick the everlasting daylights out of Chicago, Thanksgivi

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1 Part 1 Chapter 12 Part 1 Chapter 23 Part 1 Chapter 34 Part 1 Chapter 45 Part 1 Chapter 56 Part 1 Chapter 67 Part 1 Chapter 78 Part 1 Chapter 89 Part 1 Chapter 910 Part 1 Chapter 1011 Part 1 Chapter 1112 Part 1 Chapter 1213 Part 1 Chapter 1314 Part 1 Chapter 1415 Part 1 Chapter 1516 Part 1 Chapter 1617 Part 1 Chapter 1718 Part 1 Chapter 1819 Part 1 Chapter 1920 Part 1 Chapter 2021 Part 2 Chapter 122 Part 2 Chapter 223 Part 2 Chapter 324 Part 2 Chapter 425 Part 2 Chapter 526 Part 3 Chapter 127 Part 3 Chapter 228 Part 3 Chapter 329 Part 3 Chapter 430 Part 3 Chapter 531 Part 3 Chapter 632 Part 3 Chapter 733 Part 3 Chapter 834 Part 3 Chapter 935 Part 3 Chapter 1036 Part 3 Chapter 1137 Part 3 Chapter 1238 Part 3 Chapter 1339 Part 3 Chapter 1440 Part 3 Chapter 1541 Part 3 Chapter 1642 Part 3 Chapter 1743 Part 3 Chapter 1844 Part 3 Chapter 1945 Part 3 Chapter 2046 Part 3 Chapter 2147 Part 3 Chapter 2248 Part 3 Chapter 2349 Part 3 Chapter 2450 Part 3 Chapter 2551 Part 4 Chapter 152 Part 4 Chapter 253 Part 4 Chapter 354 Part 4 Chapter 455 Part 4 Chapter 556 Part 4 Chapter 657 Part 4 Chapter 758 Part 4 Chapter 859 Part 5 Chapter 160 Part 5 Chapter 261 Part 5 Chapter 462 Part 5 Chapter 463 Part 5 Chapter 564 Part 5 Chapter 665 Part 5 Chapter 766 Part 5 Chapter 867 Part 5 Chapter 968 Part 5 Chapter 1069 Part 5 Chapter 1170 Part 5 Chapter 1271 Part 5 Chapter 1372 Part 5 Chapter 1473 Part 5 Chapter 1574 Part 5 Chapter 1675 Part 5 Chapterr 1776 Part 5 Chapter 1877 Part 5 Chapterr 1978 Part 5 Chapter 2079 Part 5 Chapter 2180 Part 5 Chapter 2281 Part 5 Chapter 2382 Part 5 Chapterr 2483 Part 5 Chapter 2584 Part 5 Chapter 2685 Part 5 Chapter 2786 Part 5 Chapter 2887 Part 5 Chapter 2988 Part 5 Chapter 3089 Part 5 Chapter 3190 Part 5 Chapter 3191 Part 5 Chapter 3292 Part 5 Chapter 3393 Part 5 Chapter 3494 Part 5 Chapter 3595 Part 5 Chapter 3696 Part 5 Chapter 3797 Part 5 Chapter 3898 Part 5 Chapter 3999 Part 5 Chapter 40100 Part 5 Chapter 41