The Rules of the Game

eps picked out by the sharp caulks of the rivermen's boots. A round stove held the place of honour in the first room. Benches flanked the walls. At one end was a table-sink, and tin wash-bas

ly woman made an announcement f

well-cooked--food. Nowhere does the man who labours with his hands fare better than in the average lumber camp. Forest operations have a largeness in conception and execution that leads away from the habit of the mean, small and foolish economics. At one side, and near the windows, stood a smal

arer being obligatory than a matter of choice. Conversation was discouraged by the goo

added by the outdoor, varied life. Indeed, later he discovered them to be sons of carpenters, mechanics and other higher-class, intelligent workingmen; boys who had gone through high school, and perhaps a little way into the business college; ambitious young

op. Bob, his imagination already stirred by the incidents of his strol

Branch hasn't got to the river yet. What in blazes did yo

efly. "Why? Is it hard driving? I've neve

e stream, through a mixed hardwood and farm country. Lots of partridges and mossbacks, but no

ne that kind of

shioned white-water birlers, I'd rest easy. But we don't have no crews

bantered Fox. "Why haven

nto a grindstone and wear out. But it's a fact. There's plenty left can ri

y as I remember so well what a soft-spoken, l

ld office self, winked at Bob. T

but one thing. When they managed to decipher the oldest known piece of hi

Bones," said Tally,

e old riverman's

it he lamented the good old times when he was young, and g

and the others burst i

t me a new foreman." He turned to Fox. "Smith broke his leg; and I can't

be plenty of goo

but they'r

r at Marion," spoke u

enying he's a good man in the woods. But if he's at Marion, h

ee days ago," s

t. I'll run over this afternoon and see what I can do with him. If Tom Wel

simultaneous finishing of feeding at the men's tables. At the boss's

ernoon," said he, "that I don't believe I'll ha

e of a figure at his elbow. He turned to see old Jim Tally ben

in Marion, bub

artily, surprised at

riverman, "the lightning expr