The Riverman

rains are cold and persistent--the proverbs as to showers were made for another latitude. Drenched garments are bad enough when a man is moving about a

camp which, in the broader reaches of the lower river, took place nearly every day. Men worked in soaked garments, slept in damp blankets. Charlie cooke

s and ducks, the sweet-songed thrushes. Little tepid breezes wandered up and down, warm in contrast to the faint snow-chill that even yet lingered in the shadows. Sounds carried clearly, so that the shouts and banter of the rivermen were plainly audible up the reach

though he enjoyed it. Gradually the men got used to him, and ceased to treat him as an outsider. His thin, eager face, his steel-blue, inquiring eyes behind the glasses, his gray felt hat, his lank, tense figure in its gray, became a familiar feature. They t

s until evening to interview that busy and good-natured individual. Then his questions were direct and to the point. They related generally to the advisa

gh-and-ready but very effective rule of thumb. He built and abandoned structures which would have furnished opportunity for a winter's discussion to some committees; just as, earlier in the work, the loggers had built through a rough country some hundreds of miles of road better than railroad grade, solid in foundation, and smooth as a turnpike, the quarter of which would have occupied the average county board of supervisors for five years. And while he was at it, Orde kept h

s from Lake Michigan. The water-power developed from the rapids explained Redding's existence. Most of the logs floated down the river were carried through to the village at the lake coast, where, strung up the river for eight or ten mile

break up as soon as the logs

tion of the rivermen, eager for a taste of the town, tramped away down the road, to return e

ther wild spree, and turned up at noon chipper as larks. Not so the cook. He moped about disconsolately all day; and in the

ste, Charlie?" he inqui

urnfully sh

l your pulse. Stick ou

nking, I tell you

I hope none of MY boys ever take a drink! But that lemon

of beer!" cried Charlie, goaded, "a

pink-cheeked, embarrassed

did Johnny Challan

none to speak of,

joyless demeano

culate; but Johnny Challan interp

t 'bun

cried Orde

ey was a couple of sports there who throwed out three cards on the table and bet you couldn't pick the jack

monte," sa

h?" aske

dollars," rep

on the disgr

mping with this outfit of hard citize

ing to his companions exac

said big Tim Nolan. "If you got a quick enough eye to see

d," agreed Challan. "'Your

to take a try at

e discussion. "Have you a pack of cards

turkey and produced the

deck," said he, "and I think t

sured Newmark, reaching

ose in front squatting, those be

cker-box of drying so

I pass my hands--so. Pick the jack, one of you," he challenged, leaning back from the

forward and rather hesitatingly laid a blunt

rk turned it over. It

big shoulders forward. "I bet I know which it w

ere the card-sharps get you fellows every time. Well

cated one without hesitation. Again

and the young man, with inexhaustible patience, threw out the cards

he calle

ll your money," he pointed o

e cards. Then quite calmly, without disturbing the three on t

was the nearest, leaned forward and turned over the three on th

of ten," announced Newmark. "Once in a while yo

every time before you throwe

ained Newmark. "The sim

ks to me as if you had just about a

that, Newmark?" inquired North.

he. "I learned a lot of those tricks

ped on his hand, watching intently all that was going on. After the comment

are you to get Charlie's

returned

and maybe not. And you boys that go with me have got to keep sober. There isn't going to be any row unless I

greed Nolan, "

rew then in camp signified their i

he first look of trouble they will light out. They have it all fi

going to play their game. But I bet I can make it g

ried Newmark disgustedly. "It'

y, "but it's simple enough, if you know how to make the

hat, in face of Newmark's demon