Phil Rushington's Friends, or, Springvale Boys in a Lumber Camp — page 28: what you’re looking at

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26 “We will take care of them when they get . 99 here, and not borrow any trouble in advance. “All right. I tell ’em.” The man went back, and for a few moments Rush could see them exchanging a lively dis- course and pantomime, which ended in their drawing up in a line, as directed. I found the names for pay-roll in a box in Rock’s cabin. “Now I will act as paymaster. Each man has a number, and I will call them off while Vint hands out the envelopes. It is lucky I brought the cash so I can pay them from my pocket. Then I will whistle all hands to their quarters.” Rock and another crew of men were at hand, Phil Rush- To the announcement that ington pretended to pay little heed. His idea was to suppress by an appearance of indif- ference all inclination to a panic, and at the same time to get the men into a humor to obey him in case he should have to call upon them to fight for him in the end. Then the signal for the men to “line up” was given, To Danny he gave a few orders. obeyed, and, one by one, they advanced and received the pay envelopes as Vint passed them out. The short winter afternoon was closing in with clouds and a moderate temperature. A swift wind roared through the tops of the In front of the lodge Rush had directed a fire to be built, and now, as the flames leaped upward, they fell with a weird glow upon the dark faces of the workmen, great trees. Gray and Professor Parker observed the scene in silence. Both were impressed by the situation, by the measured movements of the men as they advanced to receive their pay, by corrected Grayson, ip a P ‘ Lor, . cde fer ih - danger. At that distance from civilization, ee Rushington realized that more depended on 6, . ee the exercise of force than there did on he legal aspect of the case. es If the former foreman succeeded in regain a “Se ; We. ing possession of the camp by force of a there would be little chance of the man eine Se of course he could be made to ene the position again to the rightful owner in due a course of time, by process of law. He ie The last of the gang passed in front of the a = lodge door and received his pay. they ve a ‘ halted in a line at a little distance from the = Agreeably to Rushington’s orders, ct <4 Each man carried his axe. a i a 3 man in turn. a ~ ees « “Se The firelight fell upon the handsome fack ae | of Phil Rushington all the while, and the sight of him, with the friendly, yet firm young foreman. And now, along in front of the line, speaking to cach to their surprise, Rush passed sa an words spoken to each, made every man feel % that the young fellow was his friend. ae) Rush was acting with shrewdness as well 2 as with policy. As the men started for their & quarters in obedience to Phil’s signal, one of : the Italians started a cheer for their new em +a” . i A * Hay * ~ re a > ae ployer and boss. It was caught up by Danny Byrnes, anda ame ee moment after the forest and clearing” fairly rang with the enthusiastic and friendly ye 1 from the throats of the timber cutters. ae muttered Pre i x ‘> I as aw of “That boy is a magician,” fessor Parker, “No; he is a thoroughbred gentlem an,” | as Eos ; be oh oe ' - o r ree Pa er ; aM pa so2 BAe piot, SPs a i oot “ ee oe Sea Sik" i < a < os gl pet) ~< ~4 > >: . 0 al » ~-> o¢ pote pr. ‘ - Ps oe gt tg a Fe! : Es ta oe yee «, Co re (Dee setae Ne te ye ies g © Se « * 71 ‘7? Pe nS pe a A, oe Beomicbacks. com