Part 14 (1/2)

”It'll be a good year all round, I guess,” Seth admitted

”Yes, I dare say it will be,” was the answer

Rube was intently packing his pipe, and the other waited Rube's deep-set eyes had lost their custo his pipe had in it a suggestion of abstraction Filling a pipe is a process that wonderfully indicates the state of a man's uess,” Rube said presently, adjusting his pipe in the corner of histhe draw of it

But his eyes were not raised to his companion's face

”Injuns ain't workin' well?”

”Mebbe”

”They're a queer lot”

”Ye-es I was kind o' figgerin' We're h to cut”

”That's so Down at the Red Willow bluff” The old man nodded

”Yes,” assented Seth Then, ”Wal?”

”After that, guess ther's ht,And cut the logs Parker give ht do wuss”

”For the stockade?” suggested Seth

”Yes”

”I've thought of that, too” The two men looked into each other's eyes

And the old als wouldn't want to know,” he said, rising and preparing to depart

”No--I don't think they would”

The hardy old pioneer towered htily as he moved toward the door In spite of his years he displayed none of the uneasiness which his wordsthat frontier life could show hiine But then his iination was liild theination, which made him the cleverer man of the two in the frontiersman's craft

At the door Rube looked round

”Guess you was goin' to write soh the fact of Seth's writing was so to afford amusement

Seth turned to the paper and dipped his pen in the ink Then he wiped it clean on his coat sleeve and dipped it again After that he headed his paper with ht footstep cross the passage between the parlor and the kitchen He sighed in relief as it started up-stairs But his relief was short-lived He knew that it was Rosebud He heard her stop Then he heard her descend again The next ?” she exclai to look seriously surprised ”I knew you were here by the smell of the smoke”

”Guess it was Rube's” Seth's face relaxed for a ravity