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yander in the mountains is a place to build a flume, so we kin raf the logs down to a lake that I found up thar in the woods. We'll have a town here some day anmake things hum/ "Have you often met my daddie? "asked Jean.

"I *m lookin' fur him now, every minute. We 're gointo survey some timber-land fur the mill-hands, farther up the crick. The curse o' this kentry is bachelders. Ah! here's the Cap'n now. It's lucky you 've brought along so many weemen folks, ole man; we'll all be needin wives."

This concluding remark brought the hot blood of indignation to the cheeks of Jean as she turned to meet her father, who was carrying an ax and a gun, followed by Mr. Burns, equipped with a clothes-line and a carpenter's square.

"What in thunder are you doing out here, Jean?" asked her father, taking no notice of the stranger's remark. "Don't you know that the woods are full of wild beasts?"

"I've seen nothing wilder than your prospective ' pardner,' "she answered aside. "He seems harmless; but he's an ignoramus ^nd a boor."

"Very well, Jean. But run home now, and help the women folks. They have a whole lot o' work on hand, getting settled, and you do like to shirk."

"Thar'll be lots more of it for 'em to do afore this timber is all sawed up," added the prospective "pardner." "It takes a mountain o' grub to keep a lot ologgers in workin' order. I 'm mighty glad, Cap'n, that you Ve got a lot a weemin folks; we'll need 'em in our business."

"Yes," retorted Jean. "They 're as handy to have in the house as a coffin with the proper combination of letters on the plate!"

Mr. Burns laughed; but Mr. Jackman dropped his lower jaw and looked the picture of an exaggerated in