Timberjack Page #2

Dirty liar! All my French Canucks are good,

honest boys. Did the sheriff believe it?

I don't know.

Maybe yes, maybe no.

Maybe half of it.

Brunner and your papa started fighting when Brunner

closed the railroad and tried to steal our men.

Papa chased Brunner's men

off the north boundary track and...

Brunner tried to buy your papa out.

Did he try to buy the whole outfit?

I told your papa he was crazy not to

take it. $67,000 Brunner offered him.

Papa kicked him in the pants and chased

him off the place with a Winchester.

What a guy! I'm glad you told me that,

Riika. Makes me feel a little better.

Then Papa went to Noken Lake

to crew some trees we'd been logging.

We looked for him all day Thursday.

Friday morning, one of the fellas found him three

miles out on the west road, crazy in the head.

He never came out of it.

He died...

It's getting late, Tim. Tomorrow

we've got to go to Silver Junction.

You go all that way round to get the timber out?

Brunner's blocked the railroad. I got a payroll to meet.

I do the best I can.

Now that you're here, I can help you like

I helped your papa. I'll help YOU, Riika.

We'll do what Dad couldn't finish.

Bonjour, Monsieur Tilton. Is

Tim Chipman here? He's inside.

Hello, Swifty.

Tim, I just hurried up here

to tell you that my client Croft Brunner

will present an offer to buy you out.

Well, thanks, Swifty. Sit down.

Don't let him know that I told you.

With Lynne so dependent on Brunner's goodwill...

Swifty... Just what is the deal between Brunner and Lynne?

Economic convenience, purely and

simply. It seemed like more than that.

No. Lynne is shrewd. Brunner is

an important citizen in this area.

Do I detect a rebirth of that elusive

emotion referred to as love?

Swifty, you were going to tell me

about Brunner's offer. Tim...

Have I the confidence of the son of

an honoured father? I never saw you.

Before you sell to Brunner, you must know

about the High Chilco grant, north of the Nobs.

The last great stand of timber in

these parts. The forest primeval.

Murmuring pines... bearded with moss. In the twilight

stand like druids... They'll stand for a long time!

The original grant stipulated that

no timber could be cut for 100 years.

Brunner found an old law which limits the government

restriction to 50 years. Then Chilco is clear.

Chilco is clear.

How much do you think it's worth? To Brunner, $250,000.

It'll make his outfit the biggest in the north.

To you, nothing. You can't log it. If I paid off my

railroad assessment? He'd think of something else.

The Chipman troubles have not come

about by fate. He's got you bottled up.

Sell, but make him pay.

Don't be stubborn like your father.

And end up in a box. We could both

end up that way. Sell out, eh?

No, Swifty. I'll take a look at the

High Chilco first. Just like your father.

I don't know why I was daft enough

to think different.

"He dies only half who leaves

an image of himself in his son. "

HORSES APPROACH:

Fortunately, it's Lynne.

Good morning, Tim. Lynne. Croft and Ole are coming

up here. I know. You'd better get going, Dad.

I'm going, my love. What's with Brunner?

Swifty's an old friend of mine...

The courage and wisdom necessary for the practice of

law and equity do not exist where my client is concerned.

I will go out the back door. But remember, son,

you're in a war here. Brunner plays for keeps.

Explain nothing, deny everything,

demand proof... and don't listen to it.

Tim, did he have a drink?

No. No, he didn't even ask for one.

He must like you. He drinks too much when he has

something unpleasant to do. Like Brunner's hatcheting?

Well, here he is. I'd better go.

Lynne, thanks for the visit,

short as it was.

The shorter it is now,

the longer it can be next time.

Chipman, where can we talk?

Right here on the porch.

What's on your mind, Brunner?

I made your father an offer

which he foolishly turned down.

I'll give you $70,000

for all your holdings.

Cash. That's not much money, considering that

fine timber up on Granite Nob. Chilco? Chilco.

Sure. But you'll have to wait 40

years to log it. I hear different.

Whoever told you that is batty, a liar. No, I

had my dad's lawyers run a check on the titles.

Even if it were true, which it isn't, that timber

isn't worth more than $5,000 to anybody but me.

I'm the only man who can log it. I think you're

bluffing. I intend to get that timber myself.

It'll make Chipman all over again.

Just like the old days! Just like the old days,

before the tree-life started creeping around.

I'll give you $80,000... No,

I'll go the whole hog - $100,000.

No.

All right, Chipman.

You're as foolish as your old man.

I'll get it for nothing.

I'll drive Miss Lynne home. Reckon

you can handle them, Mr Brunner?

What were you doing here, anyway?

Just making sure he was all right.

It'd take more than that to crease

HIS brain. Keep away from murder!

Who do you figure tipped him that the restriction

on Chilco had expired? His dad's lawyers.

I thought I was the only man here who knew about

it. Lots of timber between thinking and knowing.

Our best bet is to get the logs

down to Little Lake.

At the lower lake, we'll throw an earth

and log dam across the mouth of the creek.

As soon as the water gets deep enough, we'll raft

our logs into the lake and on down to the mill.

But how are you gonna get your sticks from here to

the Little Lake? You'll need an engine and track.

We'll borrow an engine from Brunner. And take

track, beginning at the barricade. You're crazy, Tim.

We just need to get possession. When are you

going to do it? Tomorrow night? The night after.

I'll leave here right after dark.

If it all adds up, we'll do it

on schedule. It's a crazy idea, Tim.

Better take a rifle with you.

Brunner's men are

a bunch of crazy Polacks.

What are you doing out here alone?

Alone? Jingles is up on the road.

Besides, I have this.

Well, what's wrong?

Croft knows all about it, Tim.

All about what? The train.

Ah!

Then one of my men must've told him.

Any idea who it might have been?

If I knew, I wouldn't tell, but I

don't know, so that makes it easier.

A spy in my own outfit, eh?

It's nice of you, but you shouldn't be taking

chances like this. I don't want you killed. Or Croft.

He wants to marry you, doesn't he?

Of course.

Remember when we were kids

in school together?

I used to spend all my time

thinking about you.

If you cared so much for me,

why... why didn't you say so?

I couldn't get up the steam.

Then you went to college.

Did you know I cried when the boat

disappeared across the lake? No! You did?

Well, why didn't you write me?

Why didn't you?

Oh, I started to,

but I always tore them up.

Well, that was a long time ago.

Let's forget about it.

I still don't think

you're in love with Brunner.

Lynne, I know he backed you in the Vermilion

Belle, but you don't need him any more.

Anyone who thinks he doesn't need

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