Two Young Lumbermen by Edward Stratemeyer

For the moment after Owen made the declaration that he was going to leave his uncle and his aunt, the pair were speechless with amazement and anger.

"Going to leave? " said John Hoover slowly. "Going to leave?"

"That is what I said, Uncle Jack."

"And I'm going with him," said Dale.

"To hear them -- after all we have done for them! " ejaculated Mrs. Hoover, her eyes flashing fire.

"I don't think you have done so very much for us," said Dale, who felt it his duty to take his full share of whatever blame was coming.

"Don't you, now? " sneered the lady of the cabin. "I suppose I've cooked for you just for the fun of it."

"It was the worst cooking I ever had to put up with."

"You aint going to leave me, nohow! " fumed John Hoover. "You've contracted to stay here for the season, and you've got to stay. You aint going to leave me in a hole -- with so much timber contracted for."

"We are not under contract with you, Mr. Hoover. You said in your letter that you would give us a trial, and we wrote back that we'd come on for a trial. If our work hadn't suited, you would have discharged us in double-quick order."

"Well, I'd have that right."

"Exactly, and we have the right to go away too."

"To be sure we have," came from Owen.

"I don't see it that way at all," roared the claim owner. "If I want to keep you, it is your duty to stay."

"And my cookin' is good enough for anybody," came shrilly from his wife. "I've given you more than you deserve."

A perfect war of words followed, and in the end Mrs. Hoover ordered both of the young lumbermen "to pack their traps an' git out to once," or she'd "go after 'em with a broom."

"Now, Maria, let me settle this," interposed John Hoover, who did not want to lose them. "They can board at one of the other cabins, but they must stay the season out."

"I shan't stay another day," replied Dale. "I am going away inside of the next hour."

"Then I shan't pay you a cent," snarled John Hoover.

"Very well, you can keep the money."