The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-06-06

wy RAAAApS0 AAVO
a high chair, and two little feet sticking
sturdily out in Joel's face.
Mrs, Brandt looked over her husbands
shoulder with kindly curiosity.
"The boy favors you amazingly about
the mouth, but he's got his mothers eyes,
and they are sharp KNOWN eyes too. He's
a bright one I'll be bound"
"Yours, l reckon"
Eyes, that's Loisy and the boy" fight
ing the conscious pride in his voice like
! n who tried to 90 his .hOnors meeklv.
He took the well-worn case again, gaz
ing into the two faces an instant with
helpless yearning and returning it to its
place. The very way he handled it was a
caress, fastening the little brass hook with
scrupulous care.
"Ill be sendin' fur EN- when / get red
Of this pesterin' cough"
A very quiet. unobtrusive guest Mrs.
Brandt found the man Brice talking little
save in sudden gush of confidence, and
always of his wife and child; choosing a
quiet corner of the kitchen in the chill
California nights, where he watched his
hostess def movements with wisttul adj
miration.
TRY hunting, Brice; the doctors most
ly say it's healthy"
And Brice tried hunting as Joel adj
vised. Taking the gun from its crotch
over the door after breakfast, and wan
dering for hours IN the yellow wine-like
air of the mesa, he came in at noon and
nightfall always empty handed; yet no
one derided his failure. There was some
thing about the man that smetllered de-
rision.
And so the hunting came to an end
without bloodshed. Whether the doctors
we're right or whether it was the mingled
resin and honey of the sage and chapar-
rel, no n cared to ask. Certain it is
that the "pesterin' cough yielded a little
and the bent form grew a trife more
erect.
II think likely it's the lookia' up. ma
am. Mountains seem tn straighten a fell
low some way. Pears to me somebody
writ or ce Nv littin' his eyes to the hills
for help. Mcbbe not, though. l amt
much at reco.lectin' verses. Loisy's a
powerful hand that way"
Perhaps the man was right. 1t was the
looking up.
He followed Joel from the table one
morning, stopping outside, his face full
of patient eagerness.
I'm gittin' right smart o strength,
neigbbor. Eff there's odd jobs you could
gil me; I'd be slow, mebbe, but seems
like most anything nd be better'n settin
round"
Joel scratched his head. reflectively.
The big brawny-handed fellow felt no
disposition to smile at his weaker br other
Fox and l was saying yesterday we'd
like to put another man on the ditch:
it'll be easy work for a week, till we
strike rock again. Then there is the
grcase-wood. It's always on hand. You
might take it slow, grubbin' when you
was able. l guess we'll find Won jobs
enough, man."
The scared. ~colorless face frightened.
"Thank We, neighbor. Eff you'll be as
kind there's another little matter. II
hev a ,ritle over when I've paid yuor
woman fur her trouble. I wuz thinkin'
like enough you'll let NE run UP 4 shan.
ty on yer place here. Loisy would't
mind about style-just a roof to bring
EN- to. It's for her and the boy, you
know" wa ching Joel's face eagerly.
"Yes, yes, Brlce, we'll make it all right.
Just take things easy. I'll be goin' in
with wood next week. And I'll fetch out
q load O. lumber. Well make a day of
it after awhile, and put up your house in
a iiffy."
And so Bfice went 70 work on the ditch,
gently at first, spared from the heaviest
work by strong arms and rough kindli-
ness. And so, ere long, another rude
dwelling went up on the mesa, the smoke
fro M IS fireside curling slowly toward
the pine-plumed mountain tops.
The building fund, scapty enough at
best, was Unexpectedly swelled by a sud-
den ard obstinate attack of forgetfulness
which seized good Mrs. Brandt.
No, Brice, you haven't made me 3
spark o trouble, not a spark. I'm sure
you have paid your way twice ove- bring
in in wood, and grinding coffee, and the
like. Many a man'd ask wages for the
half you've done, so I'm getting off easy
to call 1t square" And the good lady
Stood her ground unfl,nchingly.
You've been powerful good to me,
ma am. Well be watchin' our chance to
make it up to you-Loisy an me. I'll be
sendin' fur Loisy direckly now"
"Yes. yes, man, and there1l he the bits
o furniture and things to get. Spread
your money thin, and Mrs. Fox and nell
come in and pat you to rights when
you're looking fer her"
He brought the money to Joe st last, 8
molly collection of silver pieces.
Ell yell be so kind as to send it to 'er.
neighbor Mrs. Loisy Brice, Plattsville,
Indiana-I've wri, the letter telling her
how 10 come. There's enough for her
ticket and . trile to spare. The boys a
master hand at scutin' out shoes and
thugs. You'll not make any mistake
sendin' il, will your"
M, no. Bric., it'll 60 straight as a
rocket. Let me see now. This "letter'll
be q week, then 'lowin' EN- q week to get
started
Never You mind. man. Lowin' EN- a
week to get of. that's two weeks: then
them emigrant trains Is SLOW. say thrice.
days on the road that's about smother
fortnight-four weeks: this is the fifth,
It'll Tventy-eight and fve's thirty
three; that1l be bout the third of mex,
month, say. Now mind what l tell you.
Brce~ont look for EN- q minute before
thA thlrd-uof ono ~1nnsa