The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-18

livered. The next day there were sew.
eral families who shivered, and secret.
" wished the greedy coal dealer was
where the cold winds never blow-ali
hot oasts. The story was all over
the village, t,nd Jem had the sym.
pathy OF all.
AS tor MIR. Smith, on the cold blus.
terry Sunday, hc did great deal Of
thinking. One OF these alternatives
was before him, either he must SELL
no, give away old Jacky, for nobody
would pay much for him, and get a
horse, or else he must get a horse to
keep besides Jacky, or else he must
take .Jem ut his own price. This last
seemed the cheapest. and in his heart,
it was the best, for naturally lie had
become much attached to Jem IN
their long partnership-yeta all Jack.
son was lau ching over Smiths strike,
and he was provoked and stubborn
i'll consequence. His wife had u fine
horse which she drove to her phae.
ton, bnt that woman was too wise to
lend her "I;rownie" to her husband
for hauling coal She agreed to hire
Brownie to him for several days at
the rate OF 50 per day until he bought
a horse, or managed somehow to set.
tie his strike. He grumbled at having
to pay SO much, but it was the cheap
est he could manage, SO he agreed to
it with q mental reservation OF some
time getting even in the cash account
with his wife.
Yet every day that he went
into the stable to give
| Ion.1, I;.. f.,,I f0,, GnA
afternoon Jacky walked se,lately to
the stable himself after having proven
his ability to stand in the road as
long rs lie chose) that intelligent
animal looked at him gravely and
scornlully. as though reproaching him.
1t made Mr.. Smith feel ashamed and
uncomfortable. and on Tuesday after
noon he went INTO the office with the
determination OF settling it for good
with Jem. and-yes. sir! give him
80 % week, too, by Jove! IL would
elevate him all around, and any way
$40 extra on the month would be g.
small sum in comparison with his en-
TIA expense OF the past few days and
getting the right sort OF horse for his
work. He felt elated and happy, and
could scarcely wait until suppertime,
as then he intended to stop and see
Jem.
Mary was ironing briskly, with g.
very red face and swollen eyes, for she
had been crying hard. Jem had ar
rived at the conclusion that noon
that he was out OF q Job for the rest
OF the winter. for report said Smith
was looking for % new horse, and one
or two had looked at Jacky with per-
haps q prospect ot buying him. How
ever, it wasn't likely Jacky would go
OF like hot cakes. His reputation
was too we'll established.
1t is bad enough to get out OF q Job
in the city. when ones life depends VI,
on the daily work OF ones hands. but
in II country village. where work is
scarce and workers many, 1T is indeed
a sorry outlook.
Mary had cried so hard because
,Icm, with the way OF all people who
depend much on others for advice,
had bitterly blamed her for abetting
him in the beginning OF his strike. But
for her, tic said. he would have gone
back again to work Saturday after
noon. and there was no doubt but
that five dollars was better than
nothing. So she ilonel hard, and
winked her eyes until the tears were
gone, when one OF the little children
would come to her and say:
"oh. mamma! my st,,mgic hurts!"
poor woman. They were living on
very slim fare, for there was no pros
pect OF credit when .Jrm was out of
work, and this Saturday there would
he no five dollars with which to re-
plenish the artler. She was now on
the second ironing for that week. The
supper table was set-bread without
butter, oatmeal without milk, tea
without sugar--no wonder the chill
dren's "stumgcs hurt" They were
waiting for papi. to come when there
was loud, pompous knock at the
door, which caused Mary to start in
alarm. She hastily opened the door,
and in stepped Mr.. Smith. bustling
and important.
Good evening, Mary! is Jem here?"
he said checrily, glancing around.
"No-no-sir,'' stammered Mary,
'he has not come in yet"
"What have you been crying about,
Mary" asked Mr.. Smith after little
silence.
"Nothlng," returned Mary, some.
thing like old Jacky might have done,
could lie speak.
why" spoke up the eldest OF the
children. "Mamma cries every time We
say our stumyics hurt"
"Hey?" asked Mr.. Smith, and the in
formation WIS repeated-"pear Mary
is that all you have for supper? That
ahem! would starve me. Indeed it
would. Dear me" and Mr.. Smith was
quite disconnected py hisanrvey OF the
supper table. Mary made him no an
swer She shut her lips tightly, and
ironcd more vigorously.
"Ahrm' after n pause, II may As
well tell you, Mary,as .Iem is late and I
must be going, that, ahen' We decid-
ed can't get along without .Iem-
ahem.-and IL will give HIM $50 q
month hereafter"
W-what," gaspcd Mary, setting
down her iron OF the fine shirt she was
ironing.
Thirty dollars q month, Mary"
repeated MIR. Smith with % broad
smile. All no one knows the glory
when once hr does open his pocket
poth. MI. 'Siflll II lGll VI ltE IIlOI0
portance ut that moment than the
President OF these United States
could feel ut any time.
ooh. you dear old mani" cried
Mary; whcreupon she rushed for
Mr.. Smith and threw her arms
around his neck and gave him rous.
Ing kiss.
She WAS very nice appearing young
woman. so that it might have been
worse. yet the situation was at least
rather compromising, with the win
dow> open upon the street and the
bright light IN the room. So at least
,Jcm thought as he FASTENED to open
the door, and Mr.. Smith himself was
i'll II state oil open CONSERVATION.
ooh, Jem, .Iem." his wife cried.
"iou are TO 90 to work again. and
thirty dollars II month, JENA good
deal more than you asked"
Mr.. Smith nodd ed. as Jem looked
at him for confirmation of the extra
ordinary statement, whereupon the
two men shook hands. and Jem
agreed to 90 TO work bright and early
the nevt morning. In /; few minutes
after Mr.. Smith had gone. his Oldest
son came to Jones cottage with a
basket loaded with toothsome eata.