The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-12-18

~ < 49, 11iFTN1
u your crop. IN III
LIST was surprised. Meg only smiled
| and nodded. The boy did some silent
and vigorous thinking over his unex-
pected success.
NV Ansal Reyburn was surprised, too, but
\ liz expressed himself without reserva-
4 ton. Beats all how ready folks are to
A get hold OF. your crop Beckett wouldn't
trust me for plug Of tobacco, but he
counts on getting you in his debt and
4 Eetting the whole Of your crop"
| "But I'm going to be careful about
letting that bill run too high" said Lot,
protiting by the caution his father had
unconsci0usly let fall.
Then there's bugs" croaked his IA
ther, disccuragingly.
\ ssI'li 20 to work and kill them." as
serted Lot; confidently.
4 And II looks like twas setting in for
Ia droughty season"
For moment Lot had wild visions
of how he might produce the neces-
sary moisture, so determined was he
10 meet anything in the way Of an OBJ
stacle that might arise.
''And then if it should happen to turn
/ in and rain, there's scab," pursued his
father, dismaily. "Oh, you hain't
CHANGED on any funny schemes, Lot"
"But scab and drought don't como
together said Lot, sturdily. .And 1
may as well think / am going to get ;
crop as not"
| But it was not fun. 1t was hard work,
as he found. He had not counted on
much profit. His fathers gloomy
prophecies would not admit of his be-
coming oversanguine. But he did
mean to make enough for the COW.
The little innuendos, the doubling
| laughter of some, but above all the faith
SO unexpectedly put in him by his new
creditors, urged him forward. "Thc
Rcyburns may be lazy. but they are
honest" he said indignantly to himseif.
And nobody shall lose cent"
Then the more he worked, the more
he liked it. Odd jobs began to come
his way, too. 1t was surprising to see
how many there were Of them, now that
he was looking for them. He had been
under the impression all his life that
the things looked for did not come, be-
cause they did not exist.
"But I'm thinking they need just go
ing after" he told Meg. adding. with
the air of discoverer, land ! don't
seem to have to go far, either"
There were discouraging days. The
bugs came, but vigorous onslaught
discouraged even those pests. There
were encouraging days as well. especial
ly that one the whole forenoon OF which
Mr.. Baxter spent in giving him lesson
in vigorous hoeing.
did whole row." laughed Lot, "and
said he would do more, only ne hated
to do too much 'less'n he was sure Of
the CROP
Then came digging time at last, when
Lot proudly reported at the store 300
bushels.
why. it'll be the making Of YOU
cried Joe Baxter. admiringly, slapping
him heartily upon the back.
IF the grinding monopolies only let
him have half chance to sell EN-
grumbled Asal, nodding at Beckett.
well, Asal, they're going to this
time,," said Beckett, rubbing his hands
delightedly. Hes going to ship 'em
straight to my agent in the city. There's
not going to be any middleman here
at this end"
When Lot found himself in possession
of $50 after all expenses were paid, It
was the next to the happiest moment In
his life, he concluded.
ATM
I'm going after her tonight, he said to
Meg. "And, Meg, hear that pound
ing?"
what is it?"
Father. He's been tinkering up the
cowshed all the morning"
An hour later Asal Reyburn came in
with hurried step. "The sheds all fixed.
Lot, and / see chance to ride down to
Badgers after Bess."
For second the boy hesitated. He
had counted so much on that supreme
moment--to place $40 in Badgers hands
and drive Bess back in triumph past
the grocery. 1t was to be complete
vindication of himself, at least.
But there was something in his IA
Tiers bearing, eager, alert, interested
as it had not been for years, which
checked the remonstrance which roso
to his lips.
lie counted out the money and placed
it in his fathers hand without word!
Meg looked on with compressed lips.
What made you give it to him?"
she cried, holly. as Asal Reyburn went
out. HE ought not to have asked for
it."
.Never mind. Meg" said Lot, shaking !
himself together cheerily. "It's all