Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-04
'607SHlon. 1885, sy vaeA5yno6 ;,

ana ne nOPeO breakfast might be thrown
in. Martha took the bill, and explaining
that she didn't know but she had the
change In her rag carpet money, which
she kept in her sitting room bureau
drawer. left him alone for a few min
utes In about five minutes she returned
Il said last night would let you
have supper for 10 cents, seeing you
was poor boy and having to walk all
the way home, and I won't charge You
no more than that for breakfast, either,
though by good rights 1 ought to have
% cents for each meal and % cents for
the bed. which will all have to be wash
ed unless put little John up there for
enc week instead of putting clean sheets
en- his bed.
Ten cents for supper and 10 fer
breakfast and 25 for the bed makes
10 cents. and there is 81. and there
is SO cents, and l declare if I've got
bIt cents more to my name. so guess
III have to charge You a cent extra for
making change" she said, with II laugh
that was almost merry. Alec thought
Martha might have been induced to let
him stay and work for his board for a
time, if nothing more. But he did not
venture to mention that. He took his
81. 81. said goodby. pat on his old SLOUGH
hat and went on his way.
Alec felt less lonely and less worried
this morning and less repelled by the
fa,mhouses. They did not seem so desc.
late now. and he 10 longer dreaded
them. He did think with pany that
46 cents of his So was already gone,
and this realization made him resolve
that he would inquire for work at every
honse he came to. Surely somebody
would employ him at something.
The road was smooth enough, but on
either side there were stretches and
stretches of stones upon stones, in places
heaped up apparently as a wall. i'll 9Th
ers heaped up for no purpose. but be-
cause of their abundance, and scattered
all about. even over a grassy plot that
seemed to be bayfield,.
As he approached the next house.
which seemed more substantial and
larger. he saw number of men in a
field hoeing potatoes. and they seemed
to be working very steadily. There was
great field on one side of them that
seemed quite grown up to weeds, while
on the other could be seen rows Of pota-
toes they had hoed Out. Alec had a
mind to go over and speak to them. and
re stood II tie road few minutes lcok.
ing at them, undecided. But at last he
went to the house to inquire.
A rather pretty but shy anu awkward
girl in Il very short, faded calico dress
answered his knock at tie Kitchen door.
He was SO astonished to see he- that be
stammered for q minnie and nearly ask
ed if he could have something to eat he.
fore he managed to say:
Il saw some men down in the field
there, and l wondered if they didn' :,
want some one TO help them a little.
I've come up from New York city, and
have walked up from the PUSHES, and
l haven't very much money and voalG
like to earn little if l could to kelr
me get home
She looked at him with very blanl
expression that seemed to doubt his
veracity even. But she said:
| II think my father has all the hell
he wants. He hires my two half broth
ers regularly, and he's got Mr. Condor
to help him hoe. and don't think b,
needs anybody mere. But You might g
and ask him. He's the old man with til,
smooth face with those men You saw
hoeing down there. You ask for Mr.
Bennett, and they Will any of them tel
you who he is. He is the Oldest. excep
Mr.. Condon. who has a beard"
Alec thanked her and went to fnt
Mr.. Bennett. His heart Guaked bit
but he didn't mind that and bold,
made his wishes known. Milo Bennett
was very short man with a very big
fiat. fabhy face. bct with rather goot
naturcd blue eyes. He threw himsel
back CT his hoe the minute he saw Ale
coming, evidently glad Of an opportnni
t. to rest, even so early in the morning
well, sir, what can 90 for you?'
he inquired briskly, but not disasreea
bly,.
Il wanted to see if you wanted any
body to help you 4 few days." answers
Alec promptly.
what can you do:" the man inquir
ed. with light sheer, sizing the slim
young figure up from top to toe. "You
hands don't look as if they had bee
right in hoeing up to the present time
Where do you come from, anyway
From New York" answered Ale
in some fright. looking at his whit
"a