The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-01-18
CHAPTER x.
HE SHOWS HIS TEETH.

CHAPTER x.
HE SHOWS HIS TEETH.
Doss sat among the "karroo" bushes,
one yellow ear drawn over his wicked
little eye. ready to flap away any ad-
venturous fly that might settle on his
nose. Around him in the morning sun
light fed the sheep; behind him lay his
master. polishing his machine. He
found much comfort in handling 1t that
morning. A dozen philosophical essays
or angelically attuned songs for the
consolation Of the bereaved could new
er have been to him what that little
sheep shearing machine was that day.
After struggling to see the unseeable,
growing drunk with the endeavor to
span the infinite and writing before
the inscrutable mystery it is renOvat-
ing relief % turn to some simple, feel
able, VEGETABLE substance, to some
taing which has smell and color,
which may be handled and turned over
this way and that. Whether there be
or be not hereafter. whether there be
any use in calling aloud to the unseen
power, whether there be an unseen
power to call to, whatever be the true
nature of the l who call and Of the OBJ
jects around me, whatever be our
meaning, our internal essence, our
cause (ald in a certain order Of minds
death and the agony Of loss inevitably
awaken the wild desire, at other times
smothered, to look into these things).
whatever be the nature of that which
lies beyond the unbroken wall which
the limits of the human intellect build
up on every hand, this thing is certain
"a knife will cut wood, and one cog
ged wheel will turn another. This is
sure.
Waldo found an Unreasonable salts
faction in the handling of his machine.
but Doss winked and blinked and
thought it all frightfully monotonous
out there on the fiat and presently
dropped asleep, sitting bolt upright.
Suddenly his eyes opened wide. Some
thing was coming from the direction Of
the homestead. Winking his eyes and
looking intently, he perceived it was
the gray mare. Now. DOss had won
dered much Of late what had become
Of her master. Seeing she carried
some one on her back, he now came
to his own conclusion and began to
move his tail violently up and down.
Presently he pricked up one ear and
let the other hang. His tail became
motionless, and the expression Of his
mouth was one of decided disapproval
bordering on scorn. He wrinkled his
lips up on each side into little lines.
The sand was soft, and the gray
mare came on so noiselessly that the
boy heard nothing till Bonaparte dis
mounted. Then Doss got up and moved
back a step. He did not approve Of
Bonaparte's appearance. His costume,
in truth, was of a unique kind. 1t was
a combination of the town and coun-
try. The tails of his black cloth coat
were pinned up behind to keep them
from rubbing; he had on a pair of
moleskin trousers and leather CATERS,
and in his hand he carried little whip
Of rhinoceros hide.
Waldo started and looked up. Had
there been a moments time he would
have dug hole in the sand with his
hands and buried his treasure. 1t was
only a toy of wood. but he loved it, as
one of necessity loves what has been
born Of him. whether Of the flesh or
spirit When cold eyes have looked at
it, the feathers are rubbed off our but
terfly's wing forever.
what have you here, my lad?' said
Bonaparte. standing by him and point
ing with the end of his whip to the
medley Of wheels and hinges.
The boy muttered something inaudi-
bic and half spread his hand over the
thing.
"But this seems to be a very ingen-
ious little machine" said Bonaparte.
seating himself on the ant heap and
bending down over it with deep inter-
est What is it for. my lad?'
"Shearing sheep" -
cit is very nice little machine"
said Bonaparte. "How does it work.
now? l have never seen anything sc
ingenious"
There was never parent who heard
deception in the voice that praised bis
child, his firstborn. Here was one who
liked the thing that had been created
in him. He forgot everything. He
showed how the shears would work
with little guidance. how the sheep
would be held and the wool fall into
the trough. A flush burst over his face
as he spoke.
81 tell you what, my lad" said Bona
parte emphatically when the explana-
ton was finished, 1--WE must get you
patent. Your fortune Is made. In
three years. time there'll not be farm
in this colony where 1t isn't working.
You're genius: that's what you are!'
said Bonaparte, rising.
IF 1t were made larger" said the
boy, raising his eyes, ut would work
more smoothly. Do you think there
would be any one in this colony would
be able to make TT" sr
"I'm sure they could" said Bona
parte, land, II not, why FL do my best
for you. I'n send 1t to England. It
must be done somehow. How long
have you worked at itr' l5B2 81
mime month";" said the boy. 4saa