The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-02-01

trees and dozen or so ragged ban
anas represented the whole Of his
three years work
But the country had filled up rapidly
during the last few years, and the
homestead was already becoming val.
uable. There were many who would
be only too glad to Jump" IL. Crof.
fer's title could not be perfected for
two years yet and should he remain
away, as he had been ordered, the land
would revert to the Government and
be open TO the public.
Yesterday Mr.. Window would not
have cared. The man. he thought, de-
served nothing; but now II seemed 10
him that the pitiful little figure on the
seat by hls side ought TO have some
interest in his fathers homestead. And
perhaps they had been little hard on
Croffers. There was no proof.
"Do you know my paw asked the
boy, who was beginning TO feel his
companions silence rather prolonged
| well-yes, do rccollect him, now
ye mention his name. Ye see he had
particular duty over in Marion Coun-
| ty last week. Lookin' after some cat.
| tie business, | b'lieve. | reckon hc
lowed we 'uns would take care Of ye
| till he got back
The boys face heightened vlsibly.
"When mought he get back, and what
am to dof" he asked
| "Wcll, | reckon he's lots TO look
after, and mebbe it'll be month -
mebbe sevcral-bcfOrc he gets round
| can give ye plenty of work drlvin'
mules until he comes"
But he and | were 10 be pardncrs
and make an orange grove. low
must look after the place while he's
gone"
"Yell be scared way out there alone
ye'rc such little fellow. Better stay
with me"
The boy drew himself up slightly.
"Thc poorhousc folks lowed Bob
| Croffers never got scared" he said,
| slowly. IL were made 10 stay alon.
in the cotton-6cld nights and watch
the crop"
IF yc can do II, ven save your
| daddy's ranch, mebbe.' Then, n
answer TO the boys questioning look,
Mr.. Window told him about the home
stead laws and the residence and i'm
provemcnt necessary to perfect the IT,
tie. Likely your paw'll he back after
| IL blows over-after he's done his bust
ness, | mean" h. concluded.
| Il low | must go tomorrow, sure"
was Bob's only answer.
Accordingly. the next morning after
breakfast Mr.. Window sent one of his
boys TO guide the Croffcrs boy to his
| fathers deserted homestead. A drove
of half-wild razor backed hogs were
found dlspoSing of the few vegetables
left in the garden patch, while several
! cows were making free with the ten.
der twigs of the Orange-trecs.
| After driving these beyond the brok
en- fence, the boys made an cxamina.
tion of the place. An ordinary Oh
server would have been dismaycd:
but 10 Bob, fresh from the hardshpS
and blows of the poorhousc. il was full
of delightful promise. The stuntcL
| orange trees assumed beautiful pro
portions; the bananas were examine 4
wondcringly; even the broken fence
and poor cabin felt the touch of his
caressing, loving fingers. They were
all his! He was one Of the "pard-
ners" Even the glory of his captain
grandfather began TO fade in the su-
peror glory TO be.
Young Window returned home. and
Bob was left to himself Although
three miles from the nearest nCighhOr.
no thought of fear entered his head.
He was too full of his new possessions.
\ few sweet potatoes and other pro
visions found in the cabin would last
for several days, and when they were
fall back upon. His father had sent
it for him to buy clothes with. hu;
such expenditure seemed waStcful
and he had hidden the money away M
his person instead
II was not long before the Croffcrs
homestead began 20 bc regarded cur
ously 10y such as chanced TO pass thu,
way. The broken fences. which hat
become almost part Of the landscape
had given place 10 better ones nj
around the clearing. Weeds, brush
rubbish and the struggling branches OF
the orange trees had disappeared. TIL,
bananas were trimmed into shape. TIL,
cabin door swung gravely ON tw,
hinges instead of hanging tipsily {,
one side. The brush along the road
side was cut away and a sidewalk at
tempted.
The neighhors kept a sort OF wonder
ing oversight of the place. and whcl
il became known that Mr. Windon
had plowcd couple OF acres TO
the boy. and was to take his pay il
work, they looked questionincly a
each other. Had they made mis
take2 Surely the father Of such bOl
could not he wholly bad.
Meantime one neighbor gave Bol
some seeds another showed hinf how
to ridge up his sweet potatoes to tn
best advantage. another taught b.i
how to put n bud into an orange tree
Later. when his peas and beans begai
TO approach maturity, they freguentl.