The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-08-14


business, I'm wantin to see."
The gentleman addressed looked
down with some astonishment upon
the sharp little freckled visage that
was upturned as he replied: Il am
Mr.. Kane, my boy. What do you want
with me?"
Sure, I'll be tellin' ye, but it's nigh
ty glad | am to see you, sir. Shake,
then! I'm a namesake of yours, though
belike you're not KNOWN 1t, and I'm
glad that favor you. now that I've
set me two eyes on ye."
Favor me, indeed, you young scare
crow!"
ION the inside, | name, and I'd be
glad IL 1t was on the outside, for It's
mighty fine-lool1in gentleman ye
are, then. They do be tellin' me you
have the rintin' of a-many of the
houses hereabout, and it's to rint tho
small place at the foot OF the hill Id
be askin'. I'll pay you as much as so
cents a week for It, and worruk out
the rint II you say it's a bargain"
Mr.. Kane was growing interested.
The small boy had a brisk, business
way with him, quite out of proportion
to his SIZE which was that of an aver
age 10-year-old.
1T is a little out of the usual line to
take work in return"
"Oh, it will be equally satisfactory IL
ye pay me in cash, then, Mr.. Kane, sir.
and 'tis a good bargain ven have, wild
me mother along wild me, and she that
aiger to be at rest wanst more. 'Tis
the PLACED woman she'll be that alPs
settled so we'll"
But hold on" said Mr.. Kane. 81
like to know something about my ten
ants. Whnt security can you give me
that shall find you responsible?"
Sure, tould you that was named
after you, didn't l? It's Peter Tidmore
Kane Mulligan l am, and me mother
says ye'll be sure to mind Biddy Moran
that was cook to ye wanst. But I'm
It'd for short. Wen move in the day,
and I'll just come up for me orders in
the mornin'," and lid walked away as
contenteily as If he carried a signed
lease in his pocket.
| "Biddy Moran? To be sure. She
worked for us one summer a dozen or
more years ago." said Mrs. Kane. when
her husband appealed to h-r for con-
firmation of the boys story. mot
much of a cook, very green and lit
tie queer. as l remember her. I'm.
afraid they'll be load on your hands,
Tidmore.'
"Well the old shell can't be much
worse with them in it than standing
empty, and I'll warn them out If they
prove a nuisance. The boy will get
along if he favors me on the inside
as he says" and Mr.. Kane laughed in
recollection of the sharp, little, un-
couth figure as contrasted with his
own well-favored person.
Sure enough, the first sight that
greeted Mr.. Kane the next morning
was It'd, keenly examining his garden.
beds, shaking his head portentously
over poppies and lilies, and getting
down on his knees to sniff at the to-
mato-vines. with curious uncertainty
not to say contempt, that sent the
gardens owner hurrying down to pre-
vent any possible catastrophe.
"It's fine lot of weeds we've saved
up for me, sir" It'd greeted him.
brightly, but I'm feared they've run
over the plants intirely. Or 1t is a
wild garden you do be having here?
Me mother tells me that you grow
things small in this state, and ye DO it
uncommon well, I should say. Belize
it has to be TUX out of you that way for
the big hearts ye've got,' with re-
spectful Difference that disarmed his
employers wrath.
"Why, you young jackanapes, where
have you seen anything finer, that you
should be turning up your nose at my
garden, pray?"
"Faix, think IL wor in Californay,"
hazarded Tid, as II he were drawing
his recollections from some deep well
of memory. THE tomatuses growei
on vines as high as the house, mind,
and there were men up on step-ladders
pickin' them, and the lilies and the
vi'lets and the poppies all run wild in
the fields, they did, ami the roses were
like to smother the house. ana the COO
cumbers were as long as ! am. and a
dale longer sometimes. That's the
country, If it's gardenin' ye're after" :"
81 wonder you left it," remarked Mr..
Kane, sarcastically.
"Id wonder that mesilf, II there wor
airy show for dacint Americans out
there" admitted Tid. THE plgtails
and the greasers have it all their own
way. It's quare how there's something
forninst wan most iverywheres in the
West. In Nebrasky it wor the hop
pers, and in Kansas the drought, Up
in Washington it aither rained all the
time or the chinook blasted things
and down in Texas there wor the cat
tie every which way. 1t do be good to
get home to the states" and It'd drew
a long breath Of satisfaction "But
this isa't worruk at ALL and IL ye'll
put me to it, I'll be diggin' in
Mr.. Kane found the boy eager tc
: learn and tireless in his efforts to
. | pIeaea and although ha mada some