Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-30
THE ARGUS, wEDN EsDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1901.
THE DAILY,
SHORT STORY.
Pay for the Widow.

its camp and begun the harvesting Oh
the thousand acres of potatoes on the
ranch. The camp paraphernalia con
sisted OF cookhouse, a long board
shanty on wheels which sheltered the
culinary operations OF the camp dur
ing the day and the placid slumber of
the Widow Mccarthy, the cook and
proprietress. at night.
Outside the cOokhouse the potato
pickers were lOunging away the noon
hour in various attitudes of relaxation.
The cooks ample form appeared at the
door occasionally and her rich brogue
mingled with the hum of conversation
which arose among the plckers.
Read that ag'in. Bill-that piece in
the paper about the price of spuds,"
said one of the men.
"'Twan't nuthin' 'cept that early
reds are sellin' fur two dollars
HUNDRED. au culls, that we ginerally
feed ter the stock. are bringin' fifty
cents" replied Bill. Il hear that the
wilder Bill raised himself cautiously
on his elbow and bent a listening ear
toward the cookhouse: then. treasured
by the clatter of dishes. jerked his
thumb expressly i'm the direction of the
sound as lie turned TO the gang-"she'G
got crouch ag'in ole man Jusek.
Seems she cooked fur the alfalfa gang
last year an this'n an amt had a cent
fur it. an he's made some kind of Il
dicker with her ter take her pay in
spuds std of cash. so the wilder fig
ff fnf. al
in the ole skeezix would try ter cheat
her. Now that spuds are so high he's
tryin' ter back down. but the old lady's
holdin' out fur her peraties. Reckon IL
he hez ter give i'm ter her he'll manage
ter give her culls. jest would like ter
see the ole skinflint skun out of Il
couple OF hunderd dollars. When we
dug his spuds last year. lie ulster ss:in
roun' 'monsst the boys nights ter see
that we didn't git inter his orchard or
melon patch. 1 jest would like ter
Bill ended with n long. low chuckle and
gazed out over the broad ranch.
Significant glances were exchanged
by the potato pickers during the next
few days. and Bills operations at the
| sorting machine and his brief con-
ferences with the sack sewer kept the
gang interested.
I'm gittin' kinder anxious bout the
ole mans seed spuds. fur. if you'll
notice, the sacks with the biggest
! fuIges runnin' down the sides are dec
grated with bowknot of manila
Irvine" said one of the digger drivers.
as he started ont on one OF the endless
rows. turning up the mellow earth and
the great, smooth potato which only
! Colorado can produce. Behind him
came a score of pickers. who gathered
/ the potatoes in baskets and poured
them into the sorting machine run by
! Bin. The sack sewer, armed with II
huge needle and a ball OF manila Irvine.
brought up the rear OF the procession.
An if you'll notice" continued the
digger driver, as he came back half an
hour later to begin another row, as il
his mind had dwelt upon the one
thought during the interval, them
same bowknotted s;.cl.s are disappear
| in i'm the direction of the Gull cellar.
Bits up ter somethin'. an we'd better
hang aroun' pretty toTble close when
| it comes ter windin' up the job. We
might hev ter take a punch at some OF
them Juseks ter help Bill carry out his
plans
The job was finally concluded and
the potato gang prepared to move to
the next ranch. They usually made
their hegira i'm the night i'm order to
save time. but the men had worked like
beavers all day I'm order to finish by
daylight and he in at the denouement
of Bills plans. The digging machines
| generally started out first. in order to
expedite matters, the cOokhouse max
ing close second. but there seemed to
be an unconsciOnable amount of adj
justment necessary to the harness OF
the six horses hitched to the cOOkhouse
and to the complicated machinery of
the diggers. Even the sorting machine
'seemed out of sorts until Bill drove up
at the head of a string OF empty wag-
ons.
Mis- McCarthy'n take her spuds
now, Jusek," called Bill, AN thought
1 might s well take 'em along ter'town
now, SEEM our next stops farther out.
Price is about as good now as twill be,
1 reckon
The old man was ready.
Just back your teams up here and
get a couple of men to help you load
'em." he said.
They backed up to the Gull cellar. as
the astute Bill had expected. Half a
dozen of the potato pickers sprang with
alacrity to Bills assistance and the
wagons were soon piled high with
sacks, each bearing a jaunty bowknot
OF manila Irvine.
See them ere bows, Jusek," called
Bill, as they drove by the houses, where
the old man stood rubbing his hands
and smiling.
You're the prize milliIIer of the val
ley. Bill" shouted one of the pickers.
'.Nuthin' like a touch of art ter bring
top prices" said Bill. jubilaptIy. '.Now,
them ERE spuds1l bring just a dollar
an a half more a hunderd on account
of them bowknots.',