Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-01-01
PAY FOR THE WIDOW

to an ever smiling sky. The champion
''spud gang of the valley had set up
its camp and begun the harvesting of
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 pickers.
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 a
hunderd, an 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 listening ear
toward the cookhouse: then, treasured
by the clatter of dishes. jerked his
thumb expressly in the direction OF the
sound as he turned TO the gang-"she's
got a crouch ag'ln ole man Jusek.
Seems she cooked fur the alfalfa gang
last year an this'n an amt had a cent
fur 1t, an he's made some kind of a
decker with her ter take her pay In
spuds Std of cash. so the wldder fg-
gered II down ter SO many sacks, fear
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 In ter her he'll manage
ter give her culls. jest would like ter
see the ole skinfint skun out OF
couple OF hunderd dollars. When we
dug his spuds last year. he ulster skin
roun' 'mongst the boys nights ter see
that we didn't git inter his orchard or
melon patch. | jest would like ter
Bill ended with long, low chuekie and
gazed out over the broad ranch.
Significant glances were exchanged
by the potato plckers during the next
few days. and Bilfs operations at the
sorting machine and his brief con-
ferences with the sack sewer kept the
gang Interested.
I'm glttin' kinder anxious bout the
ole mans seed spuds. fur. II you'll
notice. the sacks with the biggest
bulges runnin' down the sides are dec
GRATED with bowknot OF manila
twine." said one of the digger drivers,
as he started out on Que of the endless
rows, turning up the mellow earth aud
the great. smooth potato which only
Colorado can produce. Behind him
came score of pickers. who gathered
the potatoes In baskets and poured
them into the sorting machine run by
Bill. The sack sewer. armed with
huge needle and a ball of manila Irvine,
brought up the rear of the procession.
AN IL you'll notice" continued the
digger driver. as he came back half an
hour later 20 begin another row. as IL
his mind had dwelt upon the one
thought during the interval. them
same bowknotted sacks are disappear
In in the direction of the Gull cellar
Bits up ter somethin'. an we'd better
hang aroun' pretty torble close when
II 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 in the night in order to
save time. but the men had worked like
beavers all day In order to finish by
daylight and be In at the denouement
OF Bits 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 unreasonable amount of ad-
Justment necessary to the harness of
the six horses hirched TO the cook house
and to the complicated machinery of
the diggers. Even the sorting machine
seemed out OF sorts until Bill drove up
at the head OF string of empty wag-
ons.
Nils McCarthy'll take her spuds
now. Jusek." called Bill. IAN. thought
] might s well take 'em along ter town
now. seem our next stops farther out.
Price is about as good now as twill be.
/ reckon"
The old man was ready.
"lust back your teams up here and
get couple OF men to help you load
'eni." he said.
They backed up to the Gull cellar, as
the astute Bill had expected. Half q
dozen of the potato pickers sprang with
alacrity to Bits assistance and the
wagons were soon piled high with
sacks. each bearing jaunty bowknot
of manila twine
''S-e them ere bows. Jusek," called
BIZ. as they drove by the houses, where
the old man stood rubbing his hands
and smiling.