The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-02-27

he walked back towards the house.
AS he drew abreast of the hop-kiln
he saw two men seated in the door
way whom he made to be Mr.. Merton
and Jack Parmelee.
We've done very well for the first
day." Parmelee was saying. "Only
had one piece o. bad luck"
"What's that?" inquired Merton.
''Why, young Gridley, who was
pullin' poles, claims he's got to quit.
He amt very strong, an says he
can't stand it,
Gridley-that was the name, Ros-
sitter recalled, by which he had heard
the slender fellow addressed who
pulled for his box and that of the
Becrafts.
"What'll you do?" demanded Mr.
Merton. "Pole-pullers are mighty
scarce this year"
"Wen have to try an break in
one of the pickers, I suppose"
One of the pickers!--the words
rang in Rossiter's ears. Why not
himself? Certainly he was strong
enough, and, he fiattered himself,
clever enough. He was very sure that
he could acquire the knack of pole
pulling quickly-knack, it was evil
dent, had much to do with it. He
had watched the young man whom
Jack Parmelee had named number
of times that afternoon, as he
groaned over lifting an obstinate
pole, and told himself that he did
not believe he should make such a
to-do.
He walked on several PAGES, medi-
tating the while. Pole-pulling was
much harder work, doubtless, than
picking hops, but then the pay was
more. If he were going to turn his
back upon his old ways, he might as
well begin whole-heartedly. He
wheeled swiftly towards the two
men seated in the door of the hop
kiln. They ceased speaking as he
drew near, and realizing that his
mood might change if he beat about
the bush Rossiter went straight to
the point.
81 overheard you say" he began,
"as was passing just now, that you
are going to be short of a pole-puller.
I'd like to have chance at the job,
if you'll let me-"
Lets see," answered Parmelee,
leaning forward to sean Rossiter's
face more closely, whats your
name? I don't seem to recall"
'Rossiter."
ooh, yes! Come with the Becraft
boys, didn't you?"
"Yes.'
''Ever pull po1es?"
mo, never have, but I was watch
ing the chap named Gridley, of whom
you were speaking-he pulled for
my box to-day-and I think can do
as well as he."
Parmelee looked Rossiter up and
down. Then he rose and felt of his
arm.
81 guess you'll do," he remarked,
with one of his gruff chuckles. 'T'u
show you the trick in the mernin'."
"Thank you," said Rossiter, turn
ing away.
"Obliged to you," answered Parme-
lee. "Glad you spoke about it. Helps
me out considerable"
Rossiter walked from the farm
yard with sense of elation. His
blood seemed suddenly to pulse more
swiftly, and mounted to his head
like wine. He paused an instant
at the gate, wondering if Joe Becraft
had returned, thinking to tell him of
the step he had taken, but Joe was
not among those who were lettering
there. He glanced up and down the
road, debating which way he should
stroll, not caring to join his gossip
ing fellow-pickers. One addressed
him. but he replied briefly and moved
to the right in the direction oppo-
site from that which he and Becraft
had taken the evening before.
"Rum feller, that" said one of
those at the gate.
eyes," said another, "sort of a
cross tween tramp an a dude"
remark which evoked a burst of
merriment.
Rossiter felt that he was the sub
iect of their mirth, but this realiza-
tion did not lower the pitch of his
mood. He smiled, put his shoulders