Middletown transcript., 1903-03-07
A MEASURE OF WHEAT
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
By EDGAR Z. HAMPTON

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
The school teacher had said
To-day is Saturday and I'm go
ing down to Sheridan to raise the
money necessary to rent your
farm for The next year, in accor,
dance with your proposal OF last
night. I take it you threw ouf
that bait to ne, Mr.. Keating. tc
test my temper. I accept your
proposition and shall be ready to
close with you this evening. !
also feel from the bottom OF my
heart for those poor peoplestarv-
ing in India, and ! should like an
option on your hundred thous-
and bushels of wheat at the fig-
ure named. I may be able to
raise a subscription and send 1t
to them.
Yer blanked idjit, shoutedthe
old man wildly. Let the heather
take care of himself. I'll rent
you my farm, " he added, if you
make me suitable terms; but you
can't have my wheat for no
thirty-fiye cents. That was yes
terday, and my price has gone
up. But I'll tell you what | will
do-the spirit Of traffic was ris-
ing up strong within him III
call it forty cents and a go
though it's my opinion you're a
stark, starin' idjit, he added un-
der his breath.
The young man smiled. His
eyebrows narrowed shrewdly.
If you'll split the difference I'll
consider it, he said.
Not a cent less, shouted the
old man, all excitement. One
hundred thousand bushels, no
more and no less, and at forty
cents-I don t have to sell!
Wheat lis only thirty cents now,
and I won't consider it at forty,
but ! ask an option at thirty-eight
urged the young man firmly. And
the deal was left open.
When Richard returned that
night he brought with him a
thousand dollars, his own savings
and . promise Of credit at the
Sheridan Bank on his personal
note and a mortgage on the crop,
less rentals, for whatever he
might require up to ten thous-
and dollars.
After splitting hairs till near
midnight, old man Keating sign,
ed the lease for one year and
then went out by the well in the
moonlight and called himself a
'starnel Of fool"
On his return to the house
Richard went at him diligently,
with the money spread out on the
table between them, and under
this talismanic influence the old
man, loosening up in manner
to astonish the entire household
offered him a six months option
at thirty eight cents. Then Rich,
ard proposed to buy a thousand
dollar depusit, and one years
time on the balance at five pei
cent. interest. They finally com
promised at thirty eight cents
and six per cent, signed the con
tract, and Richard paid over the
money.
That night the rain came
Gentle, insinuating at first, q few
great drops here and there; ther
faster and faster on the parchet
roofs and dust-laden leaves, lik'
the patter Of shot, or the rattlins
roll of a drum calling to action
For q week the rain continued
intermittently, saturating tn
earth. Then eamfollowed team
n long, sober procession into tt
fields; steam ploWs puffed noisil.
out of summer retreats, and tn
fall breaking began.
Richard Morrison pulled Of
his coat and went to work. B.
the conditions OF his contract b
was to have the use of all stocl
and farm implements and he ha'
retained the hired men. Al
rangements were readily mad
for a substitute to finish hi
term of school; and Richard
time was soon fully occupies
with the work in hand.
AS autumn waned into winter
and the long, level stretches Q
valley became dim with mist an
rain, there was an enforced LEI
sure, and the weight of the re
sponsibility he had undertake
grew upon him until It assume
at times the haunting, ghostl
shape of failure. But he wa
used TO thinking much and keeI
ing his own counsel. His ten
permanent was such that, ono
thoroughly In the race, he wa
s41..-<~ - cta,,d for all hu hi