Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-09
JOEL SMEDLEY'S DISCOVERY

just my luck" exclaimed a tall.
angular boy of seVcntcrM. in a tone
O. dlscOufagencnt. coming ua1 OF the
wagon house with an empty basket
i'll his hand. ''fhore isn't a person OH
the place, Or a thiAg that appre-
ciatcs What | do-not even the wind.
there We been an hour-oHer an
ho"f-raking up that pile of leaves.
and see where they arc, Some OF
them | can get again: part Of them /.
can't
He more firmly drew on his visor,
less cap, lest that. too. should follow
the leaves. as they scurried tantaiz-
inely back and forth eager To escape
the cruel teeth of the rake. The
barn door swung dismally in the wind
regularly striking the loose board
side with dull, motonous thud.
THAT needs fiXing--the hasp. so
dc the elapboards and eyerythin9
'i'N '-'hi0 - III iti'di!, iJil 1 HllSul NOI N
myself to shreds, and that's ali the
thanks get
'Whatever's done T have to do:
fathers SO busy at the mill. Btu, d
be willing to- don't complain nt the
work-if they'd appreciate what | do.
/ They don't find fault--that isn't it
but felloW'd like to feel his folks
cared some. when be does the best ne
can
Joel Smedley began raking the
leaves from the gutter again, outside
the roadway. His motions showed he
was working mechanically. rather
than with any interest in the task he
was doing.
"They1I find a difference next week
when I'm working in the grocery at
Buxton, Didn't suppose Id Get a sit
nation 50 soon after applying
Wouldn't II Henry Pacard hadn't eof
a Job in the foundry. Just as woIi-
might as well come one time a.
another Guess they'll miss ne.
though,
There vas Il 1oo> on John Smedley S
face unusual il one so youne-an
expression Of sa;.lnile and exclusive:
ness. He was oae who neyer made
any advances to gain favor and
tricadship-n0t even in his own fam
iy.
| The last basket Of leaves wa5 plaeed
| in the impGoEjsed pen, and Joel
hung the garden rake on a peg over
| the shed window. Surreptitiously
taking a letter from the pocket OF his
lose-fitting blouse, he furt;yel,@ slane
ed at the contents before closing the
! door.
Come next week, Tuesday. can
give you a job, probably to last all
winter.
Thus far he had kept the matter Sc
cret. not even letting his mother kno"
he was so soon to leave.
..She'd be the only one who'd care
he said. softly "if anyone would
! Cont think she'd mind it much
though she's different from the rest,
..Wonder what Joel has On ms
m;nd-doesn't seem like himself: OF
is II only my imagination? Noticed
apv change in him lately. father?
and there was an unmistakable trace
of anxiety in Mrs. Smedley,s voice.
No. guess not, Don't see much OF
the boy. anyway" And Amos Snl ii.
lev tired with his days work at thf
mill turned partly round in his ueep
chintz covered rocker. anc intent
" Watching the shining needles as
they clicked in and out the stocking
his wife was busilv knitting.
Their was silence for few minutes
broken only by the music OF ehe
rocker and the needles.
DO you know," remarked Ms
father. slowly-Joel was in the cham
her above, near the open regis c' VIII
darninc needle and tWine, painfdils
mending the rips in the old-1asliiouhes
carpet bag in which he was TO carry
his few belongings to Buxton the@aleN'
day-"do you know he is capahA'
boy-Joel is: He's one in hundred
patient and trustworthy. ! don't kno"
what we'd do-how we'd get alons
without that boy" And the voice
grew affectionately tendef.
Mrs smeqley laid. down her knit
ting. y
'.I'ye. been wondering lately-7aon
know why l should-if he knew Wha
tower of strength like that @eS
preston in connection with him-he is