Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-31
apologize--he is a vegetable"


 North Dakota, I mean. Can't get used to the state business. There's Bill and a Dick on this side of me and two Johns and a Sammy on the other. Foot of the table is Miss Hattie Saunders, next to her-just as they run-Miss Pauline Doolittle and Miss Mary Ann Demilt, who may be kin to the gentleman you're seeking"
 "Mr. Thomas F. Demilt?" asked the stranger.
 Hes my sister," responded Miss Mary Ann Whereat the youths buried their faces in the plates, as MT. Thom- as F., in spite of many excellent qual- ities, bore a pathetic resemblance to the title.
 T mean,' continued the lady hur- riedly, that I'm his brother"
 By Jiminy, ma'am," exclaimed Red, "but yours is a strange family"
 What Miss Demilt wishes to say" cut in Miss Doolittle. with some as- perity, ''is that MT. Thomas Faulken- stone Denlilt is her brother" She did not add, as extreme candor would have urged, And I have some hope-re- mote, alas, but thereof becoming sis ter to Miss Demilt myself"
 Thank you" said Lettis. Shall I be able to see him this afternoon?'
 "Oh, mercy. yes" said Miss Mary Ann. From is home all day"
 T can thank the kind fates for that" said Lettis. q had begun to think he was q myth" and he fell in upon the tender meat with vigorous appetite of youth and a good diges- ton.
 Nathaniel Lettis was by no means a fool, and he had experience in busi- ness, but the handspring of the young fellow was frankness, and in the course of the dinner he told his errand. MT. Demilt had written to his firm eX- plaining the advantages of starting strawboard factory in Fairfield. It was too small a thing for the firm to i be interested in, but Lettis had small capital which he wished to invest in an enterprise of his own handling, and 1t had struck him that there might be a chance for independence; therefore he had come to find out the lay of the land.
 Red Saunders first glance liking of the stranger deepened as he told of his business. The cowman did not blame people who took obvious ways and dealt in antiquities, for his ex- ty fairly complete, had told him that craft was Il necessity for weak na lures; nevertheless he cared not for those who used it.
 In his part of the west a man would no more think of giving false i'm pression of his financial standing to alter his position in ones regard than he would wear corsets. Money was of small consequence; its sequelae of less. Men spoke openly of how much they made, how they liked the job how their claims were paying. Such mat ters were neutral ground of chance conversation as the weather is in the east. The rapid and unpredictable changes of fortune gave tendency to make light of ones present condition. A man would say I'm busted" with out any more feeling than he would say 'I have cold" Now, in Fair field, that is not likely lonesome in that respect, one of the principal ob- jects in life was to conceal the pow erty which would persist in sticking its gaunt elbows through the cloth of straightforward questions shrewd ones, tOo-seeing that the other was one of his own kind and would not re- sent 1t.
 Lettis wanted nothing better than chance to expand on the subject. It was close to his heart. He had been a subordinate about as long as proud and masterful young fellow ought to he. Now he was qulvering to try his own strength, and, seeing. for his part, that his host was inspired with a gen uinc interest and not curiosity, he gave him all the information in his power.
 But a plant like that is going to cost some money. aln't it?" asked Red.
 Too much for me, I'm afraid" re- piled Lettis 'I have 5000 to put in, and suppose could borrow the rest. but that's saddling the business with too heavy charges right in the begin hing. Still. it may not be as bad as I fancy"
 Red drummed on the table. thinking. T wouldn't mind getting into a busi- ness of some kind as long as it was making things" he said. 'T don't banker to keep store much. Suppose I 20 along with you when you look up how much straw is raised and the rest of itT'
 Would yOu?" cried the young fel- low eagerly. By George. sir. I wish yOu could sec your way clear to take hold of it. Could you stand s1O.OO1. for InstaaceI Excuse the question, but I'm so anxious over this-- Lord. what's the harm of asking 1 factsT" said RetI. Then. with a gIeam ! of genial pride. Ten thousand wouldn't break me by a duru sight" ] Lettis' boytsh face fairly glOved Tt ! was my good angel made me stop in ] front of your fence he said "I saw ] yOu all eating iR here. and yOu looked So jolly that I thought Td sop on the chance yOa might Ie the nan I was looking for. Now I'll go right on and see Mfr. Demilt and fnd Ogt what he wants to do in the natter"
 "wait for the wagon and yOu can rtle.- said Red ~Bay-s E5ze h0ne to vaa hFz sgzs nFwsr- v-z-+F-- Fo- ma sF,Ex