Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-30

store to waylay any one likely to have information on any subject a stream of questions proceeding from her through the door.
 Say, you got anything particular to dol"
 "No, sir; leastways th'ain't no hurry about it."
 Gan I buy stuff to make a fence with around here?"
 "Yes, sir; MT. Pettigrew's got all kinds of buildin' material at his store two mile over yonder,' pointing with the whip.
 You drive over there for me and get some-just like this here-pickets and posts and whatever you call them long pieces, and I'll make it right with you"
 'Yes, sir. How much will get?"
 "Oh, tell him to fill the wagon up with it, and I'll send back what don't want. Hustle, now, like a good boy; want to get shut of this job; I liked it better before I begun"
 " uCu lllo NIClSuly opCCuCo oh the journey at a faster gait than Red would have given him credit for the architect strode down to the black smiths shop. There was a larger crowd than usual around the forge, as the advent of the stranger had got into the wind, and the village Vulcan was person who not only looked the whole world in the face, but no one of the maiden ladies of Fairfield could have exceled his interest in looking pocket as possible. The blacksmith was emphatically a man of gossip, as well as hardworking, God fearing man.
 Say, there he comes now, Mr. Tut tle!" cried one of the loungers, and nudged the smith to look.
 well, let him come!" retorted the smith testify, jamming shoe in the fire with unnecessary force; as a mat i ter of fact he was embarrassed. The ! loungers huddled together for moral support as the big cowman loomed through the doorway.
 Good morning. friends" said he.
 Good morning, sir" replied the blacksmith, rubbing his hands on his apron. "Nice day, sir"
 For the sake of good fellowship I'll say yes to that" responded Red, "but if you want my honest opinion on the subject it's d-n hot
 "'Tis that" assented the smith, and silence followed.
 Say, who's your crack fence build CT around here," asked Red-"the man that can make two plcllets grow where only one grew before and do it so easy that it's pleasure to sit and look at him?"
 "Hey?" inquired the smith, not pre- cisely getting the meaning of the ad- dress.
 "Why, I've got fence to build," ex- claimed Red, and now 1 want some help-want it so bad I'll produce to the extent of three q day and call it day from now till 6 o'clock. Any takers lIClc. A1dhC yOul bClS ILlllC ball rolls"
 The loungers understood the general drift of this and pricked up their ears, as did the blacksmith. Guess one of the boys will help you" said the latter.
 Well, who's it?" asked Red, glanc- ing at the circle of faces. Three dol lars a day was enormous wages in that part of the country. Nobody knew just what to say.
 "Oh, we'll" cried Red, lets every body run. I reckon I can find some thing to do for the five of you. Are you with me?'
 Yes, sir," they said promptly.
 Gan 1 borrow q hammer or so off you, old man:" questioned Red of the smith.
 Certainly. sir" returned the latter heartily. Take what you want"
 Much obliged. And the gate hinges are out of whack. Miss Saunders place, you know. Come over and take g squint at 'cm in the near by and by. will you? May as well fix it up all at once. Come on. boys" IT was thus that the greatest enter prise that Fairfield had seen in many a day was undertaken. Miss Mattie was simply asto;Inded as the army bore down upon the house. Whatever in the world is Cousin Will doing?" said she, but resting i strong in the faith that it was ncces- ! sarily all right she was content to wait for dinner aud an explanation. ! Not so tine postmistress. The ago7ies i of unrequited curiosity the worthy i woman suffered that morning until i she at last summoned up her resolu- l tion and asked the smith plump out ! and out what it all meant would have | to be experienced to Ike appreciated. ! And the smith kept her hanging for l. awhile. too. saying to himself in justi- i hcatiOn that 1t wasn't right the way . that old gal had to get into every ] bOdy's business The smith was like some of the rest of us-he could see through a beam if 1t was in his own gre. !
 CHAPTER VI < ~lHERE was a great din of
 whacking ard hammering that
 morning Red worked like a S horse now, that he had com ,any. A sudden thought struck him, md he went into the house
 "lIattie.- said he
 Well, WnIE-