The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-12-26

In the region about his own home
Jay Hazleton had earned the name
OF being a driver" In the busiest
season Of the farm year work never
crowded Jay. Instead, he crowded
his work with all the relentlessness
Of which his sturdy frame and square
chin showed him capable. Strangely
enough. during the summer of 1898
this very trait of forehandedness
came near to wrecking the young far
mer's fortunes.
Jays hired man" was a scrawny
youth of about eighteen years, the
farmers opposite in physical and
mental characteristics. Jay had
hired him partly in pity of the boys
widowed mother, who rented the
farm mile southeast of his own.
and partly, it must be confessed, be-
cause such help came cheap. and
Jay believed that q few allopathic
doses of hustle" might induce the
dawdling Watson to do almost the
work of a man.
= On the hottest afternoon the sum-
mer had known Jay was sorting eggs
down in the basement of the barn.
The little eggs were good enough for
the farmer and his assistant, and the
Others would bring fancy price from
town customers. He was in even more
Oh a hurry than usual, for this par
ticular Tuesday was an important
day for the old Hazleton farm and
Its master; from the place was going
fha first 1f
he had ever sold to a certain dealer.
"A dozen two-year-olds and Daisy and
Lass, two of Jays star mothers, had
been purchased by the Worthington
Stock Farm. The man who was to
take them to their new home was
probably In town at this very mo-
ment. He and his car were to have
arrived during the morning, and as
yay remembered this, he called to
Watson.
"Hey, boy" he shouted, tits time
you were getting started with the
cows! l don't want you to have to
hurry them. You'd better get the
team out and be going"
There was a moments pause, as
II the young fellow at work in the
tool-shed was trying to think of an
excuse for procrastination; then, II
don't like to start just now, boss"
he sang, in his nasal tone. There's
going to be a storm before an hours
past--I can feel 1t. and the stock is
plumb nervous. Better let me wait
WHILE"
wait at the other end, Watson!"
commanded the farmer. "If there's
going to be storm, all the more
reason for getting the herd down
town-barn might be struck, you
know. And come to think of 1t, I'll
let you take the young stock instead
OF Daisy and Lass. The herd would
be harder to handle in a storm, and
l cant start just yet"
Jay laughed to himself at the
pause which followed this announce
ment He had purposely shifted to
the boys shoulders. the harder part
OF the work, in payment for what
ne considered his attempt to dawdle.
"All right, boss!" Watson agreed,
after another pause.
The sound of the grindstone's
buz, ceased abruptly, and few min
utes later Jay heard the collie bark
Ing and heard the hinges of the gate
give out resonant squeak. He knew
that he was alone; and instantly he
began to doubt the wisdom of send
ing this inexperienced young fellow
10 town with four thousand dollars
worth OF fractions cattle. Only
twelve OF them there were, but they
We're the finest in the State-and to
Jay they meant success or failure In
the business of raising fancy stock.
With the money obtained from them
he could buy couple of imported
animals and put up small stable.
Al they should be damaged in any
way-and the man broke the egg he
was transferring to the case as the
thought struck him--he must begin
again at the beginning. He threw
IN the last dozen eggs. and hurried
10 the door of the basement.
Down the road. beyond a series of
little hills. cloud of dust was ris-
iug. IL might be floating above bis
cattle. and It might be simply dust
naio ABOVE a wagon. At any rate. for
petter or for worse. It was beyond
ms recall. To the west some strange
orange and black clouds were peep
Ing above the prarie. The farmer
stared at them for a moment then
turned, caught up the flled egg-case.
and hurried with II into the farm
yard Into the back OF the wagon he
showed the egg-crate. He noticed
that the team was rcstless, but MS
u had been hitched ana waiting for
an hour this did not surprise him.
When ne went to the stock barn for
the two cows. he found that they.
TOO, were nervous and irritable.