The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-01-15

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 q 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 a 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
of 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
the first herd of Hereford cattle that
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
Jay remembered this, he called to
Watson.
"Hey, boy" he shouted, "it's time
you were getting started with the
cows! 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
If the young fellow at work in the
tool-shed was trying to think of an
excuse for procrastination; then, 81
don't like to start just now, boss"
he sang, in his nasal tone There's
going to be storm before an hours
past-I can feel it, and the stock is
plumb nervous. Better let me wait
q 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 it, I'll
let you take the young stock instead
of Daisy and Lass. The herd would
be harder to handle in a storm, and
] can't 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
he considered his attempt 20 dawdle.
"All right, boss!" Watson agreed.
after another pause.
The sound of the grindstone's
buzz ceased abruptly, and a 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
to town with four thousand dollars
worth of fractions cattle. Only
twelve of them there were, but they
were 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 a couple of imported
animals and put up small stable.
II 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
to the door of the basement.
Down the road, beyond a series of
little hills, cloud of dust was ris-
ing. 1t might be floating above his