The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-04-23

| grain which were now stored In the
shed loft waiting for the higher quota.
lions which rum0r promised. Yes, a
strong man was needed on the place.
for POssum Flat. even In its splendor,
was isolated. The nearest nelghbor
, was too far away to be reached by
even the report Of his rife.
Billy entered upon his new work
with unwonted energy. great heap
OF wood was cut and piled near the
back door. where II would be handy
for Betty. He brought water aud fed
the pigs and, III spite of her protests,
insisted on doing the milking himself.
and he brought the big. unwieldy plow
and swung II In behind the mules and
went merrily around the four acre lot
In lessening parallelograms.
1t was the novelty of seeing won.
an about that was pleasant He had
no sisters. and his mother had long
been dead. 1t was just the novelty
and the neatress and contentedness of
II all he liked And this idea, If his
thoughts took such definite form. re-
malned with him for a month-until
the invalid began to hobble about on
crutches = when suddenly the truth
came home to him as had her beauty
that day on the ridge. Billy was in
love-
Betty noticed the change In him at
once. aud her face grew puzzled. but
only for little while Then an odd
twinkle Of humor came into her eyes
as though she understood And min
gled with the humor was tender,
pickering light which had been gaining
strength In her eyes these past few
weeks. light which Billy had not yet
seen.
AS he entered Jake looked up with
angry impatience. and Billy raised a
hand defensively before his face. but
the invalid was not thinking of that
"Heered anything bout wheat TO-
day." he grumbled. Coin down. Of
course"
"Goin' up" Billy answered promptly,
"a man hollered to me from the aige
o. the hill this mornin' an said twas
seventy"
Seventy Jake grabbed his crutches
and rose totteringly to his feet. but
sank back. with snarl Of mingled
rage and pain. Seventy cents. an
I've got ninety bushels, Dunn the old
back. BY the time I'm out ag'in it'll
be down to fifty, like twas last year.
an that'll be clean loss Of $lS."
"Caut I go, pap?" suggested Betty,
The gloomy face cleared slightly.
then lowered. He loved the profits of
his industry. but not so much as he
loved Betty. II was thirty miles to
Staunton.
mo. We can't" he snarled.
There was a brief silence. Then Bet
ty said:
There's Billy, pap. He's mighty
strong and wlllln'."
The face darkened. then grew light
er. Evidently the idea. nj first scout
ed was being tolerated. That meant
Billy had been making giant strides
forward during these few weeks
T-dunno." doubtfully.
Billy saw his opportunity and rose
to II like g mau--like man Of indus
try. He was developing rapidly.
an take II down all right" he said
confidently. 1--WE sold wheat to Staun-
ton afore. But mebbe It'll be worth
while to hold back till you're out
ag'in."
Jake snorted
There's more fallin's than risin's in
wheat" he snapped, rive found that
out. I reckon ye'd better go, an.
mind. 1 want ye to get 1t all down by
tomorrow. Seventy cents! Yes. ye
must get II all In tomorrow"
BiIIy's head was whirllng. But there
was Betty looking at him confidently.
and her father already beginning to
lose some of his newly acquired conn.,
dence. He must brace IN.
"All right" he answered as steadily
as he could The mules can draw
half on the long waggin. an III borry
Tom Stuart's mule an Ike Coyner's
hay waggin. That'll take the other
half. Ike's boy Sam can drive behind
me so can keep an eye on him. On
yes. Well get on; fust rate
Jake nodded approvingly. 1t was a
good plan. ..
Seventy cents he admonished
warningiy., sTry an get IT,
After the wheat was. loaded the next |
day Billy entered the cabin for few
last instructions. Before leaving he
contrived to draw Betty into the back
kitchen for a moment.
Say. Betty" he began. "l-l-say