Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-09

boy passed by, lounging on the seat
Of farm wagon.
"Heyw hailed Red. The boy stopped
and turned slowly around.
"Yes, sir" he answered courteousiy
enough.
"Want job?' said Red.
"Well, l dunno replied the boy.
He was much astonished at the ap.
pearance of his interrogation, and he
was cautious New England boy To
boot
you don't know?" retorted Red.
"Well," with some sarcasm. dye sup
pose | could find out at the postotice!'
The boy looked at Red, with twin.
kle in his eye and comical drawing
Of his long mouth.
81 calc'late IL you cud fin out any
w'eres 'twould be there" said he.
Red laughed. He had noticed the
busy postmistress rushing out of her
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 dor
"No, sir; leastways th'ain't no hurry
about it,"
with around hereT'
"Yes, sir; Mr.. 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-pckets
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 good
boy: | want to get shut of this job;
/ liked it better before l begun"
When his Mercury had speeded on
| the journey at faster gait than Red
would have given him credit for the
| architect strobe 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 a person who not only looked the
whole world in the face, but no one
of the maiden ladies of Fairfield could
have excelled his interest In looking
the whole world as much in the inside
pocket as possible. The blacksmith
was emphatically a man Of gossip, as
well as Woodworking. Gcd fearing
man.
"Say, there he comes now. Mr.. Tut
tlew cried one of the loungers. and
nudged the smith to look.
"Well, let him Gomez retorted the
smith testify, tanning a shoe in the
fire with unnecessary force: as mat
ter Of fact he was embarrassed. The
loUngers huddled together for moral
| support as the big cowman loomed
through the doorway.
"Good morning, friendsv' said he.
"Good morning, sirr replied the
blacksmith, rubbing his hands on his
apron. Mice 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
| q silence followed.
Say, who's your crack fence build
er around here" asked Red-"the man
that can make two pickets grow where
only one grew before and do 1t so easy
that it's a pleasure to sit and look at
him.
"Hey?' inquired the smith, not pre-
| cisely getting the meaning of the adj
dress
"Why, I've got fence to build ex-
claimed Red, land now | want some
help-want 1t so bad I'll produce to the
extent of three day and call 1t day
from now till 6 o'clock. Any takers
here? Make your bets while the little
ball rolls"
The loungers understood the general
drift of this and pricked up their ears,
as did the blacksmith Guess one of
the boys viii help you," said the latter.
"Well. who's it?" asked Red, glanc-
lars a day was enormous wages in
that part of the country. Nobody
knew just what to say.
"Oh, WELL" cried Red, lets every
body run! | reckon / can find some
thing to do for the five of you. Are
you with meT'
"Yes, sir" they said promptly.
"Can l borrow a hammer or so off
you, old MANI 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
a squint at 'em In the near by and by,
will your May as well fix 1t up all at
once. Come on, boysr
1t was thus that the greatest enter
prise that Fairfield had seen I'm many
day was undertaken. Miss Matte
was simply astounded as the army
bore down upon the house.
whatever in the world is Cousin
VIII doing" said she, but resting
strong in the faith that 1t was neces-
y m rIIv oil RIGHT cha WAC content IN