Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-02-06

amount of unforeseen delays il
- was ready for business by the
latter part of September The official
opening was set for the 2Tth, Miss
Mattie's birthday, and the village of
Fairfield was invited to a picnic to
be held at the mill I'm honor of the oc-
casion. 1t is needless TO say that the
Fairfield Strawboard Manufacturing
company did the thing up In shape.
Wagons loaded with straw and drawn
by four horse teams went the rounds
is doubtful III Fairfield was ever more
| surprised than at the realization OF
how much there was of her, using the
pronoun out Of respect to the majority,
when she was punched" as Red said.
| You would not have believed that
struggling, lonesome looking place held
so many people. As Red could discov-
er no means In the towns resources to
provide meal for 300 people, it was
necessarily basket party, which
struck Mr.. Saunders as being grievous-
| ly like a Swede treat. He made up
for II In measure by having barrels
OF lemonade and cider on tap at the
grounds, stronger beverages being bar
red. and by hiring quartet Of strings
! ''clear from town"
At half past 2 on respondent but
hot September afternoon the caravan
started for the mill grounds, the WON
en- dressed In the most unpicnicky cos
tunes imaginable, and the men osten-
tatiousiy at ease In their store clothes.
Every one was In the best of spirits,
keen for the excitement and pleasure
that was sure to mark the occasion
Red rode old Buckskin, who had
succumbed to the inevitable and only
'Jumped around a little," as Red put
n, on being mounted. 1t was pretty
lively jumping around" but perhaps
Mr.. Saunders found some satisfaction
in sitting perfectly at his ease. smok-
Ing his cigarette. while Buck jumped
and Fairfield admired. And, at any
rate, Buck had legs Of iron and the
wind OF locomotive, carrying Red all
day and willing to kick at anything
which bothered him when night came.
He was splendid beast through and
through. from forelock to tail tip, but
be had learned who was his master
and obeyed him accordingly.
1t was five mile ride, mostly under
the shade Of fine old trees. The road
wound around the hills; here and there
. break In the arhoreal border showed
views Of rolling country, well shaped
and pleasing, winding up grassy slopes
In groves Of verdure. OF course most
OF the freshness OF leaf was past, yet
the modest gray green gave a siIvery
sheen to the landscape that brought 1t
into unity.
One member Of the party felt that
his heart was very full as he looked al
! Il. That was Lettis. "Blast the old
oflcew he kept saying to himself.
blast its six dingy windows and the
clock at the endi Doesn't this look
good, and doesn't 1t smell good, dust
and allf' and then he'd howl at the
horses In sheer exuberance OF good
feeling, making the mild old brutes
put better foot OF It to the front.
Red cantered up beside his wagon.
"well, Lettis." he said. .here we go
for the opening overture with the full
strength Of the company great
people this day. Amt we7" And the
| big man smiled like pleased big boy.
"Oh, what 4 bully old fellow you
arSv thought Lettis as be looked at
him. Lettis was thinking OF other
qualities than nesh, but the physical