The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-05-20
there. Has he any plan.

to make a try in the fall after the
work in the fields is done. / suppose
he will find something in the line he
wants. Most people can find work
if they look hard enough for it." Mr..
Warren laughed again, and helped
the stranger to a second dish of corn
and beans.
II think so, too. And will keep
him in mind, and see what can do
for him when he is ready to come.
/ have several grocer friends in mind I;
one of them surely ought to be glad
to get a good, willing, sturdy helper,
such as Stephen would undoubtedly
be-" with smile at that young man s
flush of delight and embarrassment
at the implied praise.
Thank you, sir. / should be very
glad to try any good position you
might know about" said Stephen
earnestly.
The dinner ended, the stranger and
Jerry departed, and Stephen went
back to the field and his hoe. But
all the afternoon the hope that the
strangers words had awakened anew
sang in his heart, and he worked
vigorously and happily until it was
time to go up and help with the
evening chores.
All through the summer the
thought was in his mind of the pos
sible good news that might come any
day-if the stranger kept faith.
And then, one day in early fall, the
proof came that he had remembered
and at least tried to make good his
word. Two letters came for Stephen,
both in the same mail and both from
the city. He could scarcely wait un-
til he had opened them and fairly de-
voured their contents. Then his
eager face suddenly grew grave, for
there had risen question for him
to decide.
well, what's the news?" asked
John, the eldest brother, watching
the face of the reader and seeing the
sudden change. Stephen turned to
him with laugh that held an un-
easy note.
1T seems to me that there is
little too much news. think | would
be better pleased if / had received
only one of these letters, and not
have two places offered me and have
to choose between them," answered
Stephen.
That's just the way with people
never satisfied" mocked John. "If
| were the fellow who wanted to go
to the stuffy old town to work, seems
to ME it wouldn't take me long to
pick out the right one of the two.
Wherever the most money will come
from-that's the place, isn't it? Or
are you going into it for love of the
work rather than the cash?" he add
ned laughingly. Stephen smiled too,
e5ut answered seriously enough.
mo; l cannot settle this question
by that rule. | have something more
than that to it. Listen," and he read
first one, then the other of the two
brief letters. John listened, and as
the last letter was read and folded
up his lips formed themselves into a
whistle, and his eyes, frank and hon
est as Stephens own, met his BROTH
er's. Yet he said not a word until
after Stephen spoke.
"One offers much the best wages
and hours and everything, except the
very thing that makes tt" he
hesitated for a troubled second; then
suddenly he threw up his head with
a new air of decision and tighten
ing of his face-"that makes it i'm
possible" he finished.
Good for you, Steve" shouted
John, giving him loving slap that
made him gasp, big and strong
though he was. That's the way for
a son of Mr.. Warren to talk. If 1
thought that his youngest was going
to take position where he would
have to touch, handle, and deliver
the stuff that adde's honest brains,
and puts murder into hearts that
would never think of it without the
poison of alcohol, and does all the
rest of the mischief that it possibly
can-well, ! think / see a fellow of
about my size bringing one of your
size home by the nape of the neck,
So" and there was friendly scuffie.
Even if such position would pay
more money-the thing that ought
to decide the whole thing offhand,
eh?" taunted Stephen, joyously, now
that the thing was settled. For he
was going to take the lesser wages
and longer hours, with the man who
did not handle "choice liquors. in his
grocery store.
He went in due time and, after a
preliminary interview, entered upon
his new work. He did not leave
home, for the early trains carried him
into town every morning, and an
evening train hurried him back to
the big farmhouse and the beloved
home circle. Among all the wonder
full things he had to tell over the eve
ming table, those first few weeks,
none was more wonderful than the
story he brought home on Saturday
night with a pay envelope that held
enough more than the agreed wages
to make it equal to that other offer
which ha bad rafucaJ