Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-16

mote. alas, but thereof becoming SIS
ter to Miss Demilt myself"
THANK your said Lettis. "Shall
be able to see him this afternoonT'
"Oh, mercy, yesr' said Miss Mary
Ann. tom is home all day"
81 can thank the kind fates for
that" said Lettis. II had begun to
think he was myth" and he fell in
upon the tender meat with a vigorous
appetite of youth and a good diges-
| ton.
Nathaniel Lettis was by no means
fool. and he had experience in bust
ness, but the handspring of the young
fellow was frankness. and In the
course of the dinner he told his errand.
Mr. Demilt had written to his Arm ex
planning the advantages of starting a
strawboard factory In Fairfield. 1t
was too small thing for the firm to
be interested in, but Lettis had small
capital which he wished to invest In
an enterprise of his own handling, and
1t had struck him that there might be
chance for independence; therefore
he had come to find out the lay Of the
land
Red Saunders first glance liking of
the stranger deepened as he told Of
his business. The cowman did not
blame people who took obvious ways
and dealt in antiquities, for his ex.
perience in the world, which was pref
~ fairly complete, had told him that
20
lures; nevertheless he cared not for
those who used it.
In his part of the west man would
no more think of giving a false i'm
preston of his financial standing to
alter his position in ones regard than
he would wear corsets. Money was of
small consequence; its sequelae of less.
Men spoke openly of how much they
made, how they liked the job. how
their claims were paying. Such mat.
tiers were neutral ground of chance
conversation as the weather is in the
east. The rapid and unpredictable
changes of fortune gave tendency to
make light of ones present condition.
A man would say I'm busted" with
out any more feeling than he would
say 81 have a cold" Now, In Fair
field, that is not likely lonesome in
that respect, one of the principal OBJ
tects In life was to conceal the pow
erty which would persist in sticking
its gaunt elbows through the cloth of
words spread over It, Red asked
straightforward questions shrewd
ones, too-seeing that the other was
one of his own kind and would not re-
sent II.
Lettis wanted nothing better than a
chance to expand on the subject. 1t
was close TO his heart. He had been
a subordinate about as long as a proud
and masterful young fellow ought to
be. Now he was quivering to try his
own strength, and, seeing, for his part,
that his host was inspired with a gen.
uine interest and not curiosity, he
gave him all the information in his
power.
But a plant like that is going to
cost some money, amt it?" ASKED Red.
TOO much for me, I'm afraid" re-
piled Lettis. Il have $1,000 to put in.
and suppose l could borrow the rest,
but that's saddling the business with
too heavy charges right in the begin
ming. Still, it may not be as bad as
fancy"
Red drummed on the table, thinking
81 wouldn't mind getting into a bust
ness of some kind as long as 1t was
making things" he said II don't
banker to keep store much. Suppose
go along with you when you look MP
how much straw is raised and the rest
Of it?"
would your" cried the young fel.
low eagerly. by George, sir ! wish
you could see your way clear to take
hold of it, Could you stand $4,000,
for instance? Excuse the question, but
I'm so anxious over this
Lord, what's the harm of asking
facts?' said Red. Then, with a CLEAN
of genial pride, Ten thousand wouldn't
break me by durn sight"
Lettis' boyish face fairly glowed. 1T
was my good angel made me stop in
front of your fence" he said. 81 saw
you all eating in here, and you looked
so jolly that thought I'd stop on the
chance you might be the man l was
looking for. Now I'll go right on and
see Mr.. Demilt and find out what he
wants to do in the matter"
"Wait for the wagon and you can
ride" said Red. Boys gone home to
see his dad about working for me this
afternoon. In the meantime, IL you're
not too proud to take hold and help
us with this dod rated fence, I'll be
obliged to you"
Bring on your fence! I'm ready"
said Lettis.
"Come on, boysr' said Red, and the
party rose from the table. Later the
wagon came up.
swell, good day, Lettis," said Red.
"If you can't get quarters anywhere
else, come on and help me hold the
barn down."
do you sleep In the barn? Then