The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-04-16

Ir. Awdrey came in clappdng his hands.
for, remember, 1t was bitterly cold
and, pulling off one of his knitted gloves.
he gave me his hand. His nose was red.
but his fine, kindly eyes sparkled bright
ly; and he had in his face that express
sion of virile energy, and vigor, and tri-
umph, which one may see on man when
he has broken the ice to rake his morning
plunge. But there are difficulties TO over
come in carrying out a healthy moral
principle, that call for just as much nerve
and courage as diving through half an
inch of ice; and il has often struck me
that IL one braved as much personal in
convenience and discomfort In the SER
vice OF humanity as he will endure for
the mere sake of Standardization, 1t
would be infinitely better for oneself and
ones fellow creatures. 1t was a moral
plunge of this kind that animated and
beautlfed the doctors face that morn
ing, | felt sure. He sat down before the
fire warming his hands and talking about
the weather for some minutes; then, after
a pause, he said:
Are there any farms to let about here,
Keene, do you know?"
"Yes," said L you may take your
pick Of them for ten miles round. Land
was never so cheap before. Rents have
gone down fifty per cent"
Then why don't farming pay?"
I'll tell you," said l ''it's because
your farmer is too genteel to work, and
has to pay another for doing what he
ought to do himself-that's one reason"
IF man were not too genteel to
work, if he put his heart and soul into it.
If he went into it as man goes into bat
tie, setting his heart and soul on win
ming, how then?''
He would make it pay-I'd stake my
reputation on it," | exclaimed. You
know nothing about farming, doctor; but
with your dogged perseverance and GER
tain amount Of intelligence that you
would bring to bear on it, even you might
make it pay; and I'll guarantee that you
would make more by it than by your med
ical practice"
~ am very glad to hear you think So"
said he, cheerfully.
why? Do you think Of taking a
farmi' l asked hopefully.
He nodded. | was never better pleased
III my lie. ana L IOlu MIN SO.
Now, there's Thibalds farm" said I.
"Ycu could get that at fifteen shillngs an
acre, | know" HE#
.Too far off. How about Captain Ran
gers farm--do you think he wants to give
up?" e..
~ know he does. He must. Can't so
on losing eight hundred a year"
Eight hundred a year? That's good
deal TO lose," he said, drawing long
"Why does he lose it? Because he
hunt or shoot; because he's lounging
about his billiard room instead of look
ing after his accounts when he's at home;
because his wife keeps four servants;
because he pays Evans three hundred a
year for robbing him; and because he's
no more farmer than you are lawyer.
It's famous land--the best in the county.
I'll get the place. house and all, for
pound an acre. you're bound to make It
pay; it's the very thing for YOU"
WELL said he, rising. Il shall go|
over and look at the farm this afternoon,
perhaps. Do you know if Captain Ranger
is at homer
"He is, and he will be only too glad to
see you. I'll send note up to him this
morning. Leave all the negotiations to
me. / shall manage that better than
you could
We shook hands and parted. but as
soon as he was gone a misgiving seized
me. That misgiving was verified when
| caught sight Of him in the afternoon
jogging along in the gig towards Captain
Rangers. with Lynn Yeames on the seat
beside him.
ITO be continued.)