The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-03-28

school Mears had been known as
born leader. Nothing fired him like
being 'downed." Here was foe wor-
| thy of his steel. a man voted by his
neighbors "a born skinfint.' The lad
squared his shoulders for the conflict
as the shaggy brows in front of him
lowered ominously.
Mr. Gridley, find that other farm
| ers are paying three cents basket and
give fair measure to the husker You
haven't
That will do, young man. | didn't
hire We to go sneakins around the
country trying to find out what other
folks We're doing. run my own farm
! to suit myself" and Silas Gridley's
shrewd old face fairly purpled with
wrath
Il have the same right insisted
Mears. that you or any other farmer
has-to get the market price for what
| sell. When it comes to a case OF
selling my work. the same rule holds
good"-Mears measured every word.
Il have husked ninety-five bushels Of
corn for you the last five days. by
your own measure-more than hun
dred by any other farmers. | heard
you say the other day that help was
hard to find. and if you could get
enough boys like me to husk your corn,
you could sell it all at more than the
market price. Now don't accuse me
Of listening You talked loud enough
for anyone to hear who was husking
within twenty yards of the barn.
Please remember the buyer was triie
hard of hearing" In vain did Silas
Gridley fume and interrupt. The cool,
self-possessed lad talked on 10 the
point. If you'll pay me what you owe
that extra cent on Il bushel and fiji
teen cents for the extra five, Ill
promise to have five boys here by
Monday morning Well finish your
corn in time for you to get the adj
vance price"
You'll be likely to, you young ras-
CALI fairly shouted the farmer You'll
get your money and rum"
'All right" said Mears coolly. GER
tain that he saw signs of weakening.
Il can't expect you to trust anybody
when you haven't been honest your
self" And the lad turned and walked
away scornfully.
A quick vision of the financial loss
he was about to sustain flashed through
old man Gridley's mind. 1t wasn't
pleasant picture to contemplate, in
view of the recent poor crop of wheat.
Mears had nearly reached the road
when he heard an imperative summons
to stop. The farmer came painting
down the lane.
See here he sputtered. eff you put
a statement down in black and white
that l can depend on five good husk-
ers-five, remember-Ill pay you what
you ask, though it's agin my better
Judgment. A bargains bargain"
Mears ignored the last sentence.
I'm make out paper agreeing to
furnish five boys-they'll finish your
corn by Monday night-if you'll give
me written agreement to pay each
boy three cents for every bushel he
husks, fair measure
Silas Gridley knew that he was
caught by boy of sixteen. 1t was
fortunate for him that he had a saving
sense Of humor. Think you're pretty
foxy, don't you?" he chuckled
Guess you're nc lamb in a horse
trade III git that paper in jiffy, but
mind, you'll have to furnish the boys
or you're up against it. And say he
added, after counting out the addition
al silver, while you're hurrying around
for boys, jest drop into the Barnes
House and tell Mr. Scudder-that's
the buyer-that Silas Gridley wants to
see him; that he'll be down bout eight
O'clock"
Sure you can trust me?" flashed
Mears, with sly twinkle as he started
home. I'm glad l stuck it out" he
thought; but l didn't really expect
he'd give in"
Mears progress in farming was the
source of much merriment at home
Many were the questions Ruby inno-
Gently asked. Were Holsteins better
than Jerseys? Did he think the best
laying chickens were Buff Cochins or
LeghOrnS?"
Mears borrowed farm journals and
pOred over them after supper.
There's no reason why l shouldn't
learn to do something WE'LL" he said.
"Book-learning isn't everything, but if
l can't 60 to school, can get a scien-
tific knowledge of farming. It's good,
healthy work, and pays as we'll as half
Of the professions"
Mr.. Mitchell's letters were growing
more encouraging. He had improved
rapidly since all cause for worry had