Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-06-26
Ej 2SPEanA11sr

a little langu1d, perhaps. Had a fall
some time ago, and haven't quite re-
covered from it. Besides, it looks q
little more-well, a little more friendly
to sit. don't you think?"
And he pointed to another chnlr.
Grace, a good deal against her will,
seated herself, and the presumptive
young a took the chair she had
pointed out.
"Ah," he said, that's better. Then
you'heard from your father?"
Heard from my father?"
Yes"
You knew I was coming?"
Father said he would secure you US
soon as. be reached the city"
The young man started a little.
Did he? That's strange. He didn't
seem ut all sure about it when I met
him this afternoon"
Grace almost admired his egotism.
II suppose your services are in great
demnnd:' she said, and there was a
flavor Of sarcasm in her tone.
Just at present they seem to be-"
he said. Enough 80, at least, to make
it a little embarrassing where to pick
and choose"
Really, this was a remarkably SELF
sufficient youth.
81 suppose that's the penalty of be-
ing a specialist" said the sarcastic
Grace.
"a specialist?"
aren't you a specialists"
II V thought Of that before. Per-
haps I am. But why?"
'This Is On age Of specialists" said
Grace. 1--WE find them everywhere.
Specialists for every disease, specialists
in science and in law-why shouldn't
there be specialists in your line?"
The stranger laughed.
why not indeed? Hereafter I'm a
specialist" %
Grace moved uneasily.
"lIaxe you noticed that the daylight
IS fadlng?" she said.
80 it is. Ii there anything remark
able about it,"
mo, only J fancied you would ind
the sunlight useful"
"Fnl;ghten me, please"
Grace bit her lip. Was no really
stupid, Or was he pretending?
"Father said you would look oyer
tho electric wires. He is afraid there
is something wrong about them"
Look over the wires? Why, yes, of
course l viii. Anything to make n.y.
self agreeable. Your father must have
Known that I had some little knowl-
edge on the subject-although I don't
remember telling him."
Grace sta1ed at him. He evidently
considered himself a humorist.
where will you look frst?"
I'm the cellar, of course. WIN yon
lead the way?"
She ies'tated with a glance ut his
dark ginsses. 30.
Gar you see in the dark"
"N!uch better In the dark" no an
swercd. TITS the light that affects me
"a sort Ct sand blindness, you under
stand. But I'm much better, thank
you.'v,
Grace touched a button on the wall
and a maid promptly appeared.
"Have the outside cellar door open
ed. Mary. The wires are to be In.
spected."
The maid withdrew and then Grocc
led the stranger down the front steps
and around to the cellar door.
Come" he said as he went down
the steps. II want you along al helper
II. you please. Besides, I might b<
tempted to eat up the preserves. IN
been living, you know, where preserve,
are not known"
Not ever currents?" she asked.
"Currents7 Oh, I pee. 1 didn't ex
pect that Of you'll didn't really. /,
TINT what you brought me down her,
for? You evidently don't know that i
isn't safe to get into a Joking MOOD
with electricity. That was an old ira
dillon at the School Of Mines. Currents
indeed!"
Somehow she couldn't help smiling
He Ind such a boyish way about him
And yet he sadly needed %snubbinS.
IL am quite sure my presence ism
necessary" she said with dignity. II.
you heed hep I will call the man from
the stable"
"Oh, no." he protested. II couIdn'
think OF troubling him. I'd much rattle,
have you here. There, will you pleas
hold my glasses?" He thrust them int.
her hand. 81 can see very well In thi
dim light All, here's the nest. II,
was up on n chair looking at the wires
Your father was right. This isn't
good job. Here are a couple of 'cu
in contact. Give 'em a little more tim,
and they would be ready for any mis-
chief. No wonder your father foun,
the service bad. Hold on a minute an,
III lave 'em where they belong.n III
drew a knife from his pocket end work
Ell at the wires.
then suddenly there was a shar
crack, a fierce white GaTlits and Lii
stranger dropped Imply across th
et'air snt lsy there very stu,