The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-02-12
All the rest Of the week the lad stuck

oulurudy tNtuilS-liuI pciolS. iiO
knew now the old farmer needed him
more than he would admit.
"S'pose you'll be on hand Monday
morning?" was the casual remark at
the close of the week.
That depends upon you, Mr.. Grid
ley" The lad looked straight into his
employers narrow black eyes. In
school Mears had been known as a
born leader. Nothing fired him like
being "downed." Here was foe wor-
thy of his steel, man voted by his
neighbors "a born skinilint." 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 ye to go sneaking AROUND the
country trying to find out what other
folks were 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 1t comes to case OF
selling my work, the same rule holds
good'-Mears measured every word.
Il have husked ninety-hve bushels of
corn for you the last five days, by
your own measure-more than a 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 1t 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 trifle
hard of hearing" In vain did Silas
Gridley fume and interrupt The cool,
self-possessed lad talked on to the
point. IF you'll pay me what you owe
that extra cent on a bushel and fif-
teen cents for the extra five, I'll
promise to have five boys here by
Monday morning. Well finish your
corn in time for you TO get the ad-
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, cer-
tain that he, saw signs of weakening.
81 can't expect you to trust anybody
when you haven't been honest your
self" And the lad walked away.
A quick vision of the financial loss
he was about to sustain flashed through
old man Gridley's mind. 1t wasn't a
pleasant picture to contemplate, in
view of the recent poor crop of wheat.
i, 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, "if you put
statement down in black and white
that | can depend on five good husk-
ers-five, remember-I'll pay you what
you ask, though it's agin' my better
judgment. A bargains bargain"
Mears ignored the last sentence.
'I'll make out paper agreeing to
furnish five boys-they'll finish your
corn by Monday night-ifs 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 no lamb in horse
trade. III git that paper in a jiffy, but
mind, you'll have to furnish the boys
or you're up against 1t. 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, WIN sly tWlnkle as ne started
home. "Fm glad | stuck 1t out" he
thought; "but l didn't really expect
he'd give in"
The fall months passed quickly.
Much to Mears' surprise, Mr.. Gridley
insisted upon his staying and paid him
good wages. There was the milk route
to look after, and when his employers
cows sbrunk in measure the lad took
daily drive of ten miles to buy from
the surrounding farmers.
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
can't go to school, can get scien-