Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-21

craft was necessity Ior weak hd-
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 unpredictabie
changes of fortune gave a tendency to
make light of ones present condition.
A man would say I'm busted with
out any more feeling than he would
say II have cold" Now, in Fair
field, that is not likely lonesome in
that respect, one of the principal OBJ
| jects in life was to conceal the pow
erty which would persist in sticking
it's 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 it.
Lettis wanted nothing better than
chance to expand on the subject. 1t
was close to his heart. He had been
subordinate about as long as 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.
uinc interest and not curiosity, he
gave him all the information in his
! power.
But plant like that is going to
fost some money, amt it?" asked Red.
"Too much for me, I'm afraid" re-
piled Lettis. II have 5000 to put in,
and suppose 1 could borrow the rest,
but that's saddling the business with
i too heavy charges right in the begin
ming Still, it may not be as bad as
fancy"
Red drummed on the table. thinking.
'I wouldn't mind getting into bust
ness of some kind as long as it was
making things he said. II don't
banker to keep store much. Suppose
[ go along with you when you look UP
how much straw is raised and the rest
of ft?'
"Would your cried the young fell
low eagerly. by George, sir, 1 wish
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 CLEAN
of genial pride, Ten thousand wouldn't
break me by durn sight"
Lettis' boyish face fairly glowed. ''It
was my good angel made me stop il
front of your fence" he said. Il saw
you all eating in here, and you looked
so jolly that thought I'd stop on the
chance you might be the man 1 was
looking for Now I'll go right on an6
see Mr.. Demilt and find out what ht
wants to do in the matter
"Wait for the wagon and you car
ride" said Red. Boys gone home tt
see his dad about working for me thi:
afternoon. In the meantime, If you
not too proud to take hold and hell
us with this dod rated fence, I'll bt
obliged to you"
Bring on your fence! I'm ready
said Lettis.
"Come on, boysr' said Red, and tn,
party rose from the table. Later The
wagon came up.
"Well, good day, Lettis," said Red
"If you can't get quarters anywhere
| ~. hpld
Ebarn down."
"Do you sleep in the barn? Thel
I'll come back sure. Tell you how i
is, Mr.. Saunders. I've been stuck vi
in three by nine Office for four years
nose held to "A to NJ, western branch,
and if I'm not sick of it there's N
such thing as sickness. To get on
and breathe the fresh air, to see tn
country, to be my own master-well
sir, it just makes me tremble to thinl
of it. l hope you find the strawboar'
what you want to take up"
81 shouldn't wonder if it would he,
answered Red. well make corkin
team to do business, Lettis, 1 can Sc
that-so cautious and full of tricks an,
all that
The young man laughed and the
sobered down. "Of course know tn
whole thing would look insane to mos
people," he said sturdily, "but w
been in business long enough to Sc
sharp gentlemen come to grief in spit
of their funny work. / don't believ
man'll come to any more harm b
believing people mean well by hir
than he would by working on the othe
tack"
. Good boyw said Red, slapping hfr
on the back "You stick to that an
: you'll get satisfaction out of it tina
money couldn't buy you. Anothe
thing, you'd never get cent out c
me in this world if you were one G
: these smooth young men. My eye teet
are cut, son, for all l may seem easy
r The man that does me trick has
, chance for bad luck, and you can be
l on that"
5 lord, 1 believe your replied Letti
taking In the dimensions of his me-
friend. "Well, goodby for the presen
l Mr.. Saunders. Thank you for the dill