The Dickinson press., 1909-12-04

~S "SS az - OoAS N0Okus
and that was enough.
"Iiello," he responded. but | low
ye'd better come some other day. I'm
too busy to talk now" Il
THAT'S oil right" graciously. d
don't mind SEEM folks work. Comin'
up tonight"
"Where?"
"Cooner's, Of course" with a grin.
But there's no need to get mad. Bill"
at the look on the other's 1ace. ~
amt here to plague re. l come down
to sell my later patch. What'M "
give?"
It was Bilps turn to grim. ].
Tive heerd bout that later patch"
he said. Its two acres, an old Coon
er plowed 1t with his mule, IN your
dad planted 1t oil by himself, an ye
was to do the hoein' an diggin'. /
don't b'ieve we've struck a lick in it
yet"
II don't blieve l have" acknowl.
edged Gabe frankly. but what'll We
giveY
"Why. l thought they was your wed.
din taters," said Bill w%onderingly. II
heerd Cooner say there'd be forty
bushels an that ye could sell twenty
an have twenty for a winter put BY"
Eyes. l heerd him say that myself,''
smiled Gabe. But, see here, Bill. 1
amt a-hinderin' Of nobody. Bet likes
ye better'n she does me, an ye like
her. an the wust thing her dads Rof
ae'i1 " !, 49, we'd take her away.
he don't want her to leave. Now.
there's ten acres that joins him on the
other side, an it can be had for $50.
I heerd the owner say 90. Can ye raise
$30?" anxiously.
II might part Of 1t and the rest when
this bark's DONE"
"Well," In a relieved tone, I'VE git
it quick's ye al The owner d take
half down and wait for the rest. He
told me so. He tried to sell it to me,
but I didn't want no land to work.
"But ye must hurry. The preach
er's comm up in two weeks, an We
want to be ready. Old Cooner IL be
all right longs ye own ten acres j'inin'
an two acres Of taters."
IAN yell give up Bet?" incredulously..
Longs she likes ye best, of course,
I amt comm in between nobody that
way, Bill"
Bill looked at him earnestly; then
his face cleared, and he extended his
hand.
"Ye're the best fellow that ever
was" he cried heartily, IAN I'm sorry
for anything I've said or done. I'll be
your friend after this. Now, what'll
ye take for the taters?"
"Oh, that's all right" easily. when
ye're married and settled up there I'll
let ye do the chores when I have any.
80 'twon't cost ye nothin' but work."
Gabe went directly to Cooner, draw
ing a long face.
"That Bill Tanners too smart for
me-" he grumbled. II went down
there thinkin' l could make a trade.
but he's got my taters an I amt got
= thing to show" - Its o'
He waited long enough for his words
to have their full effect. then added. Il,
II blieye I'll. 60 out to Mexico or,
Maine OF somewhere that way. The
only thing is it'll be right hard for Bet
to go SO fur, but mebbe she can stand
It" :s -, go !:
bet go to Mexico or Manner almost
shrieked Cooner.s "Why, you-yoa
plumb idiot, Bill Tanners wuth a doz-
en- Of ye. Bet II stay right here. Now
ye be gittin' or" ~,
"But l thought
Thought nothin'" ,angrily. "Git
along with ye." "
Gabe went with downcast head until
he got beyond the cabin. Then he be-
gan to chuckle.
His chuckles grew louder and louder
as he widened the distance between
him and the cabin, and by the time he
had gone half a mile they had devel-
oped into roars Of laughter.
In his present mood. however,
laughter seemed all too ineffective as
an expression of his feelings. and he
stood on his head, turned a handspring
or two and then walked on his hands
for at least a dozen feet along the
rough road.
Not in years had Gabe displayed one
tenth Of the energy he now expended.
He was very tired, however, when
his paroxysm of joy was over, and he
promptly sought a secluded nook III
the woods and took a long nap.
When he awoke an hour later the
first audible sound he made was a
chuckle, and he continued in this mer-
ry mood until the outlines Of the pa
rental cabin were sighted.
Much Of the next two weeks lie
spent upon his back, with his face 10
the sky.
But when the wedding day came he
was among the guests, smiling and
happy, with his hair cut in honor of
the momentous occasion.
Mary Bet drew him aside at the
first opportunity, her eyes moist with
grateful tears.
"Oh, Gabe," she whispered happily,
81 shan't ever forgit what we've done
for Bill an me. 1t was fine the way