The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-25
TIE EVENING STORY
At % Per day.
LBy Claude Arnold

4
I'VE might give him one more
Ichance."
"He has been intoxicated four times
tr. two weeks. and We can't put up
with him any longer"
"But help. is scarce. daughter, and
where win we find another man?"
'.Tll drive to the village and ind one.
The garden must be attended to and
the lawns moved. I'll offer as high as
81 per day until we can find steady
man by the month"
The widow Deering and her daugh-
ter, Jessie. occupied the manor house
and the son, Fred. always took a run
out on Saturdays and remained until
Monday. There was an acre of ground
around the house. and man-of-dl-
work was necessary.
Fred had been sont west on Dus- ness,
and in his absence the man was tax
ing things easy. Miss Jessie had never
been called upon to take the reins OF
management into her own hands.
After the talk with her mother she
went out and made ready the pony
cart.
She had never hired a man in her
life, but she had no doubt whatever as
to her ability to make a good choice.
On her way to the village she stopped
at the home of a friend to ask II she
knew of any competent man. her
friend, as luck would have it, had, not
half an hour before. sent man along
the road because she had no work for
him.
"If you hurry you might overtake
him, dear" she said to Miss Jessie. He
was pretty well dressed and not more
than rs or 80 years old. You're sure
to see him in the village"
Miss Jessie hurried on. and when she
reached Main street her eye fell upon
a young man sauntering aimlessly along.
He was fairly well dressed and seem
ed to be about % years old. He looked,
too as If he had been walking along a
dusty road. Miss Jessie drew rein and
passed slowly by. Then, suddenly max
ing up her mind that this was the
man she sought, she turned about ana
stopped beside him.
Are you looking for work, my good
mani" she asked.
He removed his cap and the cigar he
was smoking before replying. If 1t Is
anything 1 can do. madam he said.
you can hoe and weed the garden"
81 think So"
"And run a lawn mower?'
YES"
And there may be other little odd
jobs about the place. 1 have just dls-
laziness. I want some one to take his
place until my brother Fred gets home.
What wages do --ou ask?"
You may name the figure" he re-
piled.
"Win 81 per day be enough?"
81 will do my best to earn that
amount
Are you ready to go now
The man could not drive back with
her, but would follow within a couple
of hours. oh, yes, she could depend
upon him. He had been out of work
long time and was pleased to get
job. Mis- Jessie was satisfied. She had
caught a queer twinkle in his eyes two
or three times, but in her qualification
at having hired a man with SO little
delay, she forgot the wrinkles.
81 told you could, and have?' she
announced, as she rushed into the
house on her return.
you mean you have hired a. man? |
queried the mother.
''Of course. He'll be here within two
hours. 1 must now go out and tell
White to co.
BE gentle with him.
White was sober enough to under |
stand that he must go.
Meanwhile the newly hired man had |
been making ready to follow his en-
ployer. He had made a number of in
quiries Of the village innkeeper, over
hauled his trunk and made up bundle
of clothing, but he had not shaved. He
arrived at the manor just in time to
face an emergency. The discharged |
man was at the kitchen door demand
ing a months extra pay and telling
what he would do If it was not forth
coming.
Bailey had the remedy at his finger
tips. He placed his bundle on a bench
and advanced upon Mr.. White picked
him up and carried him to the roadside l.
fence and threw him over AS he re-
turned to his bundle Miss Jessie smiled
at him.
The newly hired man was given a
room over the kitchen. He and the ad- Il
miring cook ate dinner at the Kitchen
table. She wanted to know all about
him. Bailey didn't say he had tramped
1t, but she inferred as much; he didn't
say he had resolved to reform, but sh.
decided that he had. and she encourag-
lngly said to him, as she cut him a big
piece of apple pie for wind-up:
Never mind how low down you have
been; there's a chance for you. If you
are sober and steady who knows but
you may come to marry a cook who
has got 5000 saved up and is the owner
Of loving hearth
Bailey weeded out the cucumbers
and lettuce and tomatoes and carried ,
IN coal for the cook. AS he had been
hired by the day he looked for the
boss" to replace him after four or
i've days but she was only anxious to
have him stay on.
Ten days had passed, and not a
word had been said on either side,
when Fred Deering suddenly made s
mis- appearance. 1t was midafter-
noon, and Bailey was hoeing the .
young sweet corn. No one saw him !
go, but as soon as he caught sight
Of young Deering he vanished and 9
was hunted for in vain.
Hes stolen the family silver and
absquandered. and that's just what I
always thought he'd dol" announced
he cook. But the family plate and all
,ther things were found to be safe.
'sUm, um." replied Fred, when his
sister had told him how she came to
hire the man and gave a description
IF his looks. Hes no joker, but
xnowing me. and having seen you |
,nce-Um. UNI. Yes, he said he was
coming over on the marshes duck {
;hooting-
Fred Deering. what on earth are $