The Marshall republican., 1910-12-02


through. l can see EN- there through
he shiny pickets watchin' their
chances, Silas. But | can't seem tc
see 'em separated, either up there or
down here whenever they chance tc
come slipping into the kitchen here"
Silas glanced furtively about as II
In quest of these invisible forms OF
small people often mentioned before
by Mother Slusser in affectionate ret
respect.
We'll, Mother" he said, failing to
find that any small folks we're present
and keeping his tones as even as he
could, what in Moses name has thai
got to do with me findin' a new spring
Of water for the cattle to take the
place Of the one that's gone dry?"
why Silas," Mother said, going
owe to him with the chopping bowl
in her hands, "diggin' is diggin' amt
it? You don't think much about what
It's makes you dig. whether it's water,
or iron, OF oil-not while you're dig
gin, now, do you, Silas?"
Well, WELL" Silas replied, instantly
contrite, "mebbe you're right, Ma,
mabbe you're right. We won't quar-.
rel about 1t SEEM there's only two of
us to the Slusser establishment. We
got to be friends, Ma. 500, 90 Yes,
yes; as long as we live we got to be
friends, and diggin' Is diggin', sure
enough. SO, then, IL you say the
word, I'll go at 1t first thing in the
morning, right where the stick point.
ed for fair, and well see what's to
pay under. But I amt expecting any
great shakes Of a spring because the
test want strong enough to hold. I'll
warrant I'll find the dirt all stained
up with yellow spots of iron, or else
there'll be some other bunco Of q
metal showing, that l amt calculated
on. Beats all how a man'll get fooled
when he's working hard for something
he wants and the unexpected always
pops up. Amt that so. Map" he add.
ed in his best coaxing manner
His wife kept silence for a full min.
ute, then replied irrelevantly.
IF Arson should happen to come
home, Pa, for the holidays, the work
would be lighter for you. It's real
hard on you, diggin' is, whatever tits
you want to uncover, to have to do ii
all alone. l should presume to say
that IL Arson was here"
"Oh, ! guess Arson amt thinkin' OF
us, Ma Silas interrupted with a sud
den touch of bitterness, hes giver
himself over to them combine fel
lows. There he's got logs to catcl
aholt of him, and red tape to hold him
and anchors t. weight him. and yellel
tailed bulldogs, and horse collars
and cat-o'nine-tails for to be tying
and such.
you are always too hard on An
son, Silas." his wife protested, reach
ing for a white bowl that stood or
the table behind her, and pouring the
chopped raisins and citron into 1t
"Anson has sent us money regular
every Christmas fer Eve year, and
we've needed it pretty nigh every time
it came, too. But some way 1t al
WAYS seems like dream money to me
coming out of what appears to be
Nowhere in particular. Arson seems
that way, too-sort of myth-like and
unreal, and misty. ! amt blamin' hin,
for not coming home In W. years
but his stoppin' away sort of makes
him out like he WAS up yonder with
all the rest of the children, And
a never count just Alright, first-off
whether there's four or five of 'em
in heaven playin' ring-around.the-rosy
But when they come In here teasin
and beggin' to be locked and nursed
there's such a many / don't even try
to count 'em. They're that coaxin
and misty and elusive and persistent
and me never able to put my hands
on 'em!" Her voice broke at the last
In spite OF her.
well. well. 500, so-o!" almost
whispered Silas' soothing tones. ther
he cleared the huskiness of his voice
away abruptly. well, ma, l presume
Anson's good and substantial as fur
az that goes. / reckon he's good
tallow and bones, all right. with
plenty Of red blood coursin' about and
cutting up mischief the way II always
ala. He amt mist. or smoke. OF
dream-stuff, not Arson. ma, l guess
you'd md out II you could set eyes
on him. But to go back to that pesky
business Of findin' water for the cattle
so't i won't have to fetch and lnl
their drink to 'em from the house