Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-07

j.
greetings were interchanged. The conversa-
ton included the weather, fishing. and the
seasons crop of hay. Jim explained that he
had moved camp so as to be near Hedley's
Brook, where the trout we're rising to fly.
The conversation generally began to lag.
There came long pause. Trial whistled
softly to himself, and then suddenly, as if
a thought surprised him:
Great mare, that Fanny of mine, .Jim?"
The upward infection called for an an
swer Jim brushed the leaves off a stump
and lit his pipe as he took his seat. We
awaited his answer through the puffs.
'Mm-m-yep. Never met up with a boss
with more wind than that Fanny Jim an
swered finally. He hesitated, as though de-
batting whether or not to divulge a secret.
day." said Jim.
The announcement seemed to hit Trial
between the eyes. "Swapped my Fanny.
Jim! You're fooling, Jim
Jim reiterated, with nod.
'B'gee, Jim! if that amt kinder hard on
me! Why, Jim, been so lonesome without
my Fanny, | drove up Just to see If you
wouldn't swap back. Id give you boot
would, Jim! l amt saying nothing about
that there gray gelding, Jim, even if you are
friend of Seth Perkins A boss trade is
boss trade"
"a boss trade sure is boss trade" said
Jim. "How is the gray, Ural?' There was
just touch of professional pride in Jim's
manner as he awaited the answer.
Trial chuckled, and looked at Jim, smiling.
morning, Jim," he said, laughing outright.
"Say, Jim," he went on with another
chuckle, who got my Fanny | like to
keep track of FANNY"
"Old man with whiskers-Says he lives up
next to the red barns on the Beckett Road.
That must be nigh on twenty mile, amt it,
Urial?"
HAS he only got four fingers on one
hand?"
That's him.
well, b'gee! what do you think of that?
That's Sherm Corning. He's my dads sec
ond cousin. Got tangled up with feed cut
ter here last spring, and we all thought
Sherm was going to die of gangrene.'
You don't mean to sayl"
That's mighty queer" said Trial, look
ing first at me and then at Jim.
What's mighty queer9" asked Jim.
"Sherrn's got your gray gelding too"
Jim looked up in open mouthed astonsh
ment. GO way! You don't tell mel
The Clip and the Jock looked at each other,
thinking over the situation thus presented.
Jim relit his pipe thoughtfully. Trial got
out of the wagon and sat down on stump.
What you think Sherm's going to do
with your gelding and my Fanny" asked
Trial. "Spect he's going to start church
choir?"
A smile futtered across Jim's face. MAY
be he's practising for grand opry," suggested
Jim.
The two reprobates grinned at each other.
Then they exploded. Jim rolled off his
stump backward, kicking his heels together
as he roared with laughter. Trial quivered,
as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Z" never seen no boss that could blow like
your Fanny, 'cept that gray gelding,' cried
Jim when he got his breath.
g never seen no boss that could blow like
your gray gelding 'cept my Fanny and the
sawmil whistle" cried Trial.
And your dads second cousin got the
pair of them! Got something of an orchestry
in the family now, amt your"
The Clip and the Jock pounded each other
on the back. They laughed till they gasped
for breath. They didn't have any hard feel
ing against each other. The joke was on
Sherm.
"Ain't nothing like boss trading, after all,
said Trial.
Amt nothing I'd sooner do for a vaca-
Gcb