Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1910-07-14

"What2" he asked
He acted funny--and-and
tsh,' she answered hurriedly
1 That's calculating" he said, smi-
ling. But | understand" he added.
In the Afternoon King asked him II
he would like to look over the estate.
Finally he turned to Wentworth.
Mr.. Wentworth you have full right
Of way over the grounds. and I'll leave
you now. We're moving in the lower
meadow. and 1t is one of my pleas
ures to work with the men. I'll see
you later after"
III there is NO objection, would
like to go with your" Wentworth
questioned.
King looked little surprised. Ger
tainly, there is none. 1t may be
worth your willis. as you have never
seen. probably. the old way of now
Ing. Certainly. come IL you wish"
The field where the men were at
work stretched wide and golden to
the edge OF the wood The men we're
working some distance In front Of
them. One Of them glanced back as
they came up, and wentworth marked
the low, laughing words that passed
between them. They had evidently
sized him up as city feher."
The old man picked up a scythe.
TITS quite an art to handle one OF
these things he said, as he fondled
1t. ut looks easy, but 1t is far from
being so. Moreover. It Ia the great
est exercise In the world-much bet
ter than your gymnasiums, | imagine.
have been at 1t many years." he
added. "and I am inordlnately proud
OF the fact that the best Of my men
gave up long ago attempting to beat
me In the field"
Wentworth lifted a scythe near by
and swung It. 1T certainly seems
to be an awkward thing to handle,
but I believe | would like to try 1t
for a while"
King looked at him with a little |
amazement, then. smiling quietly to
himself, said: Go ahead; only look |
out for the blade; 1t has a way of en-
tangling things once in a while"
With the knowledge In his heart |
that King expected to see him make |
a flzzle of It, Wentworth stripped on !
his coat and set to work beside King, |
who. with the long, clean stroke of
the master hand. was sweeping the |
grain aside in neat row.
Wentworth caught the handle and |
the sharp. musical whisp OF the cut |
ting blade followed. King looked |
around sharply, then smiled again. In
a little while Wentworth was up with
him. King glanced at him from I'M
der his shaggy gray brows and swung
on. Wentworth followed. The old
man lifted his stroke a little faster
and drew away; Wentworth came up.
The soft music OF the blades on the
hard stalks caught up a swlfter
rhythm. A slow smile gathered on
Wentworth's face and slowly faded.
Kings wrinkled, muscular hands shot |
the blade In deeper swaths and Tom
followed suit.
Faster went the old mans blade, |
but Wentworth kept time. Slowly they /
crept up to the men. slowly but sure
ly they passed them. Wentworth |
caught the astonished stare OF a near
man and heard a low voice exclaim:
Great Caesar! See that dude go!"
An overpowering desire to laugh
took possession of Tom as he saw
the line of men bend with redoubled
energy to their work, determined not
to be beaten by such a rival, The
strife became intense Many times
was Wentworth thankful for his hard,
trained muscles and perfect physical
condition. They left the men behind
them and went on. His pace was
telling. Gradually he forged little
beyond King In spite of the old mans
supreme efforts.
Through the afternoon they worked
and Wentworth, muscles aching I'M
der the long strain. but throwing into
hem the old courage that had never
failed his varsity eleven in many
big crisis, kept the lead to the end.
AS they walked up toward the
house Alice came eagerly to meet 6
hem. Her father arrested her at
ention first.
Why, father. how tired you lookl" -
vas her anxious exclamation.
For the first time In her life his
answer to her was a grunt
She turned wonderingly to Went
worth as her father strobe by. why,
'ou look completely tired too. Tom.
My less than father. What is the
natter with him?"
we'll ask him LATER sweatheart
e said, as he tucked her arm under
us. tive had the most strenuous
line OF my life this afternoon, doing A
attic with a scythe." His face sud
emily grew serious. But | guess
ave won"
"What?" she queried. interestedly. C
"Youl" 9
In the evening they were seated to- q.
ether on the broad yeranda He "