Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-08-09
more thoroughly cleaned than 1t ever i.

more thoroughly cleaned than it ever
mad been under his practiced hand.
and In addition fresh coat Of white
wash dazzled his eyes. Several busy
hens poked impatient heads at him
from nest boxes filed with fresh hay. /.
"Humph?' muttered Mr.. Shafter, and
carried the tools into the shed. Once
more he sought his wife. Helen, you
didn't clean that chicken house?' he
demanded authoritatively.
mo, I didn't" returned Mrs. Shat
ter, Smelling peas on the side piazza.
AUNT Electa is responsible for that"
Aunt Electa!' shouted the Mortified
husband. ''Why-why-that's no sort
Of work for an elderly lady
"Who calls me an elderly lady ? "
demanded Aunt Electa from the door
way.
But, Aunt Electa, that chicken
house is not the sort Of work.
Go to, James," interrupted the good
lady smiling; "stop arguing and enjoy
your holiday
"Holidayv' snorted James from force
OF habit, and then, with sudden recol-
lection Of how his work was dwin-
ding, he Redeemed and sought the cell
lar to vent his discontinue in slapping
whftewash on its stone walls. But
once more was he foiled-again he was
dazzled. for the work was done. He
opened the door and pee-ed into the
coal bin in the desperate hope that
the coal man had neglected to come,
and he almost whooped with Joy when
he saw that his hope was fulfilled.
He was gathering in the seclusion Of
that blackened, stone walled room
when he heard the shrek of the speak
ing tube in the outer cellar.
He answered it.
"James," said his wife's voice, and
there was tremor in its evenness-
he: wondered If she was laughing :
Games. dear, just to make sure tele-
phoned the coal Office and as it Is a
holiday they will not deliver until to-
morrow. ! can see about it when it
comes. Now, do clean yourself up and
try and enjoy your holiday, that's a
dearv' "a. r.
The dear choked helplessly. did
Aunt Electa do the cellar?" he asked
weakly. ...
Both Of us-we did 1t last night aft
er, you went to bed. 1t was fun for
u.s. You know we get tired of our
monotonous tasks. Please, James.
aren't you going to come upstairs. 1t
will soon be dinner time"
The newspaper lasted until dinner
time and after dinner was hiatus to
be filled in some manner. James Shat
ter was man Of activity. He must
be doing something every moment and
however he might fume and sputter
over. his self imposed tasks, he took a
certain enjoyment In them. Now, his
occupation gone, he wandered aimless.
ly' around the. house and grounds. sat
awhile with his wife and aunt on the
piazza and then strolled down the road
for solitary walk.
A wooded lane led him in a new d.
rection, and presently he found him.
self leaning over an old picket fence,
surveying weed grown vegetable gar
den with disappearing eyes. A voice
startled him, and he had glanced over
the shabby little old fashioned house
before he saw the open window In
which sat man of his own age with
gaunt, haggard face and sunken, pa
tent eyes.
II said it was a pretty day." re.
peated the man in the window.
"Yes," returned Shafter cordially;
its hot, but mighty pleasant. You've
got a nice little place here"
1T was nice before l got cut up in
the railroad wreck. planted that
garden, sir, and now l can't keep the
weeds out Of it. My daughters got
the ambition to do it, but she's young
and frail, and there's plenty for b u
to do waiting on sick man and tax.
ing in work from the mill to support
me-" He spoke bitterly, and it was
plain to be seen that he resented his
inability to work. Its Labor day
sir, and it seems as If I would give
most any thing to get in line with the
boys and march, but not for mev'
!, He held up the stump Of an arm
and in response to Skaters inquiry
said he had lost foot also. He was
too poor to employ a lawyer to take
his case against the railroad.
where's your garden tools?'' de.
manded Shafter, entering the gate
And five minutes later he was stripped
of coat and vest and working In the
garden with hoe and rake. The sick
man. talked to him from the window,
and his gratitude to the stranger was
pitifpl. When the garden stood forth
NEEDLESS, with straight brown earth
ridges crowned with green and the
corn rustled In the breeze that came
up from the south, james Shafte1
Strengthened his bent back and mop.
| ped his dripping face.
God bless you. STRIP muttered the
man awkwardly as his benefactor pre-
Epared to 60. 1T isn't every gentle.
man would do what you've done
and i.
.".Tve got two hands and two feet,
| and I guess that's what they're. for
returned Shafter quite as awkwardly
= have friend who is q lawyer, and
Il you like I'll bring him around to.
morrow and 60 over your. claim You
ought to pull a lot Of money out Of
that accident = n. .s s.:z;
| -
= don't know how to thank you,
SIR and tears stood In the mans
eyes. Skaters face. sunburned,
sweaty and very dirty, grinned up at
| him with a smflo fhat nhaeod ira dia