Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-03-03
The Voice of
Mary Eta
1t Proves a Safeguard In Time
Of Need II

: 1t Proves a Safeguard In Time Z
- Of Need II z
) BY CLARISSA MACKIE )
= Copyright by American Press Asso- 3
2 alton, 1911. &
@@$@@@s%@@@@@@@@@S@@@@@@@
! Never mind, Ben" encouraged Mary
Eta as her husband shrugged into his
overcoat and picked up his hat, "ev-
| erything will come out all right in the
end. All the other farmers in the
county hare met with the same fail
ure that we have. only you've got the
best of most of them. You've got your
| trade to fall back on"
| The sullen expression deepened on
! Ben Madison's handsome face. lit
isn't so easy going back to work under
foreman after being my own boss
for five years." he said bitterly.
| Mary Eta WINGED. II know it, dear.
But suppose you didn't have trade
and couldn't make up this winter for
your losses Of last summer. Mr.. Fray
has promised you steady work at $3.50
that's SIS week. Why. it will pay
| the interest and taxes for a year, be-
sides paying all our living expenses
and giving you splendid start for
/ the spring. You might be able to buy
another cow
81 know all the advantages" said
| Ben impatiently. But you don't IN
! derstand how I feel about it, Mary
Eta! It's sort Of admitting I've fail
! ed on the farm, just as your father
said would"
! His wtfe's eyes flashed strangely.
you don't understand father. dear.
! He has already admitted he was mis-
taken in his estimate of you, for you
have done spiendidly-no one can deny
that-and who could prevent the long
! drought we have suffered? know he'd
think it was splendid of you to pitch
! In aud make the farm pay by doing
everything you could this winter"
Ben turned away. a discouraged
droop to his shoulders. Of course Mary
Eta didn't know that he had gone to
her father the night before and asked
! him for a loan of $500 to tide them
| oyer the winter and spring-in fact,
until his crops would begin to pay
| along in May and June, for his Har-
ket garden and forcing house bad
proved very paying branch Of the
Madison farm
He Redeemed reseRtfufly as he re-
membered how old Peter LIoyd's
white eyebrows had lifted iueredulous-
1y when his seRm-Iaw asked for the
loan mo, Ben" Peter had said slow
Iy; I'm not saying amt got the
money, for have. but guess TIL
Keep 1t awhile longer. If Mary Eta
| was widow. now. and needed my help
/ It would be different You're strong
man, and you've done well SO far. 1t
would only weaken you to borrow this
money Of me: Find a way out your
self. You'H be the better off for IT in
the end, and wish yeu good luck. If
you was sick or there was an accident
Of some kind I'd be the first one on
hand to help you out As it is, you
and Mary Eta have started out for
yourselves, and you're both capable of
rest of us have to do"
Ben Madison thought Of this con-
versa ton with increasing anger as he
| trudged down the frosty road that led
to Trays planning NH. The only al
tentative left to him had been to seek
| q job at Trays, where its owner had
told him there were sufficient orders
! ahead to keep a good workman like
Ben busy all winter making sashes and
| blinds for the spring building trade.
Now he was going down to tell Fray
he would take the job. There were
others waiting for the opportunity. but
Fray had promised Ben the first
! chance.
| When he reached the road that turn
ed down to the mill he hesitated and
then walked slowly on, head down,
modify thinking. At last he came to
the railroad station, where few
| loungers awaited the passing Of the
noon train. Ben looked down the shin.
ing length Of track that led to the city
| 0VyVAUs ACA e AA4SHt Dc
| for other work than that he. had left
behind when he married Mary Eta
five years ago. He had hated the
bench work, the long hours and the
carrying Of the dinner pail. They
chafed his Madison pride Ben was
the last OF his family. and all the pride
Of the. Madisons seemed concentrated
In this young man. with the. strong
broad shoulders and: the bitterly droop
ing mouth, who imagined he haze made
failure Of life.
AS the whistle, OF the approaching
train shrieked from some distant cross
ing Ben Madisoa seemed to- make uy
bis mind to soma course Of actton. HI
glanced quickly at the leangers con
gregated about the station steve. and
stepped out Of the station house and
walked up the track to the raised Plat
form where there was q little hean O,
baggage He pulled his hat down owe,
his eyes and muttered under his
| breath: Il lust can't 90 hack tn the