The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-05-23


over.
Il was walking back to New York
when you made me your offer. was
tired of the life and-well. here am
and I'm going to stay"
What became of the girl?' asked
Hicks after a moment.
I'D like to think there was some.
thing wrong" said Butch slowly, but
l guess Dabney got the inside track
after was left behind"
A few days later. gaudy posters an
nounced the coming of the Barnard
Brothers Gigantic Arenic Aggrega-
ton and Monster Menagerie. and his
heart was troubled.
Better pillow the south meadow to-
morrow" Joel said as they came
back from the aeld. I've decided to
cultivate 1t this year. We're late so
we must start at once"
Tomorrow Ii circus day" re-
minded Butch. you see the Bar
nards own the show and / thought
perhaps you'd let me OF to visit with
Them"
Cant possibly" declared Hicks.
trembling for the success of his ex-
pertinent. If Butch ever got a
glimpse of the tents he was sure that
the attraction would be too strong.e
Suppose l get through early?" sug-
gested Butch. Hicks smiled. He had
won. There was no getting through
early.
"You may 60 to town as soon as
you've plowed the field" he prom
ised.
Butch smiled thoughtfully. There
was but the slightest suggestion OF
pink in the east when he turned out
the next morning and the sun had not
yet risen when the chores were done
and the horses were headed for the
field.
Before be had gone half the length
of the first furrow. Butch realized that
there would be no circus for him. The
horses could scarcely drag the plow
through the soil. 1t had not been
touched for three years and in spots
It was almost baked.
Far down the road there sounded
the rumble Of wheels. and. dropping
the plow handles, Butch raced for the
fence. He came up just as the buggy
that headed the procession passed
him. The driver refined in at the IA
miliar salutation Of Hello, BILL" and
gazed curiousiy at the speaker. then
he leaped from the buggy.
Butch Thompson, by all that's
holy" he laughed. How did you get
here?"
Walked" was. the simple explana-
ton. You fellows forgot to leave
ticket for New York when you left me
in Cleveland"
"Dabney said you had gone to New
York on the night train" declared Ben
Barnard. 1--WE all wrote you care OF
the Clipper but you didn't answer and
we couldn't locate you
"Dabney left me In Cleveland with
out even my pay" said Butch iercely.
Il was in his way with Lottie. If I
ever catch him, I'll"
Hush" said Barnard softly. 1T did
not do him any good with Lottie. HE
fell between two fats at Akron and
was killed. He couldn't send the coin
back to you. No one else knew"
IT see you've got your own show"
said Butch. to relieve the tension. do
ing well?"
Fine. Got lot of the old people,
including Lottie. Petite is with us. too
Billy Farlan bought him from the old
man and trained him for ring act
There he is back there.
Farlan came up with the elephant at
that moment When there was halt
is usually meant a mud hole and Petite
pushed the wagons across.
Keep OF my foot, you brute. :"
Butch as he slapped the trunk
that was curling inquiringly about
him. 'I think you know me, old fell
low"
"Sure. he's apologizing." laughed
Farlan. Coming In to see the show?"
Cant" explained Butch. as he
pointed out the field. ut would take a
steam engine to pull a plow through
that big haif-baked brick. / must do
that before l can get OF and can't
finish before night
'Tve got It," cried Farland. Lis
ten here" And he bent forward con-
fidentially.
Half an hour later Hicks trudged
down the road to make sure that
Butch was working Half way down
q furrow moved Butch and strang-
er, each with his hands upon q
plow. But instead of a team there
moved a huge. bulk that dragged the
plowshares through the heavy ground
with the utmost ease. Petite was help,
ing with the blowing.
II guess this is going some." laugh,
ed Butch as they came back to the
fence. II told the boys why I could
MT come to visit 'em, and they left
Petite to help me out. That's the ras-
cal that stepped on my foot, you
knew"
Hicks face grew red Butch had
met and conquered temptation and he
felt ashamed of his mistrust.
'T came down to tell you I'd
changed my mind again." he said
weakly. I'm not going to plant here.
Suppose you and your friend c. me up
"a breakfast prinp potjn too