The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-12
CHAPTER XVII.
The City or the Woods?

"a shoulder. it had left very ugly
wound. but the young woods
mans clean aud healthy life stood him
III good stead. and the process of heal
ing Went on rapidly.
We had fetched Il doctor from Prian-
vile. who left il string of Instructions.
WHICH Linda cslrried out aS closely as
she could Indeed. she would have de
voted most OF her time to Joe but he
managed TO make her spend good
part of each day out of doors Some
!, times he would beg for fish for his
supper and she must catch it herself
to prove how well she had profted by
his teaching There were half hun
dred things be suggested. not one. of
which was obvious or trifiing. until !
marveled at his ingenuity
"You are finding the time long, JoeT'
said on one occasion.
"No, Mr.. Quaritch, the hours slip
past quick enough. I've never had
lie-by and awhile for thinking since |
been man. There's a good few puz-
zles to life that wants facing one time
or another, s'pose-"
(which puzzle is it that you are fac
ing now?''
"Mr. Pefersham wants to be the max
ing of me-
"Then you're about the luckiest
young man in this hemisphere.
"Just so. and feel his kindness IL
more'n I deserve He'd make me head
warden here for a bit first and then
send some kind of professor TO teach
me how to talk ard fix me up general
~" He paused.
well. that sounds very reasonable,
commented.
"And after they'd scraped some OF
the moss off me he'd put me into his
Office"
hid the astonishment felt at this
to me to make good. He'd help all he
knew
1T sounds very brilliant future for
you. November
Joe was silent for a moment at
does. Mr. Quaritch.' be said at length
| in different tone. And it gives me
something to think about So they
caught Muppy all right? Him and Put.
tick II find prison poor place after
the woods
II can feel for Them said L. for |
am leaving the woods tomorrow my
self. must get back to Quebec
Huh. yes! There's no call for you
TO stay longer"
As to that. youn be here for quite
awhile yourself
/ He made no reply and when ! turn
ed from the window to look at him he
was lying with his eyes closed. and.
thinking he was tired left him.
AT the end OF the south veranda was
situated a small detached room which
we had turned into a workshop, and
early the same afternoon went
around there to repair a favorite fish
ing rod. The veranda was empty as
passed through it, but presently Peter
sham joined me.
THAT fellow November Joe is an In
fernal fool!r he said presently. HE
is dolt without an ounce of ambi-
tionr'
Il I'm his own sphere i began.
! HE is all very well in his own
sphere, but he should try to rise
above it."
"He has done uncommonly well for
himself so far" | said. HE has made
good use of his brains and his expert
ence. In his own way he is very. very
capable"
THAT is true enough. but he has got
about as far as he can go without help.
| As you say. he has done all this for
himself Now. | am ready to do a
good deal more for him III back him
| In any line OF business he chooses to
follow. l owe him that and more.
Heaven knows what might have hap
pened to Linda but for him"
You owe a good deal to November,
81 am well aware OF it." replied Pc
tersham. 81 am convinced I owe him
Linda's life"
Something in his tone showed me his
further meaning. / dropped my fish
ing rod and stared at him. / knew
Linda had enormous influence over her
| father. but this was beyond magma
ton.
You'd never allow it!'' exclaimed
"Why not?" he rerorted angrfly.
isn't Joe better than the Hyper
| dude? Or Phil Bitsheim or than that
Italian count with his pedigree from
Noah in his pocket? Tell me. where
is she going to find man like Joe?
Why. he's got it in him to do things
big things-and | hope I'm good enough
| republican not to see the injustice of
mailing a fellow down 20 the spot
| where he was born"
But November would never dare
look SO high: He's modest"
Hell get over that
4 . donhf I ,.lid RoSidoc w0r,
are reckoning without Linda. How