The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-18
sa1d BIacKie.

aa1d BIacKie
 In the two trips that he had taken to the city, WaIIingford had poted upon the banks of a cold looking stream. about ten miles down the track, the remains of a mistaken little saw mill, which had long since gone out of busi- ness because there was nothing to saw. It had possessed a big, weather tight tool and stock house, however, and in pur- suant of the happy idea that the Dou- gaIbobbers had given him, Wallingford bought the place for $25e; then, pleas ed with himself, he hurried away. to complete his errand of mercy. About three miles below Dougalville a for Iorn country road crossed the railroad track, and Wallingford made this point shortly after the up train had passed He waited patiently In about an hour Hmping and the other occasionally holding his hand to his jaw, and both cursing.
 Hello, boysr' hailed walIingford. : ''Been up to the DougalviIIe mine hunting job?'
 Both men stopped and giowered saw agely at Wallingford. then the man who Hmped made fervent speech, while the other one listened in enyious admiration.
 'sThanks.' said WaIiingford, much refreshed. 'sI'm glad to find you in this reasonable frame of mind. Here's $1D for you"
 ssT k'n lay him all out cussin', but my jaw hurts,'' insinuated the other man
 Here's $5 for your willing spirit, offered Wallingford with chuckle. 2 That's only grub stakes, boys. You're both hired from this very min ute, atyour usual mine wages. Seven miles farther on there's an old saw mill. an old straw stack and a bunk house. They're mine. Kick the pad lock off the door of the bunk house and make yourself at home. There's a real town i've miles farther on. When you get rested, drill down there and bring back all the provisions you can carry, because there's to be more of you. and I want you all fed on raw meat. Whats your nameT he asked of the hmping man, a brawny giant who showed all his gums.
 Mike DimpIe,r replied the man de danfIy.
 .sWen, Mike, you're foreman of the works announced WaIlingford with out a grin, for which MT. Dimple voted him gentleman. ~.Your job will be to pick out the best, the braYest and the truest of the yeomen who have hur- rded away from Dougalville. Hire these until you have twenty Give the siekiy ones a hearty meal and pass them on"
 And what'l I have 'em do7" asked Mike Dimple. puzzled as to his duties
 Rest replied Wallingford, his big pink face wreathing itself in a sud- den smile of such cheer that both of the men smiled in sheer fellowship. @Just rest and eat and sleep, and take a little healthy exercise and keep in good training. I may want you all to come back to pougalville some day and have your own way"
 'fBless the. day!' exclaimed Mike DimpIe. and forgetting his limp, he Jumped up and cracked his heels to- gether Bless the day, and thank you, siri Iii eet, you the finest bunch of rowdies together that ever tore down a circus tent. .''
 That night Toad Jessop came home with purple eye.
 q thought I told you not to fight with bigger boys than yourself enid ed Wallingford, surveying the wreck, with mingled compassion and amuse ment.
 'I wasn't" confessed the defiantly truthful Toad. ''He was one size lit tier than me, but he was some fighter I guess he could nearly lick a man He's moet licked me.s'
 What brought on the battle?" asked Wallingford
 ''He said you was a crook" explain ed Toad, and then, with refreshing candor, 'tMebbe he was right, but what licked him for was for sayin' it''
 "Who was the boy and what else did he eay?e inquired waningford, serious ly interested.
 Carrots saghorn. He's got freckIes, toe, but they ainx as many as mine, so