The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-17

view. ssWhat kind of a mill?" he ask ed doubtfully upon his return.
 s'A calico mill, n repeated the line man. Didn't you notice the acres and acres of calico grass around there a''
 Toad, with another glance at the rear door, shook his head sadly and looked out the window in the hope that he might see a stray sample of calico grass. He was still at that vain and unproftable employment when ,WaIlingford walked past on his way to the smoking compartment.
 Say. boss,p he hailed Walingford. s'do you know calico grass when you see it?''
 s.I'm afraid not, Toad, 2 replied Wal lingford, smiling. eWhy?"
 ..There was so much of it back where we stopped explained Toad with troubled brow, .'and I didn't see it. They put off the machines for calico mill there, you know.
 WaIlingford turned with a puzzled expression to the bcny faced passen- ger. who looked up at him and laughed.
 He's such smart lookin' kid I couldn't help tryin' to see how much he'd stand for, the 1ineman pleasant ly observed, and Toad wheeled instant ly to bend upon him clear and indig- nant glare.
 Ore crushing machinery, isn't it2" guessed Wallingford
 ssIron,. replied the other with. a nod, surveying with interest and approval the important looking big man, whose round pink face spoke so plainly of cheerfulness and good living
 Much of deposit ss inquired Wal linsford, with the instant interest of man commercially inclined.
 They say it's wonder. The Dou- gaIbobber brothers own It., whoever they are. They're hustiers. Next week spur track is to be put fn back to the mines.'' He paused and smiled over the magic of things. "DougalviIlel There ain't nvin' soul back there now, but in q month it'l be good, sized town, out hustlin for electric lights and trolley cars''
 Also it will have real estate boom and six saloons" agreed Wal1ing gford. end passed on to the smoker.
 Toad followed him. Say" observed Toad in a patned tone, that man back theres here he pulled down Walling lords ear and whispered into it. why he's liar!'
 J. Rufus WaIlingford, respectable and prosperous real estate dealer, and his messenger boy, valet, companion md friend, Toad Jessops finished Their business in the northwest in four days On the return trip Waliingford had mileage torn off as far as bleak barren DougagviIle only. He had expected to stop between trains and survey the l0nesomeness as mere raw material but he found there tiny telegraph station and waiting room which had been showed or a freight car intact
 
 that functionary was inside; he found a roughly built frame shack labeled Kim bely mine 0fce; he found a gang of railroad laborers putting down haIf graded, wabblY spur track, and up the ravine into which it was head ed he saw, against background of soiled little tents, s7varzn of human ants setting machinery in place and another swarm digging an impressive looking hole in the ground
 From the same train by which Wal- .ingford had arrived there descendedl a drove of clay festooned laborers, and as these, by common irapuIse, surged immediately toward the office, Wal lingford watched the accommodati ton creak upon it's 5olty way toward the happy land Of taxis and bathtubs and push buttons For relief from the in tolerable landscape. which would not alter nor decay, but lay in it's flat sterflity forever and ever, he watched the sitting of the clay hung laborers, who were admitted into the office one at a time and came out again with little slips of paper in their hands, to trudge up the ravine toward the Kim beIy mine and more clay
 When the last one had returned to rT-.11 ed slowly across to the office, but to his surprise he found it locked Hear ing loud voices, however. he stopped and listened in perplex1ty Suddenly, from around the corner of the build ing there dashed two of the clay dec orated callers. followed by half a dog en well muscled gentlemen who looked highly unnatural without striped cloth ing. These, bowling choice collection of epithets, explosives and blasphe1nies and, stooping to pick mp missiles by the way, were followed by a man with blood colored hair and big, hat out standing ears almost as red who was so bow legged that beer keg could have been rolled through his wicket. This man was evidently the general of the pursuing army, for he directed 1t not only with energy, but with rancor.
 Soak emp he cried in q twanging voice. Soak sem, can't you! Soak lem, soak lem, soak lem, soak 'em!'' and lie jumped up and down like q dancing hoop.
 The two laborers had struck for the track. and were now headed due south east, with an apparently steadfast de termination to overtake the accommo- datton, lodging, by mere instinct, the specimens of rock ballast which were hurled after them.
 What's the excitement 7r asked Wal Hngford of the violent haired one.
 The man turned regretfuIly from the pleasures of the chase and surveyed Wallingford carefully, from silk hat to