Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-07-09
what for?"

what forT
For a change"
"U-m-m-m-m!' said Obadiah. "You
look healthy. all right"
Obadiah retired into the house, where
be held Il whispered conversation with
his Wife.
Something's wrong with him. moth
er. he said. He amt no farm hand.
Likes NOT tie don't mean any good"
He looks honest enough" said Mrs.
ii"SNli'S anyway, there amt Il thing
ht cam >i"t.. Give him IL chance"
ol';l': came out and moved down
the steps.
S1" re your hands" he said.
he young man spread a pair ct
i'";ti brown paws palm upward for
INSPECTION.
u in.ln-m." said ObnGiah. touching
the calou>rS with his foretinger. II
WAS miStook. You have worked some
lAttiN. amt you: What's your name?"
"hrowE." SAID the stranger-"Henry
W Brown
Obadiah thought Il moment.
MI right, said lie at last. when
do N"n WANT to Begin"
Now" said the stranger.
I'm them clotheS:" asked Obadiah
S~uspiciou>ly.
"llcy're all I've got with me-" said
Henry w. Brown. Il left my suit
case 1T Centrrville, but | haven't any
w"rEin- clothes in that-nothing but
shirts and things"
"(-m-m-m.." said Obadiah. I'm git
mother to tiN YOU up some Of my old
ovtrAIIs and !; shirt. There's Il right
good room in the barn. You won't
mind sleepin' shere""
Not at ALL" said Brown.
Hold on" said Obadiah sharply.
"lon amt asked me how much I'll
pay"
II don't care" said Brown shortly.
Then he went toward the barn.
II can't make him OUT said Oba-
diah to his wife. Did you hear what
he said about wages?"
kind OF loony maybe said Mrs.
AS'ohll la lllDlJ l. 1 / llull uD dlll
git him them things. 1t would be a
shame to spoil that nice suit"
The new hired man put in Il busy
afternoon. There was a great deal of
work to be done, and Obadiah Won
dered at the graceful ease with which
the city Teller" swung through his
tasks.
Hes as strong as an OK" said he
admiringly to his wife. TOOK right a.
holt too. Supper most ready, mother?"
The hired man had been sitting on
the back steps looking at the sunset.
Obadiah had to call him twice before
he raised his head.
Henry W. Brown ate his way into
the good graces Of Mrs. Hoskins at
once. He could have found no surer
road to that kind and motherly heart.
The hired man sat on the edge of his
bed and stared at the Autographs on
the wall.
Its a finish fight said he between
his teeth. Either Pm going to beat it
this time or it'll lick me-"
He had expected a restless night, but
twenty minutes after he blew out his
candle the hired man was snoring. The
afternoons work had not been without
its effort. In an inconceivably short
time Obadiah was pounding at the door.
breakfast" he said.
The hired man sat up, rubbed his
eyes and stared about him.
Il slept like a log" he said to him.
self. There was a tone of surprise in
his voice.
That was the first round Of the fight
to a finish.
obadiah was still wondering at the
end Of two weeks.
sometimes" said he, ''he acts as if
be was possessed. l never see a man
work so hard in my life. He wears me
out finding things for him to do. I told
him today he'd better let up and take
it easy. What do you think he said?
He turned on me like a flash and kind
Of spit it out like he was mad. L want
to work hard he says. That's my
only chance! What do you think Of
that? You s'pose he got into trouble
before he come here?"
He's got something on his mind"
said Mrs. Hoskins. II don't knows
you've noticed how nervous he's been
the last few nights. He jumps when
you speak to him, and then he kind Of
hangs around as if he didn't want to
go to bed. Father, it wouldn't surprise
ME a bit if he'd been crossed in Lover
Out at the barn the hired man was
sitting in the doorway fighting an en-
envy which he could not see.
Day after day he drove his body to
the point where it seemed he could so
no farther: night after night he lay
awake, his teeth set, his eyes staring
into the darkness. fighting against the
craving which seemed to run through
his veins like liquid fire.
AT any rate. be had not surrendered.
That was something gained. For a
full month the agony continued, and
then gradually began to die away.
Not VET" said the hired man. give
got 10 know this timer
AT the end of six weeks mother"