Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-05
with him for 40 years, and 1 guess untu
He forhids / shall tnniN

with him for 40 years, and 1 cues untu
He forbids, l shall TOO"
h limb, Wiley IT," knew vaguely
that he owed much to this loyal cham
pionship in circles he did not enter,
just as he did to Janet Vance and her
faith in him. Women were always do
ing for him, one way and another. And
he had carelessly allowed them; they
were a part of the old dionysian delight
of life, the youth he had given so fully,
and which even now called to him
above this eternal dawdling over the
damp paper on press day. the clam
Of he machine, the grind of work.
a baby, 50 he told Aunt Abby. The
press groaned excrutiatingly; there was
much daubing of ink, flapping of belts.
heaving of rol1ers-then off it came, a
squalling brat, this Rome News, with
out profit to it's parents or reverence
for the n%eighbors.
Arne Vance came home from his ag-
rlcultural school holiday week. and one
bleak day brought in a farmer who had
a grievance. Somehow or other, every
FARMER with a grievance had been find
ing his way to the News office for the
last 40 years. Bert Hemminger, the in
surgent board member from the north
bottoms, was with them. The new
conner took a huge ear Of corn from the
load of his wagon and %wrathfully shook
1T In the editors face. He had failed
of a prize at the seed warehouses an
nual distribution, and he knew what
was the matter!
They give it to that Dutch tenant
who farms Dan Boydston's west so.
And what did 1 get, hey? Skunked-yes,
sir-skunked! And there amt airy ear
of my load that amt better'n Boyd
ston's land can raise. But I know.
Bodston's a board member, and Tan
ner's man, and Tanner owns the seed
company! That's it, by cracky! Poll
tics and rotten!"
The editor listened sympathetically.
He always did. The farmer roared and
flourished his ~disprized seed ear. Ha
was "agin the tariff" and the admins,
tration and everything else. 1t was
rotten when a mar couldn't get a blue
ribbon on corn like his corn!
Arne Vance figured Mr.. Sounds
product. He chew a grain and felt
over the golden spike. Its good, nd
but the kernels break bel
fore they run over the nub, and they're |
shallow. Ike. some day I'll show you
how to judge corn the way we do ui
at the agricultural college,"
h man was suspicious Of this fool
book farming.
And let me send a dozen of your
ears to the state board" put in Curran.
He's a great man. that secretary. He'll
SIT down and write you q letter worth
all the ribbons Tanners seed house
could give you"
Ike Sounds did not know. He was
sure there was something crooked
about it.
Il tell you what We'll do exclaimed
Hemminger. This editor, he's goine
run for congress in the primary and
we want him to come out and Arns
with him, and they can talk politics
n corn together. Hey. Arne?"
The farmer students black eyes
snapped. Go? 1t was a great idea!
Hemminger's sad yes it. The suspic,
Gus Sounds grew interested. "By links.
1T there was anything like that goina
on IN Hemminger's district, our dis,
trict ought to have it, too! We want
much for style, u folks in Number
i've. but Arne Vance can come talk
seed corn and sour soil, and then This
editor can get up and whale the pluto,
Gratis! It's a right lonesome road OUT
our way, but we take the News and wa
know s~omething!"
with a promise. Curran watched the |
shaggy farm horses steaming in the
cool sunshine, the bundled figures on
the seat, until the wagon drew into all
gap of the hills. They wanted him
did they? After all, his yellow brat OF
q paper QiQ Ilnu lCS way out to the
lonely farms and was read and be-
lieved!
He turned to discover Arne watch |
Ing him curiousl... You're going, |
Wiley?"
"Sure!"
We'll elect you, Wiley! werand
they! Quite your %grubbing away in
this dinky shop and come out among
us! Janet's been seeing things yerv
clearly. There never was such a
county needs a leader. I'm
telling you what the young men saw
over the county. And there's Father
Doyle, who's trying to build his church
mines. and Mcbride, this state labor
organizer, who's working to unionize
the new factory people around Earlyille
none OF them cares a damn about the
cd gang in this town-the best families
n the VI house jobs and all that!"
know" aid Curran quietly
They've both talked with me-urged
Arne's eyes glittered. Janet. he
muttered grimly. Her work."
(COntinued NEXT waoL