The herald., 1915-10-21

of the wagon and climbed up beside
LATE.
That's right" LATE said. "Jes make
yerSclf ter hum. I'd let yer drive. but
/ daSSen't trust her 10 yer
After sharp "Gidap. from Lafe
the old mare moved slowly away from
the tracks. Jimmie and his host main.
tanned an embarrassed silence. The
boy furtively glanced at his employer 5
cousin ana made mental note Of the
ragged fringe of whiSkerS that adorned
the farmers neck. As LATE shifted Il
huge mouthful of tobacco from cheek
to cheek his Adams apple jerked con.
vulSively. Apparently, it roamed about
ut will, and disappeared beneath his
shirt collar only To bob up among the
thicket of whiSkers with an agility that
completely fascinated Jimmie
Say" he said at length and by way
of conversation, was you ever to Pas
tOr's:"
LATE bestowed the cud in one corner
of his mouth, voided a pint or SO of
the attendant moisture and wiped his
lips on the back of his hand.
Which wan" he asked.
ON Fourteent' street"
NO" he answered. Il never was TO
the city. Gidap" He fell again to
the Illumination of his fine cut. why
dye ask
Il fought ! seen yer dere wanSt, -
Jimmie replied, wild Il lady wot play
ed Oh de trambone You wuz tellin'
her about de circus comm ter town,
an den yer did sand dance toged-
der"
LATE gaSped in establishment and al
most swallowed his tobacco.
Look a-here, young Teller" he said.
Il dunno what kind o dominies you've
got to New York, but up here ministers
of the gospel don't allow no such car
ryin's on in their houses Gidap."
Jimmie felt vaguely that he had Of
Tended and offered prompt reparation.
Excuse me-" he said humbly. 81
didn't mean to make no break"
Freely granted" cried LATE. City
ways amt country ways, | guess, but
you seem a right nice young Teller.
Gidapr'
Jimmie bluShed, and for the rest of
the ride neither ventured on any fur
Their conversation. Lafe's sister met
them at the head of the farm lane and
greeted Jimmie with Il mOtherly smile.
"Well. Lafe," she cried, "Lympia
amt so spry as some You'd better
come right in an set down. Biscuits
is burnin' this half hour past"
For almost an hour Jimmie tucked
in honey and hot biscuit, with steam
ing coffee and ham. until his rudy
cheeks glistened and THO waiStband of
his trousers grew taut. BY this time
| the conversation assumed more in.
innate tone. and even LATE thawed
out.
well. sister," he said, "y'Orter seeI
| 'Lympia when the train came in.
swan she was scairt out of her Wits
Shell get over it fast enough" Miss
! GOodel comIyeued ''when they Gu
the railroad through the pasture lot"
LATE slapped his knee.
by Gregory" he cried; shell nevel
get over it, if that's what she's wait
ing for. That derned railroad com
pany won't own my pasture lot fO
less than $500 an acre unless the!
steal it from me-"
"Mebbe they WILL" said Miss GoOdel
IF you stay up till all hours of tn,
night. You need to have a clear brall
If you want to get ahead of the rail
road company"
LATE rose and stretched lazily.
"All right sister" he grunted, and
taking the lamp from the table, h,
| pilOted Jimmie to the spare room OF
the second floor.
Under Lafe's tutelage Jimmie rapid
" acquired all the accomplishments o
a hired man. and when his vacation
drew toward its close it had proved t
he as profitable for LATE rs 1t ha'
been enjoyable for Jimmie. A prOfu
sion of freckles Obscured the health,
glow in the boys cheeks, and a cast
off suit of Lafe's overalls complete,
his transformation into as rustic
youth as never saw Fulton market o
the Brooklyn bridge.
1t was, therefore. not at all surpris
ing that he should be hailed as bud
by the thickSet gentleman with tn
jet black muStache who drove a smar
looking horse and buggy up the farm
lane.
"Who lives here, bud?" he asked on
of one corner of his mouth.
Jimmie took in at one cOmprehen
sive glance the panama hat the dia
mond breastpin and the general air @
Tenderloin insOuciance that pervade,
the strangers personality.
Come again." Jimmie said
Where's yer pap?'
Pap" Jimmie repeated.
"Oh, ratsr the stranger broke in in
patiently and drove rapidly up tn
lane Jimmie gazed after him in vi
affected surprise. That essentially III
ban presence in its strange setting o
pasture and meadow affected the bO
like Whit of East river breeze, an
he turned to his task OF moving tn
border Of the lane, almost glad tina
his vacation approached its close.
A moment later the buggy drew u