Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-04-16
CHAPTER III.

tet nlW 40 the DiaStlne uf the
stnmps She feared. and with
49, mnch reason, that because of
his inexperience in handling dynamite
be might haw mp himself so Sam
had agreed though he didn't like the
idea OF paving So for work that ne
could do himself
man named Nolan had been hired
to do the work and he had come ont
Saturday afternoon 10 make n begin
ming Sam WAS anxious to learn about
the work so that In future there'd he
no need to hire some one else TO do IT
He drove across the field nitched his
horse al a safe distance and went over
to watch the proceedings
Sans companions who had also
heard the first report. came up to look
on. Ii was interesting to watch Nolan
deftly place his blasts so that they al
ways brought up the stumps. Some
times they popped up in the air like
cork OUT of bottle; at other times they
split into pieces ana Went hurting
| through the air Under the largest
stump In the field Nolan put double
Z charge of dynamite.
Better get clear" he said to the boys
when be was about ready 10 touch 1t
off They an backed away to dis
lance OF thirty or forty yards and wait
ed He lighted the fuse and ran over
to where they were standing
Get down. he said, behind some
thing OF on the ground
All except Joe Watson promptly drop
ped down dat behind a little ridge
There isn't any danger this far off. .
be said and remained standing.
Get down. you dummy; it's going
off," said Sam sharply. and AS Joe
made no move he grabbed him around
the ankles and gave jerk. The boy
came down with a tbnd. and at the
same instant there was roar Some
thing sang over them like u bullet and
exactly in the path where Joe bad
stood q moment before
We'll. you may thank your lucky
stars" Nolan remarked to Joe as he
got up. that Sam pulled YOU down.
You see that big piece OF stump iayin
away out youderf That's what wills
tied over here. and IL you'd a been
standn' il would a broke you IN
two
Joe was pale from fright at his mar
row escape My" ne exclaimed. but
owe you n big debt. sam. Yon say
ed me then aud don't thing I'll ever
act the fool like that again
II was now the middle of the after
turn home early FOR one reason or An
other Sam stopped work for the day.
and they all drove home al a brisk
trot
On the next Monday sam was pres
ent al the meeting OF the Boys Corn
club and became member Bob la
gan was also there and joined. though
he was doubtful about getting his acre
cleared OF stumps by planting time
In addition 10 the cash prizes already
offered, several nrius ana corporation
announced M the meeting that they
would gave premiums 10 the sueeessful
contestants These prizes were OF vi
rious kinds Among them were reg
istered Jersey COW. a pair OF register
ed pigs. a corn planter. Il trip 10 Wash
ington t'io OF prize poultry. a gold
watch ana an automobile.
Sam wenI nome happy thar day ana
more nrmly resolved fhau ever 20 WIN
some Of the prizes All The week ne
worked after school hours loading and
hauling manure from the stable SO the
farm He MAS 80 busy that ne nad ne
time TO talk even To his mother and
sister about bis work But III the sup
per table 90 saturday Mrs Powell ~
CURED how lie WIS getting along with
the work
Doing iine.e said sam I've got
the field and the fence rows cleaned 40
and the fenees made pig tight and TWO
acres fortified and ready to be piow
ed The next thing IN going to Dc
is TO naves the land broke. cross broke |
and narrowed
Going To DO all the heid that way
asked Florence Powell
oh no Sam replied. Il can't pre- |
pare 81 the land a. ! did the TWO acres |
| haven't time this year. hui IN put |
some fertilizer on all OF II and nave it |
broke once
What are you going to raise on the !
two aeresf'' mis- sister inquired. be |
coming Interested