Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-05
chAPTER %


his inexpeFisnce In handling dynam mite
I re might blow up himself. So Sam
had agreed. though he didn't like the
ldea OF paying g for. work that he
,ould do himself.
!, A man named Nolan had been hired
70 do the work, and he had come out
Saturday afternoon to make a begin
ming. Sam was anxious to learn about
.he work 20 that in future there'd be
no need to hire some one else to do It
He drove across the field. hitched his
horse ut safe distance and went over
20 watch. the proceedings.
Sans companions. who had also
heard the frst report, came up to look
on. It was interesting to watch Nolan
deity place his blasts % that they al
ways brought up the stumps. Some
dimes they popped up in the air like
cork ont Of bottle; at other times they
split into pieces and went hurting
through the air. Under the largest
stump In the field Nolan put double
charge OF dynamite.
Better get Clear he said to the boys
when he was about ready to touch 1t
Oh. They all 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.
"t3et down." he said, behind some
hing or on the ground"
All except Joe Watson promptly drop,
ped down nat behind q little ridge.
There isn't any danger this far of"
he said and remained standing.
sect down. you dummy; its going
Dff...' said Sam sharply. and as Joe
made no move he grabbed him around
fhe ankles and gave q jerk. The boy
came down with thud. and at the
same instant there was q roar. Some.
hing sang over them like a bullet and
exactly in the path where Joe had
,tood moment before
well. you may thank your lucky
stars" Nolan remarked to Joe as he
got mp, ''that Sam pulled you down.
You sec that big piece Of stump iayin'
away out yonder7 That's what whis-
tied over here. and IL you'd a been
standin' 1t would a broke you in
two"
Joe was pale from fright at his mar
row escape. Neutrality-suspicious.. ''but
owe you big debt Sam! You saw
cd me then, and i don't think IN ever
act the fool like that again"
It was now the middle Of the after
noon and - the boys wanted to re
turn home early for one reason or an
other Sam stopped work for the day.
and they. al drove home at brisk
trot.
On the next Monday Sam was pres
emit ut the meeting Of the Boys Corn
club and became q member. Bob Fa-
gan was also there and Joined. though
he was doubtful about getting his acre
cleared Of stumps by planting time.
I'm addition to the cash prizes already
offered, several firms and; corporations
announced at the meeting that they
would give premiums to the successful
contestants. These prizes were Of va
rious kinds. Among them were a reg
istered Jersey COW, pair Of register
ed pigs, q corn planter. trip to Wash.
ington. Z THO Of prize poultry, gold
watch and an automobile.
Sam went home happy that day and
moro frmly resolved than ever to win
some of, the prizes. All the week he
worked after school hours loading and
hauling manure from tho stable to the
farm. He vas % busy that he had no
time 70 talk even to his mother and
sister about his work. But at the sup
per tabls on Saturday Mrs. Powell in
quired how he was getting along with
the work
.sDoins nna.s said Sam. eve got
the field ana the fencs rows cleaned up
and the fences made pig tight and two
acres fertilized and ready to be plow.
ed. The next thing I'm going to do
Il to have the land broke, cross broke
and narrowed"
.Going p do an the neld that wayr
asked Florence Powell
'sOh, no.. Sam replied. II can't pie
pare al the land % did tho two acres.
/ haven't time this year, but III put
some fertilizer ON all Of It and have It
broke once"
what are you going to raise on the
two acresf' his sister inquired, be
cSming interested.
!. "One acre = going to b In corn.
Tvs going 10 No sz i5 :ecS: :s.. ::Sss, eed
I'm going to ny to win some Of the
prizes OF the Boys Corn club On the
other scre I'm going to plant Irish po1
tatoes at nrst, then maybe June cofn;
hNa na~I~->N n