Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-07

tor'sT
Lafe bestowed the cud In one corner
Of his mouth, voided a pint or 30 oi
the attendant moisture and wiped his
lips on the back of his hand.
(which wanT he asked
ION Fourteent' street"
mo-" he answered. II never was to
the city. Gidapr' BE fell again to
the rumination Of his fine cut. why
dye ask?"
II fought l seen yer dere wanst,"
Jimmie replied, "wid lady wot play.
ed on de trambone. You wuz tellin'
her about de circus comm ter town,
an den yer did sand dance toged.
der"
Lafe gasped in astonishment and al.
most swallowed his tobacco.
"Look a-here young feller." he said.
II 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. II
didn't mean to make no break"
Freely granted!" cried Lafe. "City
ways amt country ways, guess, but
you seem right nice young feller.
Gidap"
Jimmie blushed, and for the rest of
the ride neither ventured on any fur
ther conversation. Lafe's sister met
them at the head Of the farm lane and
greeted Jimmie with a motherly smile.
"Well. Lafe," she cried, olympia
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 ruddy
cheeks glistened and the waistband Of
his trousers grew taut. BY this time
the conversation assumed a more in
innate tone. and even Lafe thawed
out.
swell, sister," he said, "y'orter seen
'Lympia when the train came In.
swan she was scairt out Of her wits!'
"She'll get over 1t fast enough" Miss
Goodel commented, when they cut
the railroad through the pasture lot"
Lafe slapped his knee.
"By Gregory" he cried; shell never
get over It, If that's what she's wait
ing for! That derned railroad com.
pany won't own my pasture lot for
less than $500 an acre unless they
steal 1t from me-"
"Mebbe they WILL" said Miss Goodel,
III you stay up till all hours Of the
night. You need to have clear brain
If you want to get ahead Of the rail-
road company"
Lafe rose and stretched lazily.
"All right, sister," he grunted, and,
taking the lamp from the table, he
piloted Jimmie to the spare room on
the second floor.
Under Lafe's tutelage Jimmie rapid
ly acquired all the accomplishments OF
hired man, and when his vacation
drew toward its close it had proved to
be as profitable for Lafe as 1t had
been enjoyable for Jimmie. A profu-
sion of freckles obscured the healthy
glow in the boys cheeks, and cast
Off suit of Lafes overalls completed
his transformation into as rustic q
youth as never saw Fulton market or
the Brooklyn bridge.
1t was, therefore, not at all surprfs-
ing that he should be hailed as "bud'
by the thickset gentleman with the
let black mustache who drove smart
looking horse and buggy up the farm
lane.
"Who lives here, budT he asked out
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 OF
Tenderloin insouciance that pervaded
the strangers personality.
"Come again." Jimmie said
"Where's yer papT
"Pap?" Jimmie repeated.
"Oh, ratsv' the stranger broke In I'M
patiently and drove rapidly up the
lane. Jimmie gazed after him in un-
affected surprise. That essentially ur-
ban presence in its strange setting or
pasture and meadow affected the boy
like a whlff of East river breeze, and
he turned to his task Of moving the
border of the lane, almost glad that
his vacation approached its close.
A moment later the buggy drew up
near the barn, where Lafe was busily
engaged currying Olympia's rough coat
with handful Of straw.
"Mr. Lafayette Goodel?" the strang-
er asked.
Lafe nodded, and his visitors beady
eyes rested on Olympia.
That's a nice looking mare you've
got there, friend"
II lay great store by her," Lafe re-
piled dryly.
about how much do you ask for
herr"
Lafe surveyed the strangers three
year-old trotter for one admiring sec
ond.
"I'n make an even swap" he an
swered, "a d