The daily Alaskan., 1915-09-20
Potash, Perlnlutter
 and Others
By MONTAGUE GLASS
VIII.-T THE CENTER
 OF POPULATION
Copyright The Frank A. Munsey Col iContinued from last issue)

iContinued from last issue)
 Lafe gasped in astonishment and al- most swallowed his tobacco.
 Look a-here, young fcller," he said Il dunno what kind . 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. "I | didn't mean to make no break"
 Freely granted" cried Lafe. City ways ain't country ways, l guess, but you seem right nice young feller. Gidap"
 Jimmie bluShcd. and for the rest of the ride neither vcutured on any fur thcr conversation. Lare's sister met them at the head of the farm lane and greeted Jimmie with motherly smile. Well, Lafc," she cried, olympia ain't 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 l ing coffee and ham, until his ruddy cheeks gliStened and the waiStband of his trousers grew taut. By this time l the conversation assumed more in- | innate tone, and even LOfe thawed out.
 Well, sister" he said, "y'orter seen 'Iympia when the train came In. swan she was scairt out of her wits"
 Shell 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 walt ing for. That dcrncd railroad com. pany won't own my pasture lot for less than $500 an acre unless they steal It from nc"
 "Mebbc they will" said Miss Goodel, If you stay up till Nll 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 lazlly.
 All right sister," he gruntcd, and, taking the lamp from the table, he pilotcd Jimmie to the spare room on the second floor.
 Under Lafcs tutelage Jimmie rapid ly acquired all the accomplishments of a hired man, and when his vacation drew toward its close 1t 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 q cast of suit of Lufe's overalls completed his transformation Into as rustic a youth as never saw Fulton market or the Brooklyn bridge
 It was, therefore, not at all surpris- ing that he should be hailed as bud by the thirkset gentleman with the jet black mustachc who drove q smart looking horse and buggy up the farm lane
 "Who lives here. budT" he asked out 1 of one corner of his mouth.
 Jimmie took in at one cOmprehen- slve 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 pap?"
 "Pap?" Jimmie repeated.
 "Oh, ratsw the stranger broke in i'm batiently and drove rapidly up the lane. Jimmie gazed after him in un' affected surprise. That essentially ur' ban presence in its strange setting Of pasture and meadow affected the boy like a whiff 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 uI near the barn, where Lafe was busily encaged currying Olympias rough coat with handful of straw.
 "lIr. Lafayette Goodel?" the strang or asked.
 Lafe nodded, and his visitors beady eyes rested on Olympia.
 That's nice looking mare you've got there, friend.'
 "I lay great store by her" Lafe re piled dryly.
 About how much do you ask foi herr"