The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-18

lectmen for the township his neigh.
Dor, Dodd, was chosen and he was re-
tired. 1t was clearly explained to
him that this was done to give the
north district of the township a fair
representation. but Post would not
have it that way
"Underhand work-mean, sneaking
tactics somewhere" he insisted on
believing.
Herewith he no longer spoke to
Dodd when he met him, and forbade
Nell to keep company with that
young sprig of smartness, Bob Dodd."
Once started on a career bolstered
up by unworthy prejudice and hatred,
the evil elements in the character Of
the old man began to hold high sway.
Dodd always bowed to him when they
met, although all he received in re-
turn was a cold stare of Indifference
and contempt.
One day Post ran to the house in a
great fuss and worry. grabbed up his
gun and made back for the brook. He
had discovered a small boat and
someone in it, fishing well over on his
side of the stream. But when he re-
turned he was ashamed of himself.
The intruder turned out to be a girl
visitor at the Dodd home.
He was uneasy and unhappy. al
though he tried to appear outwardly
firm and satisfied, the day a big load
of barbed wire and posts arrived.
The brook lined the two farms for
about a hundred rods. That entire
distance Post drove the posts and
strung the barbed wire.
Hope Dodd enjoys his three feet
Of water 'front.'" he chuckled. coming
in to supper. Where's Nell?' he
asked of his wife, tracing some deep
worry in her patient, worn face.
I've got bad news for you, Abner,'
replied Mrs. Post gravely.
80? Well, out with it, and be done
with it. What is it,"
Nell is going to leave home"
"H'm!" muttered Post, glaring un.
comfortably, but trying to keep up a
SIluus ubTCe DedTluS.
Yes; she is visiting my brother at
Acton for a day or two, and he is
going to get her a position there.
Nell loves us, Abner," added Mrs. Post,
trying hard to keep back the tears,
land she won't disobey you, but she
says it will simply break her heart to
remain so neal the man she loves,
and meet him daily, and pass him by
as If he were a stranger"
A week went by. In two more days
Nell was to leave the home roof. Post
did not unbend. He came in one
evening looking worn and troubled
The family was absent at the brother
o. his wife. A heavy rain had set in
They would not be home that night
Post, lonely and full of darker
thoughts than ever, recklessly ex
tended the small glass of cordial be
sometimes took to half a dozen. Soggy
and doing, he went to sleep on the
sofa, forgetting even to drive in the
cattle from a lowland pit where they
browsed all night when the weather
was fair.
1t was we'll on towards morning
when a laundering knock at the dool
aroused Post. He went there, blink
ing and grumbling, to face his neigh
Dor, Dodd.
out with you, quick, Post, and helI
u.s." shouted the excited Dodd. There
has been a perfect deluge, and if W.
hadn't got in time to your cattl,
they'd have been all drowned. w,
have got to look to things, for the
stream is twenty feet over the banks.
Post forgot his enmity in the ardu
Gus exertions of the next few hours
His neighbor certainly saved his cat
tie. All hands sought rest as the wa
ter suddenly subsidized. and then, abou'
noon, to the amazement of all the
brook ran dry.
1t was some hours before this mys
terry was explained. The force of
terrific deluge had broken out a rock!
ledge and diverted the water. Their,
would never be a dividing brook oil
the two farms again.
And with the water that had passe,
away" went all the enmity of Abne
Post for the neighbor he had mis-
judged, and Nell did not go away t.
work, and the barbed-wire fence wa
rooted up and cast to the void
Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman.)