Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-07-12
THE new
CLARION
By...
WILL N.
HI A r B EN-
Copyright. 1914. by HAfpes f
beothass

He was trying to invent plausible
reason, perplexed by her unexpected
demand. as he ducked his head to
enter the low doorway. but his dull
brain seemed unusually unproductive.
They faced each other in the red fire.
light, the bare logs with their mud filled
cracks behind them as background,
the plain, split roof boards between
them and the sky. She was gaunt,
drab creature, with scant hair and
sunken cheeks. She repeated her ques-
ton. and an excuse finally fitted into
his mind
Il was lookin' fer work." he said,
averting his rowing eyes, I'VE can't
live on nothin'. Pm hungry half the
time, and so are you. I've got to quit
Craig, tool see that plain enough.
He's full all the time an spends ever
cent he gifts on liquor an never has
none left to pay off hands WITH
Didn't he give you some today? 2" she
asked, Indignantly.
Not a cent-not a red cent. That's
why IL say that
"You didn't ak i'm, I'll be bound
you are too slow about sech things
Others git Their money from i'm, even
niSgers that pick cotton an plant corn.
but you let I'm trample roughshod over
you. Let me go to see i'm. He won't
put me off--the scamp. I'll tell the
fine gentleman a thing or two about
Ahisse'f. They say he had fight in
town today with Howard Tinsley, an
Howard beat i'm up purity bad. Did
you see it,"
mo, didn't happen to be on hand"
Abe said, his lip hanging loose. his
stare reaching through the doorway
out into the shadows Of the young
pines. But heard they had row o
some sort at the postotfice They've
been at outs for some time"
did you git you another job?' she
asked, anxiously.
What do you want to know that
fer"
Because I'm dead tired O. llvin' like
hawk or a boot owl away out here
ag'1n these rocks among snakes an
reptiles. l want to have neighbors
You or me could git sick an die here
actually rot in our beds-an' nobody
would know it till the smell called at
tention to it. Did you git work?
want to know"
mo" He took a deep breath. Hi:
eyes still shrank from hers. Ever,
blessed place is full up I'm-Iu
thinkin' about Alabama. They say biz
pay Is to be had on the new railroad
down thar to all that kin swing picl
or lift full shovel Eff | could git tn,
money to pay my fare I'd take tril
thar an look the field over"
I'D like that" she said, as sfmpl,
as child speaking of an unhoped fo
treat Anything but this here awfu
loneliness" She went to the fire ant
put fresh piece of pine on the flames
1t was full Of resin, quickly ignitet
and black rope Of smoke curled lik,
a serpent upward into the mud ant
stick flue. There was a sound O
cracking twigs outside. He started
leaned forward and fell to quaking.
whats that?" he muttered.
Somebody's cow" she said. II see,
'er grain thar before dark. Her ba,
was so full she could hardly waddl,
about. I could "a MIXED 'er an ha,
some fer yore coffee, but she WASH
mine, an let 'er alone. believe ii
dom what's right. Abe. Ef bod,
= lives up to that rule, meetin' OF n
meetin', think the Lord will see 'e1
through somehow. Got any tobacco
darlin'? I'm clean out O. snuff, an II
mighty nigh crazy fer some'n'."
Thrusting his hand into his pant
pocket, he took out piece OF chea
plug tobacco and handed it to he
Twisting of small portion, she put
into her mouth and began to chew /
"Now you want yore supper, l know.
He had completely forgotten it, br
he nodded dumbly. The stare in hi
eyes Was almost pathetic in its shet
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