Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-03
'copXRE0HT BY ZzE c6W7EsgY CO !

the soii. He cut the best of the cane
and Bonifacio planted the joints at
slant with knowing hand. He sorted
the bolls of cotton. The women stu
died the fiber and when It was long,
silky and tough they picked out the
seeds with care and boarded them. for
their time was not yet. One duty
urged another. The days passed rap
idly.
One morning Gerry looked up from
his labor 10 find 4 mounted figure just
behind him. An elderly man OF forid
face sat a restiye stallion of Arab
strain. The strangers note was opu-
lence. From his Panama hat, thin and
light as paper, 10 his silver spurs and
the silver-mounte1 harness of his
horse. wealth marked him. He was
dressed in whie linen and his faring,
glossy riding gboots OF embroidered
Russian leather stood out from the
white clothes and the whittier sleeps
fleece that served as saddle cloth, with
telling effect. IN bis hands was a
silver-mounted rawhide quirt. His
face was grave, his eyes blue and kind
ly. As Gerry looked at him he spoke,
I'm Lieber from up the river"
Gerry started az the familiar Eng
lish and frowned. At the frown the
strangers eyes shifted. Il didn't come
down here TO bother you" he went on
hastily. One OF my men told me
about the green grass and I couldn't
keep away. I've got cattle and horses
up my way and they're dying-starv-
ing. l came down to make n deal.
I've picked out hundred and twenty
head with blood in 'em-horses and
cattle. If you'll take 'em and feed
'em through to the rains I'll give you
ten out Of the hundred. Some are too
far gone to save, I'm afraid"
Gerry looked at his tiny plantations
which showed up meauly in the great
expanse OF waste pasture. I'm sor-
ry," he said. but I'm afraid l can't.
You see, can't afford to fence"
Lieber looked around and nodded:
That's all right" be said, "Ive got a
lot of old wire that's no use to me and
a lot of loafcrs to tear 1t down and
put 1t up. I'll fence as much pasture
as you say and throw in the fencing
on the deal
That's mighty fair" said Gerry;
"Tll take you" lie dropped his hoe.
Won't you come down 10 the house
and have a bite to eat?" He turned
and Lleber started to follow. by
the way" said Gerry over his shoul-
der, you're not u German, are you?"
Lieber stopped bis horse. His eyes
waVered. no" he said shortly, I'm
not. I'm an American. After all. 1
don't think | ought to waste any time.
Hours tell with starving stock. Ill
Just get back in a hurry, If you don't
mind. My men and the wire will be
here just that much sooner"
Gerry frowned again but this time
at himself. He felt that he had
stepped on another mans corns while
defending his own. "AIl right. Mr..
Lieber," lie said. The sooner the
better III do all can to help"
The next morning the men came ac-
companied by oxcarts loaded with
fencing posts and all. Lieber was
with them. He sat bis horse through
the hot hours and drove his men stead
lily. Gerry threw himself into the work
as foreman. The fence grew with
amazing rapiGity. From the bridge
they carried it in n straight line past
the house to the river. 1t cut off
vast triangle whose two other sides
We're held by the ditch and the river.
BY night tho work was almost done.
Gerry was tired and happy, but he
sighed. How many weeks of toll
would not he and Bonifacio have had
to put in to accomplish that fence!
Lieber stayed the night with them
and Gerry studied and initiated the
older mans impersonality. Liebsr
kept his eyes on his plate or in the
vague distance Willie the women at
tended them and as soon as the bust
ness of eating was over he retired 10
the room that had been allotted to
him.
He was up early in the morning and
away to meet the coming herd. First
came the horses, neighing and quick
eping their weak trot at the smell of
grass. Far away and like a distorted
echo sounded the lowing of the slower
cattle. The little herd of Fazenda
Flores caught the moaning cry and
lifted lazy heads. One or two lowed
back.
The horses were rounded up at the
bridge to await the cattle They
stretched thin uecks toward the call
ing grass and moved restlessly about
with quick turns of eager heads and
low impatient whinnies. Lieber sat his
stablefed stallion stoiidly. but his eyes
grew moist as he looked over the bony
lot of horses. ''Thcy must wait for
the CATTLE" he said TO Gerry. "A fair
start and no favor. Cad, If you could
have seen them three months ago?'
The cattle came up in rapid sham
BILE that carried them slowly for they
were staggering in short, quick steps.
Their heads hung almost TO the ground.
They had no shame. They moaned
pltifully-continual