The midland journal., 1916-07-14
!. CHAPTER v-continued.

1t was too cold and stormy for little
Charlie Thomas to be- carried out of
doors every day. He sat in the win
dow and watched the new hired man
shovel deep canyons in the snow.
Everybody but Charlie disliked the
new hired man. He was a surly,
moody fellow, with hardly word to
say, and acted as If he were always
ashamed of something.
'.The reason you don't like Lem"
said Charlie, sis because you don't like
him.
"Gosh!' chuckled the boss. That's
a deep remark. Oh, well, boy, Wen
give the critter fair chance, you can
bet ON that"
In fact, Sam felt that he mad given
Lem more than fair chance At this
time of year it was hard to get the
equivalent of the mans food out of his
labor. Sam kept him on the farm for
the sake of Mrs Brown and the chill
'dren; he had made bargain.
Once he ran away. Sam traced him
to town, found him already half-drunk
son what whisky he could whine for,
and barely saved him from being
Aocked up in jail 1t may have been
brutal medicine, but the thrashing that
San awarded him for his truancy laid
him up in bed for two days. The boss
despaired of ever doing better with
him than to keep him out of mischief
for the greater part of the time. Any
now, he would force him to work and
help support his family.
Occasionally Mrs Brown, Mary
Alice and little Dick came out for Sun
day dinner. At such times Lem was
encouraged to 'slick up" and sit down
with the family. At first he refused;
but at length he allowed, himself to be
rsuaded-Martha was never quite
sure how-and a stranger would not
have known, by casual observation,
that Lem was not in the entire good
graces of all present. But he had
very little to say.
Il want you to understand, Lem"
Sam would explain, .'that amt got
the least grudge against you, though
you may think I act like had I'm
goin' to treat you just as good as you'll
1et me. If there's a spark Of manhood
left in you-well. everybody knows
what good blow'll do to a spark"
Sam chuckled; the 5dke was coarse
and harsh. But he kpew his man.
Here was occasion fol- no delicate
measures, he thought Kid gloves
would be entirely out OF place.
Perhaps Sam's method OF treatment
was not wholly reliable. He was con-
scientious in administering 1t, however.
1t was a case of kill or cure, he rea-
soned. But he didn't hate Lem Brown;
and every time he wagged fist under
LENS terrified and retiring chin Sam
had, way down deep in his heart, a
tenderness toward Lottie and Mary
Alice and little Dick, OF which his
Merceness was a reversed expression.
Little Charlie Thomas liked Lem
Brown. He did not know why Lem
was working for his father on the farm
instead of in the city, where he could
be with his family; but the explanation
0tAtAohC4 htlAAs A1Clli W do uCSuGQ 10 nclp
the boss.
To Charlie, too, it was an advantage
that he was unaware of LENS de-
pravity. He saw in him only sort of
woe-begone, sad-eyed hulk of man,
working necessarily at tasks that
called for lot of brute strength.
Brute strength and physical prowess
delighted charlie Hercules and Sir
Galahad shared about equally his re-
gard, with shade in favor of Sir
Galahad, in spite of his fathers cordial
endorsement of Hercules.
Lem was as powerful as an OK. In
the early winter. with the first sled
ding, Sam began to haul stones for the
foundation of his new creamery.
Charlie watched Lem juggIe the great
rocks. and his eyes sparkled with in
rense admiration
Gee, Lemw said he. when the big
laborer came in for his dinner. s'Ain't
you just the strongest Keller. l been
watchln' you all the forenoon"
Yes. am pretty strong" agreed
Lem. It was the first sign Of self-re-