Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-06

slant with knowing hand. He sorted
the Dolls 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 to find mounted figure lust
behind him. An elderly man Of f1orid
face sat FESTIVE stallion of Arab
strain. The strangers note was opu-
lence. From his Panama hat, thin and
light as paper, to his silver spurs and
the silver-mounted harness of his
horse, wealth marked him. He was
dressed in white linen and his 1aring,
glossy riding boots of embroidered
Russian leather stood out from the
white clothes and the whittier sheep's
fleece that served as saddle cloth, with
telling effect. In his hands was a
silver-mounted raWhide Quirt. His
face was grave, his eyes blue and kind
~. AS Gerry looked at him he spoke,
I'm Lieber from up the river"
Gerry started at the familiar Eng
nsh and frowned. At the frown the
strangers eyes shifted. NJ didn' 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
thor-1rn lxr;,,
ing. | came down to make d deal.
I've picked out hundred and twenty
head with blood in 'em-horsas 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 meanly in the great
expanse of waste pasture. I'm sor-
ry,' he said, "but I'm afraid [ can't.
You see, l can't afford to fence"
Lieber looked around and nodded:
That's all right" he said, 1--WE got a
lot of old wire that's no use to me and
a lot of lOafers to tear it 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:
"Pll take you" He dropped his hoe.
Wont you come down to the house
and have a bite to eat?' He turned
and Lieber started to follow by
the way" said Gerry over his Shout
der, you're not German, are you?"
Lieber stopped his horse His eyes
wavered. NO." he said shortly, I'm
not. I'm an American. After all, l
don't think | ought to waste any time.
Hours tell with starving stock. I'll
just get back in 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. "All right, Mr..
Lieber," he said "The sooner the
better. I'll do all I 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 his horse through
the hot hours and drove his men stead
lily. Gerry threw himself into the work
as foreman. The fence grew with
amazing rapidtty. From the bridge
they carried it in a straight line past
the house tC the river 1t cut off a
vast triangle whose two other sides
were held by the ditch and the river
By night the work was almost done.
Gerry was tired and happy, but he
sighed. How many weeks of toll
would not he and Bonffacio have had
to put in to accomplish that fence!
Lieber stayed the night with them
and Gerry studied and initiated the
older mans fmpersOnality. Liebar
kept his eyes on his plate or in the
vague distance while the women at
tended them and as soon as the bust
ness of eating was over he retired to
the room that hao 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
ening 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 We're rounded up at the
bridge to await the cattle. They
stretched thin necks toward the call
ing grass and moved restlessly about
with quick turns OF eager heads and
low impatient whinnies. Lieber sat his
stable-fed stallion stolidly, but his eyes
grew moist as he looked over the bony
lot Of horses. They must wait for
the CATTLE" he said to Gerry. "a fair
start and no favor. Cad, if you could
have seen them three months agor'
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
pitifully-continually.
Gerry opened the wire gap. The
horses gave an anticipatory whirl and
then dashed through They forgot