The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-20

accounted, in part at least, for his real liking of the man.
 "Waffles it is." he said, and he turn ed toward the boy.
 "Would you mind finding Miss Sarah, Steve?" he asked. "Will you tell her. please, that we are to be sub jected to another neighborly imposi- tionT
 After the boy had disappeared Caleb followed the larger man to a chair. And this time 1t was Caleb who met Allison's silence with challenging, 'Wen?"
 "Where did you get him, Cal?' Ali son demanded. "Where did you get him? Those shoes and those trousers pants, guess is the word, eh? And, say, how that little beggar did squeeze my hand! Look herev'
 He held one soft hand up for inspec- tion. There were faint red welts still visible across the finger joints.
 Friend of yours, did you say|
 Without stopping to think about 1t, Caleb was not so keen to enlarge upon the boys obvious points" as he had been with Sarah. He omitted to men .tion his thoughts of the night before, and he omitted any reference to Old Tom, except for the most hazy expla- nation that the boy had no immediate kin. But with an increasing eagerness {, he dilated upon the small foot travel CTS first view of the "city," his breath less reception of Alison's own switch engine and his avowed intention to Hook around a trifle'' before he located something to do.
 q thought I'd take him down this morning and get Mclean to give him a ride in the cab of one of those sheet iron steam relics of yours," he fin ished. sg
 If Caleb had expected his unadorned recitation of the boys appearance to make any impression upon his nearer he would have been disappointed. But without any confessed reason for So doing Caleb aimed rather at the oppo- site effect. And Allison turned from 1t with large, matter of fact indiffer-
  who appeared that moment in the door way.
 "Surely-surely," he echoed Caleb's suggestion. "Take him down and give him ride Mclean I'll be glad of the chance to show some one his pet buzz saws and things. I'll walk down with you myself after breakfast. l may be away for day or two, and want to , leave directions for changes to be in corporated while I'm gone.''
 At the table that morning Caleb not ed that there was no hesitation in Steve's selection from the silver beside his plate, no waiting to follow in the lead of Sarah Hunters choice. He mo- ticed, too, that the boys eyes did not once pift to those of Barbara Allison, opposite him. And, while the little girl from time to time joined in the conversation, he, not once opened his mouth to speak until they were almost ready to rise from their places.
 Barbara Allison insisted upon join ing the excursion down to the mill that morning. She developed a sudden and unshakable resolve to be one of the party, and after his remonstrances had finally brought stormy tears to her eyes Allison surrendered in perplexity to her whim.
 "All right, then,' he gave in. If you want to come as much as all that, but-but you-now, run along, then, with Stephen"
 kI,- k1In h hA Wniaod his perplexity to Caleb.
 "When it comes to dealing with men," he said, T pride myself upon being able to go back rather incisively to first motives But the other sex is beyond me. She's always turned up her dainty nose at the noise and dirt before, and-and now she's ready to cry because I suggest that she wait with Miss Sarah until we return" Caleb's eyes rested upon the oddly matched little couple ahead in the road. The boy was carrying his battered hat in his hand, but Barbara walked with small head up, without a single glance | for her escort. Caleb, noting that Steve's head was forward thrust, knew that his eyes must be fastened hungrily upon the town in the valley, and he understood the reason for the disdainful tilt of the little girls chin, for even at the age of ten Barbara Al lison was not accustomed to inatten- ] tfen. Caleb smiled rather covertly for him.
 q never knew but one woman whose motives were absolutely transparent" " he mused "And she-she was the most unintercsting, unsuccessful fe- mals person ever did know.'
 As Allison had promised, they found Mclean, the white haired mill super intendent, only too eager at the pros pect of an audience for one of his voluble tours of the premises. But when Caleb had explained the main errand upon which they had come, aft CT a long, keen scrutiny of the boys face, the burly riverman led the way without a word to Q wheezfng old two wheeler in the piling yard. "So you'll be wantin' to take a spin in one av me ingines, is it?" he asked then, and after a moment, "An' do you l think you'll be able to hang on whin