The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1916-02-10
Copyright, 1918, by Harper & Brothers.

y y
they know, and you don't want to
know. That's the way you pig headed
farmers are"
Weston merely scratched his chin
and looked stubborn.
GO over and see what they've got
to say, at any rate" insisted Mr., Som
erville.
Nav; l amt gOin' to waste time on
! 'em talkin' a lot of fool truck out Of
books writ by just such sissy farmers
as them. | reckon they'll be recon-
mendin' US to tie pink ribbons on our
pigs tails an buy feather beds for our
| bosses an cOws? He guffawed at
what he thought was his wit.
well, go around and see. You can
| laugh at them if they do advise fool
things like that"
Nav; amt goin' a step. Amt got
time. Jim Sullivan told me he was
goin' to get a jug Of the real old red
eye on tn noon train, an NE an him
is goin' to drown our sorrer."
Leave that stuff alone, Tom," said
the kind hearted old merchant, who
had known him from his boyhOod.
"That is one reason why you are about
down and out now"
dad, let me go to the farmers meet
ing"
Both men looked around. Joe had
been seated on sack Of beans at the
end of the counter and in the shadow
of the desk. His father had forgotten
him, and Mr.. Somerville had net no
ticed that he was about.
"Aint got time Me an Jim Sulli
vans goin' to leave as soon as the train
gifts in," began his father.
II don't mind walking five miles
home this evening. Go want to go to
hear those government people, daddy"
81 amt got no quarter to spend for
your dinner, joe"
II don't want no dinner"
That's all right; Joe's going to take
dinner with me-" interrupted Mr.. Som
erville.
"Oh, all right, then, but you needn't
think yer goin' to try any of that fool
ishness and newfangled lum-de-dums
on my place" There was a streak of
stubborn meanness in Tom Weston. .,
my place, Tom corrected the old
er man gently, "for which you have
failed to pay all the rent this year and
owe balance on last year"
"Well, s longs l got it rented"- be-
gan Weston. /
I'll tell you what I'll do, Tom; I'll
just let you off one bale rent and take
four acres for Joe and me to expert
ment on if we want to-"
THAT'S a trade,' grinned Weston.
But how about the time he takes fool
ing with yOu-alrs projects? His time
belongs to me-" Mr.. Somerville looked
at him in cold scorn for a moment, then
at the eager, bright face of the boy.
dad, amt you never goin' to give
ME a chance? l go round dressed in
your CASTOR cloes, work like Mig
ger, an now when l want to learn
sOmethin' an try to make more at
farmin' than you have you don't seem
to want to let me-" His eyes filed
with tears.
weston, of course he's your boy and
vOu have the legal right to his services,
but you are making serious mistake
II the position You are taking"
I'm standin on my rightsr' logged
j. responded the other, trying to brave
ut the scorn he saw in the merchants
ace.
Mr.. SomerVile looked at Joe. who
vas rather an understood, wiry chap.
With good head and a square, fighting
hin.
Are you in earnest, Joe? DO you
eally want to study and learn or are
gu just talkingY
Just give ne Il chance-thats all |
%ant-and I'll show your answered
Toe.
Every we'll then, Weston. What do
YOU consider Joes services worth to
jOu during the crop yearW
~ hundred dollars" answered Yves.
On, at venture, trying to put the fig
re high.
IN just take you on that. Come on
back to the desk and sign up an agree
nent."
It was done in a few minutes, the
document providing that JOe's services
were sold to John Somerville for one
year from date for 500; that said
Weston bound himself to interfere in
no way with any experimental or
PLANTING operations carried on by said
10Y and J. Somerville and to turn over
our acres fronting on the public road
o said boy and release all rights to any
'rOp the said Joe Weston might make.
Now. Tom Weston I'think for the
asst fifteen years I've heard you COM
'lain that you couldn't get out of debt
md the wonders you would perform
you ever did. According to our
looks, you owe us $1G0, part of it three
ears old. My contract for Joe calls
or 500. I'm going to do better than
hat and pay you $16O. I've wiped off
he books. You don't owe me a cent"
Thank you. sir"
Now. listen You and Joe are even.
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