The Ozark spectator., 1916-08-11
CHAPTER VII.
The SpsctacIed Roadman's Advsntur,

NOu dLt HSlhhltu HI Oh ail
 in a patch of land there is only
 one chance of escape-you must
 stay ill the patch and let your enemies search it and not find you. That was good sense, but how on earth was l to escape notice in that table cloth of place?
 l would have buried myself to the neck in mud and lain below water or climbed the tallest tree. But there was not stick of wood, the bog holes were little puddles, the stream was a slender tricke There was nothing but short heather and bare hill bent and the white highway.
 Then in a tiny blight of road beside & heap of stones l found the roadman. He had just arrived and was wearily dinging down his hammer. He stared at me with tishy eyes, yawning.
 "Confoond the day 1 ever left the herdin'!' he said as if to the world at large. There 1 was my ain maister Now, Pm slave to the government tethered to the roadside, wi sair cen and back like suckle.'
 He took mp the hammer, struck a stone, dropped the implement with an oath and put both hands to his ears Mercy op me! My heid's burstin'r he cried.
 He was wild figure, about my own size. but much bent. with a weeks beard on his chin and a pair of big horn spectacles.
 "I canna dae't." he cried again "The surveyor maun just report me I'm for my bed"
 I asked him what was the trouble though indeed that was clear enough.
 '"rhe trouble is that I'm no sober Last nicht my dochter, Merran, was waddit, and they danced till flower In the byre Me and some ither chiels sat down to the drinkin'-and here I am Peety that I ever looktt on the wine when 1t was redp'
 agreed with him about bed
 Its easy speakin'," he moaned But I get a postcaird yestereen say in that the new road surveyor would be round the day. He'll come, and he'll no find me, or else he'll find me fou, and either way I'm done man. I'll ava back to my bed and say I'm no weel, but I doot that'll no help me. for they ken my kind O no weelness." Then I had an inspiration. Does the new surveyor know youT' l asked. No him He's just been a week a the job. He rins about in q wee motor car and wad speir the inside oot O whelk"
 "Where's your houseY' l asked, and was directed by wavering finger to the cottage by the stream
 "Well, back to your bed" I said, ''and sleep in peace. I'll take on your job for a bit and see the surveyor
 He stared at me blankly; then. as the notion dawned on his fuddled brain his face broke into the vacant drunkard's smile.
 You're the billyr' he cried. "Itll be easy eneuch managed. I've finish ed that ping O stanes so you needen chap ony mair this forenoon. Just take the barry and wheel eneuch metal frae yon quarry doon the road to make antther ping the morn.
 My HaHle AleAduueT lruiulult and I've been seeven year at the trade and twenty afore that herdin' on Lei then water My freends ca me Ecky and whlles Specky, for I wear glasses bein' weak I the sicht Just you speak the surveyor fair and ca him sir, and he'll be fell pleased. I'll be back or midday"
 I borrowed his spectacles and filthy old hat; stripped off coat, waistcoat and collar and gave him them to carry home: borrowed, too, the foul stump of clay pipe as an extra property.
 He indicated my simple task and without more ado set off at an amb backward. Bed may have been his chic. object, but l think there was also something left In the foot of a bottle. prayed that he might be safe under cover before my friends arrived on the scene.
 Then I set 10 work to dress for the part.
 I opened the collar of my shirt--it was vulgar blue and white check