Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-01-18

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 herer'
He held ore soft hand up for inspec,
ton. There were faint red welts still
visible across the finger joints.
Friend Of yours, did you say?'
Without stopping to think about it
Caleb was not so keen to enlarge upon
the boys obvious points" as he had
been with Sarah. He omitted to men
ton 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
er's first view of the city his breath
less reception of Allison's own switch
engine and his avowed intention to
'1ook around a trif1e' before he located
something to do.
81 thought I'd take him down this
morning and get Mclean to give him
ride in the cab of one Of those sheet
iron steam relics of yours" he fin
ished
If Caleb had expected his unadorned
recita ton of the boys appearance to
make any impression upon his nearer
he would have been disop poin5ed. But
without any confessed reason for SO
doing Caleb aimed rather at the oppo-
site effect And Allison turned from Il
with large. matter Of fact indiffer-
ence to rise and bow 10 Sarah Hunter
who appeared that moment in the door
way
"Surely-surely," he echoed Caleb's
suggestion '"Take him down and give
him ride. Mclean II be glad of the
chance to show some one his pet buzz
saws and things. I'll walk down with
you myself after breakfast. / may be
away for a day or two, and l want to
leave directions for changes to be in
corporated while I'm gone"
At the table that morning Caleb not
Steve's selection from the silver beside
his plate, no waiting to follow in the
lead Of Sarah Hunters choice. He no.
ticed. too, that the boys eyes did not
once lift 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 renaonstrances had
finally brought stormy tears to her
eyes Allison surrendered In perplexity
to her whim
Gail right, them" he gave in. eff
you want to come as much as all that
but-but you-now, run along, then,
with Stephen"
On the way down the hill he voiced
his perplexity TO Caleb.
"When it comes to dealing with
men," he said. Il 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
ison was not accustomed to inatten-
ton. Caleb smiled rather covert1y for
him.
II never knew but one woman whose
motives were absolutely Transparent
he mused 'And she-she was the
most uninteresting unsuccessful fe-
male person I 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
er long, keen scrutiny of the boys
face, the burIy riverman led the way
without word to a wheeling old two
wheeler in the piling yard.
$50 you'll be wantin' to take spin
in one av me ingines, is it?'' he asked
then, and after moment, AN do you
think you'll be able to hang on whin
she gets to r-rollin'?'
SteVe's eyes were like bits of polish T
ed steel, 50 bright they were. It was
a struggle for him to take them even
for moment from the engine before
him.
81 carlate kim" he quavered-
swell, thin, Wen see." Mclean look