The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1917-08-01

TICK and CATHY
"Tain't always the eddicated or the

mdIk ID tne story Sne was reading was
cut short by the entrance Of Cathy.
"Sawed-off thing out there askin' fer
Mis- Sherman" she snorted. "When l
'Quired his business he told me to shoot
for the boss, as he didn't treat with
menials. Can 1 order him away2"
mo. Mebbe it's the plumber, an
with leakin' pipes he's a man we can't
worry none. Let him come in"
But it wasn't the plumber
Been lookin' over your place,
ma'am," the caller said affably, as he
advanced into the room. "Shows every
where the need Of a good, handy man
like me. Lucky I got hungry trampin'
an seen this house an come in for a
bite"
rs itT" dryly. Il never give bite
to q tramp"
"Who said giveT Indignantly. Il
work for everything l ask. An / amt
q tramp. I worked in q printin' shop
where I come from, an was thinkin'
OF tnsmithin' at the next town. But
amt farmed in quite long spell, SO
I b'lieve I'd rather 10 that now.
talk" scorned Cathy.
I'm twenty-four, but age amt moth
in. started out at fourteen, maxim
up my mind to be well-rounded in all
trades. That's why I've tried en-"
"Plumbin'2" inquired Aunt 'Lizbeth.
'Three months with bunch of rob-
bers over In the next state"
UnA @.yr
right now" lamented Aunt Lizbeth.
S'pose you could fix it up as a special
Job. me not hirin' you reg'lar?"
But you are hirin' me reg'lar," he
grinned. "Got any tools and things to
mend the pipe with?"
"Cathy'n show you"
The fellow turned and regarded
Cathy as he would an unusual curiosi-
ty, provoking grin on his face.
Pretty stingy on Iooks," he com
mented. "but that amt sayin' she can't
cook, which is the main point"
Aunt 'Lizbeth's lips frightened as the
two went back toward the kitchen
Cathy's angry answer rising high
above the bantering voice of Tick.
II can't have them two in the house
together, even If could afford man
which can't" she thought.
But when dinner came there was NO
Tick.
"Al that starvin' was just talk -
snapped Cathy. "Bet he stole enough
along the road to keep him stuffed all
the time"
did he do the plumbin' job all
right7"
eyes," grudged Cathy, 'Just as goods
the best kind Of plumber could, an in
half the time. When he started off he
said he was goin' to look the farm all
over to find out what it could do an
what needed bein' done most"
They waited supper for him q half
hour before he slipped in, tired, but
bright-eyed.
WELL" helping himself literally to
fried eggs and ham. ~ guess I've left
my footprints pretty well over the sands
an loans Of this farm. I got 1t all
planned out"
I'm afraid l sha'n't be able to-
began Aunt 'Lizbeth, when he went OF
calmly:
Its that big twenty-acre lot south
OF the house. It's fine, level, rich
ground, but amt been cropped In three
years, should judge by the weeds II
amt no use to you. Here's the way
hgger 1t. I got the farmin bee in m,
bonnet, hard. I'll take the big lot an
farm 1t on sheers. half an half. I'll
spend half my time on the lot, an the
other half workin' for you round the
place, croppin', tinkerin' an maxim q
good garden. Suit2"
1-guess so. But l been irwin to
sell that twenty acres to Mr.. Bush of
the farm beyond. / ask one Thousand
dollars, and he offers only eight hun
dred dollars. I'd hate for you TO git
In a crop an then SELL"
Spose you give me thirty days
option" considered Tick.
"All right" acceded Aunt Iizbetb
Thirty days later, Tick entered Aunt
Llzbeth's room with brisk, business.
like air. Cathy followed him to tbe
door with an embarrassed self-con.
sciousness she had never shown no.
fore.
why, Cathy," Aunt Lizbeth called
at sight OF her. where have you been
all this afternoOn?"
she drove into town with me-" an.
swered Tick for her. 1--WE got married
an got the money"
Got married-you2" echoed Aunt
'Lizbeth, feebly. "Why, you've hated
each other"
Has seemed that way" assented
Tick. But 1 been lyin' to you right
along, In concealin' way, Mis- Liz
beth. What really come in here for
was to study Cathy-though she didn't
know NV prand-6od ,,o.