Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-03-21
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TICK and CATHY
"'Tain't always the eddicated or the


The finishing OF Aunt 'Lizbeth's re-
mark to the story she was reading was
cut short by the entrance of Cathy.
"Sawed-off thing out there askin' fer
Mis- Sherman" she snorted. when
quired his business he told me to shoot
for the boss, as he didn't treat with
menials. Can order him away"
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 q good, handy man
like me. Lucky got hungry trampin'
an seen this house an come in for a
bite"
"Is it?" dryly. 81 never give bite
to tramp"
"Who said give?" Indignantly. u
work for everything ask. An l amt
tramp. l worked in printin' shop
where l come from, an was thinkin'
of tinsmithin' at the next town. But
1 amt farmed in quite long spell, so
l b'lieve I'd rather do that now.
"Must be mighty old, the way you
talk" scorned Cathy.
"I'm twenty-four, but age ain't moth
in. ! started out at fourteen, maxim
up my mind to be well-rounded in oil
trades. That's why I've tried en-
1Plumbin'?" inquired Aunt 'Lizbeth'
'aThree months with a bunch Of rob-
hers over in the next state"
Waters drippin' in my kitchen
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?"
"Cathyll show you"
The fellow turned and regarded
Cathy as he would an unusual curiosi-
ty, q provoking grin on his face.
"Pretty stingy on looks 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.
81 can't have them two in the house
together, even If 1 could afford q man.
which I can't" she thought.
But when dinner came there was nc
Tick.
"All that starvln 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
right?"
eyes," grudged Cathy. "just as goods
the best kind Of plumber could, an in
half the time. When he started of 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 half
hour before be slipped in, tired, but
bright-eyed.
WELL" helping himself literally to
fried eggs and ham, II guess I've left
my footprints pretty well over the sands
an loans Of this farm. l got it all
planned out"
"I'm afraid sha'n't be able to-
began Aunt 'Lizbeth, when he went or
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
fgger it. I got the farnin' bee in my
bonnet, hard. I'll take the big lot an
farm it on sheers, half an half. II
spend half my time on the lot, an tht
other half workin' for you round the
place, croppin', tinkerin' an maxim {
good garden. Suitf"
"I-guess so. But ] been tryin' t
sell that twenty acres to Mr.. Bush ot
the farm beyond. / ask one thousant
dollars, and he offers only eight hun
dred dollars. I'd hate for you to gi
in a crop an then SELL"
"S'pose you give me thirty days
| option" considered Tick.
"AIl right" acceded Aunt 'Lizbeth
Thirty days later, Tick entered Aun
'Lizbeth's room with a brisk, business
like air. Cathy followed him to th'
door with an embarrassed self-con
sciousneSs she had never shown be
fore.
"Why. Cathy," Aunt 'Lizbeth called
at sight Of her. where have you beer
| all this afternoon?"
"She drove into town with me-" an
swered Tick for her. "We got married
an got the money"
"Got married-you?" echoed Aun
'Lizbeth, feebly. "Why, you've hatet
each other"
"Has seemed that way" assentet
Tick. "But ! been lynn to you righ