The Wahpeton times., 1917-02-01
:; TICK AND cA1HY
.T.,n't always The eddicated o. TIE

well u-dre4Sed that
The finishing Of Aunt 'Lizbeth's r.
mark to the story she vas reading vas
cut short By the entrance Of Cathy.
"Sawed-o6 thing out there askin' ter
Mis- Sherman" she snorted. when
'quired bis business he told me to shoot
for the boss, as be didn't treat with
nenials. Can order him away:
NO. Mebbe it's the plumber. an
with ieakin' pipes he's man We can't
woTy none. Let bin come in"
But 1t wasn't the plumber
."Been lookin' over your place.
ma'am," the caller said affably, as be
advanced into the room. Shows every.
where the need Of good. handy man
like me. Lucky got hungry trampin'
an seen this house an come in for q
bite"
rs it," dryly. II never give q bite
to tramp"
who said gve?" Indignantly. II
work for everything I ask. An amt
tramp. worked in a printin' shop
where come from. an was thinkin'
Of tinsmithin' at the next town. But
l amt farned 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 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':" inquired Aunt 'Lizbeth.
Three months with bunch of rob-
oers over in the next state"
Waters drippin' in my kitchen
right now" lamented Aunt Lizbeth.
s'pose you could fix 1t up as a special
Job. me not hirin' you reg'larT
"But you are hirin' me reg'lar," be
Trinned. "Got any tools and things to
mend the pipe with:"
"Cathy'll show yon."
The fellow turned and regarded
cathy as he would an unusual curiosi.
y, a provoking grin ON his face.
"Pretty stingy on looks" he com.
nented. but that amt sayin' she can't
:ook. which Is the main point"
Aunt 'Lizbeth's lips ughtened as the
two went back toward the kitchen.
cathy's angry answer rising high
above the bantering voice Of Tick.
Il can't have them two In the house
together. even If l could afford man.
which can't" she thought.
| pp,f xx,hnp s1iorn,
Tick.
"All that starvin' was Just talk, n
snapped Cathy. bet he stole enough
along the road to keep him stuffed all
The time"
did he do the plumbin' Job all
.ight?"
"Yes." grudged Cathy. "just as goods
The best kind Of plumber could, an in
bali the time. When he started off he
said ne was g0in' 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
aour before he slipped in, tired, but
oright-eyed.
"Well." helping himself literally to
Tried eggs and ham. II guess I've left
ny footprints pretty well over the sands
an loans Of this farm. got It al;
planned out"
TLn afraid ! sha'n't be able to-
began Aunt LiZbeth. when he went on
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. It
amt no use to you. Here's the way I
hgger 1t. ! got the farrnin' bee In nv
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 a
good garden. Suit?"
"l-guess SO. But 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 crop an then SELL"
Spose you give me thirty days'
option" considered Tick.
"All right" acceded Aunt 'Lizbeth.
Thirty days later. Tick entered Aunt
Lizbeth's room with q brisk, business.
like air. Cathy followed him to the
ooor with an embarrassed self-con.
seriousness she had never shown be.
fore.
"Why, Cathy." Aunt Lizbeth chilled
at sight of her. 'where have you been
all this afternOon?"
"She drove into town with me-" an.
swered Tick for her. I'VE got married
an got the money"
Got married-you?" echoed Ann,
Lzbeth. feebly. "Why. you've hated
each other"
"lias seemed that way" assented
lick. But been Iyin' to you right
h'ons' in conrcalin' way, Mis- Liz.
beth. What ! really come in here for
was TO study Cathy-though she didn,t
KNOW. My graud-tlad was her grand.
ua0-n-law or Suinethinv no. IL.