The Prescott daily news., 1917-02-02
H.a.a.a.s.a.a.a.n.,s..-,,,s,.,
TICK AND 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?"
 "No. Mebbe it's the plumber, an with leakin' pipes he's 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 good, handy man like me. Lucky got hungry trampin' an seen this house an come in for a bite."
 "ls it2" dryly. "l never give a bite to tramp"
 "Who said give?' indignantly. "l work for everything l ask. An ain't a tramp. l worked in a printin' shop where l come from, an was thinkin' of tinsmithin' at the next town. But ain't farmed in quite long spell. so l blieve I'd rather do that now.
 "Must be mighty old, the way you talk" scorned Cathy.
 I'm twenty-four, but age ain't noth- 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- bers 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'lar?"
 But you are hlrin' me reg'lar," he grinned. "Got any tools and things to mend the pipe with?"
 "Cathy'll show you"
 The fellow turned and regarded Cathy as he would an unusual curiosl- ty, provoking grin on his face.
 Pretty stingy on looks," he com mented, but that ain't sayin' she cant 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.
 'l can't have them two in the house together, even if I could afford a man, which l can't" she thought.
 But when dinner came there was no Tick.
 All 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 right?"
 "Yes," grudged Cathy. just as good S 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 a half hour before he slipped in. tired. but bright-eyed.
 Well" helping himself literally to fried eggs and ham, "I guess I've left my footprints pretty well over the sands an loans of this farm. got 1t all planned out"
 I'm afraid 1 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 ain't been cropped in three years, 1 should judge by the weeds It ain't no use to you. Here's the way 1 figger 1t. 1 got the farmin' bee in my 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', tinkern' an maxim a good garden. Sult?"
 'I-guess so. But l been tryin' to sell that twenty acres to Mir. Bush of the farm beyond. l ask one thousand dollars, and he offers only eight hun dred dollars. I'd hate for you to git in q crop an then sell"
 "S'pose you give me q thirty days option," considered Tick.
 All right" acceded Aunt Lizbeth.
 Thirty days later, Tick entered Aunt 'Lizbeth's room with a brisk, business like air. Cathy followed him to the 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 been all this afternoonf"
 "She drove into town with me-" an swered Tick for her. "We got married, an got the money"
 "Got marrled-you?" echoed Aunt q Iizhnfh faehlY "Whv Nnuiye hated