Middletown transcript., 1918-07-20

would be out Of tune, and It would be
good-by happiness. But think know
the cure for your malady."
In the morning he began his hay
cutting. About eleven o'clock he threw
down his scythe and stalked to the
house.
PUT on your hat, and let's 60 inves-
tigate a mystery" said he. II heard
a COW bawl in the woods minute
ago. A regular barnyard below"
"A cow bawling?" she echoed
"Sure? What would cattle be doing
away up here?"
That's what want to 'know?" Bill
laughed. 1--WE never seen cow north
Of Fraser-not this side Of the Rockies,
anyway"
They saddled their horses, and rode
out in the direction from whence had
arisen the bovine complaint. The
sound was not repeated, and Hazel
had begun to chaf Bill about too
vivid imagination when within q half
mile Of the clearing he pulled his horse
up short in the middle Of a little
meadow.
'LOOk!"
The track of broad-tired wagon
had freshly crushed the thick grass.
Bill sQuinted at the trail, then his
gaze swept the timber beyond.
"Somebody has been cutting timber
over there" he enlightened. II can
see the fresh az work. Looks like
they'd been hauling poles. Let's fol-
low this track a ways"
The tiny meadow was fringed on
the north by grove of roplars. Be
yond that lay another clear space Of
level land, perhaps forty acres in ex-
tent. They broke through the belt Of
pOplars-and pulled up again. On one
side of the meadow stood cabin, the
fresh-peeled log walls glazing yellow
in the sun, and lifting an earth-c0vered
roof to the autumn sky. Bill whistled
softly.
Along the west side of the meadow
ran a brown streak of sod, and down
one side of this man guided the ham
dies of a pillow drawn by the strangest
yOkemates Hazel's eyes had seen for
many a day. .....
"For goodness sake!" she ex-
claimed.
THAT'S the true pioneer spirit for
you," Bill spoke absently. He has
bucked his way into the heart Of a
virgin country, and he's breaking sod
with mule and COW. That's adap-
tation to environment with a venge-
ance-and grit" -
'There's T. woman, too, Bill. And
see-she's carrying a baby?" Hazel
pointed excitedly. "Oh, Bill"
The man halted his strangely assert
ed team to watch them come. The
woman stood a step outside the door,
a baby in her arms, another toddler
holding fast to her skirt. A thick
bodied, short, square-shOuldered man
was this newcomer, with a round,
pleasant face.
"Hello, neighbor !" Bill greeted.
The plowman lifted his old felt hat
courteously. His face lit up.
ZACH" said he. "Neighbor. Dot
ISIS a goot word in diss country we're
dere ISIS no neighbor. But I am glat
to meet you. VIII you come do der
house und rest v'ile?"
"Sure!" Bill responded. But we're
neighbors, all right. Did you notice
a cabin about half a mile west Of
here? That's our place-when we're
at home"
"So?" The word escaped with the
peculiar rising infection of the Teu-
ton. Il half saw dot cabin ven We
come here. But dink it vass aban-
don. Veil, let us to der house 60.
Id will rest der mule-und Gretchen,
der COW. Hah!"
He rolled blue eye on his incon.
gruous team, and grinned widely.
"Come," he invited; mine wife be
glat."
They found her matron of thirty
odd; fresh-cheeked, round-faced like
her husband, typically German, with
out his accent of the Fatherland. Ha-
eel at once appropriated the baby. It
lay peacefully in her arms, staring
wide-eyed. making soft, gurgly sounds.
1.-THE little dear" Hazel muir
INJURED.
"Lauer, our name iss," the man said
casually, when they were seated.
"Wagstaff, mine Is" Bill completed
the informal Introduction.
II am from Bavaria" Lauer told
him. "vill you smoke? I light mine
bibe-mit your vife's permission.
Eyes," he continued. stufing the
bowl Of his pipe with a stubby fore
finger, II am from Bavaria. Dere I
vass upon farm brought oop. serf
In der army my dime. Den AmerigO.
Dere marry my wife. who Is born In
I work in der big brew
cries. Alder dot I learn to be car
penter. Now I am Rink, NIT castle
all mine own. l am no more wage
slafe."
you're on the right track Bill nod
ded. tits pity more people don't
take the same notion. What do you
think Of this country, anyway"
1T iss goot," Lauer answered brief
", and with unhesitating certainty.
1T ISIS goOt. VOr der bOor man it ISIS
it ISIS salfation. Nit fife huntret toll
lars und hiss two hants he can him
self home make-und lifing be
sure Off"
Beside Hazel, Lauer's wife absent
ly caressed the blond head of her
daughter.
mo. don't think I'll ever get lone
some." she said. I'm too glad to be
horo And Two rnf 1o<e ~ xyorL or1 |