Evening star., 1918-05-26
k@ AY, granny. here's a lot OF
~ yarn for you-got 1t down at
~ courthouse today" The tall

n
courthouse today" The tall
young fellow tossed a great packet OF
gray yarns into the lap of the old
woman.
Courthouse" she echoed. her
wrinkled face lighting. Lanty.
what you doin' there, twenty miles
away, en- what do you want me to
knit
Can you knit gloves en- sweaters
en- things fur soldiers fightin'?"
"Tve done It.. Yes. boy, I know
I'd knit some before onliest we're
too poor to get yarns. What size do
YOU want 'em, Lanty?" she asked.
'Sixe to At me. granny. l might
be q soldier. Make 'em fit me-.
"That's your grandpap's size" she
said slowly, a quaver in her voice.
the war, gloves an 'warmus' to wear
under his soldier coat, but you're
only seventeen, Lanty. en- your fatner
says it amt no use to ask Leave, you
got to stay home an help him.
eustediy. "He's too wuthless to live
he can't do nothin'. Since grandpap
died he's the best shot on the noun
tain; why don't he go en- fight. He's
even aIit tn hunttn no,n ,oms Gasnny dax a0n tell
NJ !
Lanty went on up the rickety steps
to the room under the caves, where
he and fourteen year-old Joe slept.
once there he pulled a drawer from
couple Of stout shirts and the best
Of his very limited wardrobe.
WHATS up. LantyT asked Joe, foi-
lowing closely.
Coin to work someWneres. Was
the enigmatic answer as Lanty rolled
tho ciofhes into the smallest possible
parcel. ,. ,.r,
some IL father hadn't sold the mule.
And spent the money fur nothin'.
That's why nobody will let me have
a mule or horse to plow with. but
mebbe the war will last long enough
so ! can get into the fightin'-if we
don't starve before that. amehoeo
Joe, dejectediy.
Fathers nothin'-rm Ieavin' for
en- bossins" Lanty sauntered down
the steps and out past Granny. under
tn. big n APPLE Sa ne ss She ony wss eonn
ing stitches in the gray glove already
on the needles.
They had always been poor: the most
"shiftless'' family on Wolf Ridge. al
in the center of a fertile clearing
edged with big timber. There were
those on the ridge reminiscent of
how "old man Barnes" made g good
living on the clearing. even after he
at the Hansford big free still"
where Jim. his degenerate son. loafed
his time away. tolerated because he
could draw sure bead" on any sus-
picious object.
"The old man was horse rider In
the army them days" they would say
at the still when Jim shambled away
home. zen wasn't afraid of nothin'.
Whenst he died the best shot on the
mountain was gone. Jim amt like
him-none savin' he kin handle a
Winchester"
Lanty's leisurely pace only lasted until
the trail through the pines shut him off
from the wistful eyes Of the mother in
the smoky kitchen. then he fell into the
swinging stride of the mountaineer with
an objective before him.
where's I.anty keeping himself? Amt
seen him around lately?" his father
asked when Lanty had been gone for
several weeks. where's he working?
His money belongs to me; he amt OF
age"
spiritless voice.
hooted Hes safe sure. He can't 20
to no war-only seventeen I'd go arter
Your pap was seventeen when he
went into the old war. We were married
by the time he was nineteen" Granny
"Jes 60 but II Lanty tries to list in
the army I'll go arter him; will sure
80 arter him en- thrash him good, afore
I drive him home" he ranted in loud.
rough tones that usually came Of help
ing at the free still''
''Lanty air a sizable boy" commented
his wife, in slow. unboastful tones
soldier. en- I'll show him.
You sure have changed from what
you useter be, Jim." was the hopeless
response.
The man stared blankIy at the melan-
choly, brow-beaten woman.
80 air you changed. Annie Anna
mighty heap" he retorted. as he walked
away down the ridge to the free still'
in Black Hollow.
The woman sighed weariIy,
I'VE mostly had enough to eat in
smile. zen Jim had the mule. so we
could put In q bit of corn. Aunt sary
down at the courthouse useter take
some account Of US: now she looks
the other way II she chances to see
one of the boys As for me. she says
look worse'n a beggar."
"Sary is doin' SO well now, because
her men folks have gone to work in
the steel mills. that she's lookin' down
on her Wolf Ridge kin
Granny glanced up from her knit
ting at the boys working the patch
Nth With imn,eyi:sd i;s wooden shevss.:
cemforted. "the boys have grit. en-
you need never trouble about Lanty-
Granny said it over and over again