The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-06-20

In the morning ne Degnn MS my
cutting. About eleven o'clock he threw
down his scythe and stnlked to the
house.
"Put on your hat, and let's go inves-
tigate 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 known" Bill
laughed. "Ive 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 chaff Bill about too
vivid Imagination when within halt
mile Of the clearing he pulled his horse
up short In the middle Of little
meadow.
Look |"
The track Of a broad-tlred 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 Ak work. Looks like
they'd been hauling poles. Let's fol-
low this track ways"
The tiny meadow was frlnged on
the north by grove of poplars. 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 glarlng yellow
in the sun. and lifting an earth-covered
roof to the autumn sky. Bill whistled
softly.
Along the west side Of the meadow
ran u brown Streak of sod, and down
one side Of this a man guided the han
dies of plow drawn by the strangest
yokemates Hazel's eyes had seen for
many day.
"For goodness sakew she eI-
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 a mule and COW. That's adap-
tation to environment with venge-
ance-and grit"
There's IL woman, too, Bill. And
see-she's carrying baby?" Hazel
pointed excltedly. "Oh, BIZ"
The man halted his strangely assort-
ed team to watch them come. The
woman stood step outside the door,
a baby in her arms, another toddler
holding fast to her skirt. A thick
bodied, short, square-sh0uldered man
was this newcomer, with round,
pleasant face.
"Hello, neighbor !" Bill greeted.
The plowman lifted his old felt hat
courteously. His face lit up.
"Ach!' said he. "Neighbor. Dot
iss goot word in dss country we're
dere iss no neighbor.' But | 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
cabin about half 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. 81 half saw dot cabin ven We
come here. But / dlnk 1t vass aban-
don. Veil, let us to der house go.
Id will rest der mule-und Gretchen,
der COW. Hah"
He rolled blue eye on his incon.
gruOus team, and grlnned 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. 1t
lay peacefully In her arms, staring
wide-eyed. making soft, gurgly sounds.
"The little dear!" Hazel mur-
INJURED.
"Lauer, our name iss," the man said
casually, when they were seated.
"Wagstaff, mine ls," Bill completed
the informal Introduction.
II am from Bavaria" Lauer told
him. "vill you smoke? l light mine
blbe-mlt your vlfe's permission.
"Yes," he continued, stufiing the
bowl Of his pipe with stubby fore
finger. ~ am from Bavaria. Dere l
vass upon farm brought oop. / serf
In der army my dime. Den Amerigo.
Dere marry my wife, who Is born In
Milwaukee. / work In der big brew
cries. Alder dot I learn to be car
penter. Now am kink, NIT castle
all mine own. / am no more wage
SLATE"
you're on the right track" Bill nod
ded. "It's pity more people don't
take the same notion. What do you
think Of this country, anywayT
1T iss goot," Lauer answered brief
ly, and with unhesitating certainty.
ut lss goot. vor der boor man 1t ISIS
1t iss salfation. Nit flfe huntret toll
lars und hiss two haDts he can him
self home make-und q llfing be
sure off"
Beside Hazel, Lauer's wife absent
ly caressed the blond head of her
four-year-old daughter.
"No, don't think I'll ever get lone
some," she said. I'm too glad to be
here. And I've got lots Of work and
my babies. OF course, it's natural I'd
f,tn in