Connecticut western news., 1919-10-16

the price of old Slop-eye-between them.
 Early next morning he was awake and astir. The recollection of his loss sent sudden pang through his morn ing spirits, but he tried to close his mind to 1t.
 'No use worryin' over that" he said, jingling the few coins that now rep resented his wealth. That's over and first lesson. Maybe it was bad trade, but anyway I ain't goin' to squeal." He whistled as he finished dressing, ate his breakfast cheerfully, and set out in search of employment.
 Almost the first person he met was the stranger who had schooled him in the gambling game the night before. There was something attractive about his personality; something which in- vited friendship and even confidence, and yet beneath these emotions Dave felt sense of distrust, as though part of his nature rebelled against the ac- quaintanceship.
  had last night" the stranger was say ing. q never saw the beat of it. was hopin' you'd stay and raise him next time; you might have got your money back that way"
 "Oh, I don't mind the money!" said Dave, cheerfully. 'T don't want it back. In fact, I figure it was pretty well spent"
 'Lots more where it came from, eh?" laughed the other. "You're from the ranches, I see, and I suppose the price of a. steer or two doesn't worry you a hairs worth"
 ''FrOm is right" Dave replied. '1'm for honeywell, l spent my last nickel for breakfast, so I've got to line up job before noon."
 The stranger extended his hand. "Shake," he said. q like you. You're no squealer, anyway. My name is Con- ward. Yours?"
 Dave told his name and shook hands. Conward offered his cigarette box, and the two smoked for a few moments In silence.
 What kind of job do you want?" Conward asked at length.
 'Any kind that pays a wage" said Dave.
 'T know the fellow that runs an employment agency down here," Con- ward answered. Let's go down. Per haps I can put you in right"
 Conward spoke to the manager of the employment agency and intro duced Dave.
 "Nothing very choice on tap today" said the employment man. "You can handle horses, supposeP
 "I guess I can," said Dave, "some."
 "I can place you delivering coal. Thirty dollars a month, and you board with the boss"
 "I'll take it." said Dave.
 The boss proved to be one Thomas Metford. He owned half a dozen teams and was engaged in the carriage business, specializing on coal. He was man of big frame, big head, and a vocabulary appropriate to the pur- poses to which he applied it. Among his other possessions were a wife, nu- merous children and house and barn, in which he boarded his beasts of bur den, including in the term his horses, his men and his wife, in the order of their valuation. The children were a by-product, valueless until such time as they also would be able to work.
 Dave's duties were simple enough. He had to drive wagon to a coal man, with collar, would express sur prise that he had been so long gone, and tell him to back in under chute number so-and-so. It appeared to be always a matter of great distress to this young man that Dave did not know which chute to back under until he was told. Having backed into po- sltiOn door was opened There was fiction that the coal in the bin should then run into the wagon box, but, as Dave at once discovered, this was merely a fiction. Aside from a few accommodating Jumps near the door the coal had to be shoveled. Then Dave had to drive to an address that was given him, shovel the coal down a chute located in the most inacces- sible position the premises afforded, and return to the coalyard, where the young man with the collar would face tiously inquire whether Mrs. Blank had invited him in to afternoon tea, or if he had been waiting for a change in the weather.
 His work and supper were over by seven o'clock each evening, and now was the opportunity for him to begin the schooling for which he had eft the ranch. But he developed sud den disinclination to make the start; he was tired in the evening, and n found it much more to his liking to stroll downtown, smoke cigar :es on the stree. corners, or engage in an occasional game of pool. In this way