The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-03

Bart, I've some wheat to b
| thrashed in the barn on the back lot
said the senator as I was IeavinI
them "YOu can do it Saturdays, i
you care to, at a shilling an hour
Stack the straw out of doors unit
you've finished, then put it back in the
bay. WinnOw the wheat carefully and
sack 1t and bring it down to the gran
airy and I'll settle with you when
return"
remember that a number of mer
who worked in Grimshaw's sawmII
were passing as he spoke.
Eyes. sir" I answered, much elated
by the prospect of earning money.
The examination Of Amos was sci
down for Monday and the people OF
the village were stirred and shaken
by widest rumOrs regarding the evil
dence to be adduced. Every day men
and women stopped me in the street
to ask what I knew of the murder. ]
followed the advice of Bishop Per
kins and kept my knowledge to myself.
Saturday came, and when the chores
were done I went alone to the grain
barn in the back lot of the senator's
and fork and shovel and sacks and my
luncheon, in a pushcart, with all of
which Mrs. Wright had provided me.
1t was a lonely place with woods
on three sides of the field and a road
on the other. I kept laying down
beds OF wheat On the barn floor and
beating them out with the fail until
the sun was well over the roof, when
sat down to eat my luncheon. Then
L swept up the grain and winnowed
out the chaff and filed one Of my
sacks. That done, 1 covered the floor
again and the thump of the fail eased
my loneliness until in the middle of
the afternoon two of my schoolmates
with them. The river was not forty
rods away and a good trail led to the
swimming hole It was warm, bright
day and 1 was hot ard thirsty. The
thought of cool waters and friendly
cCmpanionship was too much for me.
went with them and stayed with
them longer than 1 intended. I re-
member saying as I dressed that I
should have to work late and go with
out my supper in order to finish my
stint.
1t was almost dark when I was put
ting the last sack of wheat into my
cart, in the gloomy barn and getting
ready to go.
A rustling in the straw where I
stood stopped me suddenly. I heard
stealthy footsteps in the darkness.
stood my ground and demanded:
''Who's there?T
saw a form approaching in the
gloom with feet as noiseless as cats
took a step backward and, seeing
that it was a woman, stopped.
Its Kate" came in a hoarse .whis-
per as recognized her form and staff
run, boy-they have just come out
D. the woods. 1 saw them. They will
take you away Run
She had picked up the fail, and now
she put it in my hands and gave me
4 push toward the door. I ran, and
none too quickly, for 1 had not gone
fifty feet from the barn in the stubble
when L heard them coming after me.
whoever they were. l saw that they
we're gaining and turned quickly. I
had time to raise my fail and bring Il
Town upon the head of the leader,
who fell as had seen a beef fail IN
Ter the ak. Another man stopped be-
vond the reach of my fail and, after
seconds hesitation. turned and ran
away in the darkness.
1 could hear or see no other motion
n the field. I turned and ran on
Town the slope toward the village. In
l moment 1 saw someone coming out
)S the maple grove at the fields end,
ust ahead. with a lantern.
Then heard the voice of the school
haster saying:
as it you, my lad?"
Eyes" 1 answered, as I came up to
lin and Mary, in a condition of
)reathless excitement.
I told them of the curious adventure
had had.
''Come quick" said the schoolmas-
er. Lets go back and find the man
n the STUMBLE
I remembered that I had struck the
oath in my fight just before stopping