The diamond drill., 1919-02-22
damp and wFiaKIed. Mr.. HdcKet came
70 my room before had risen.


than ON a nail In the closet" said he.
"Sure they give no comfort to the
nail at all"
II guess mine are dry now," I an
swered.
'They're wet and heavy, boy. No
son o. Baldur could keep light heart
In them. Sure ye'd be as much out
o. place as sunbeam in cave o.
bats. II We care not for your own
comfort think o. the poor lad In the
green chair. He's that proud and
pleased 10 see them on We IL would be
a shame TO reject his offer. Sure. IL
they were dry yer own garments
would be good enough, God knows,
but Michael Henry loves the look o.
ye In these togs, and then the presi-
dent is In town."
That evening he discovered big
stain. black as Ink. on my coat and
trousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed the
opinion that IL might have come from
the umbrella, but am quite sure that
he had spotted them to save me from
the last homemade suit ever wore,
save In rough work, and keep Michael
Henry's on my back. In any event I
wore them no more save at chore time.
Sally came and went. with the Wills
boy, and gave no heed 10 me. In her
eyes / had no more substance than
ghost, II seemed to me, although /
caught her, often, looking ut me. 1
judged that her father had given her
bad report of us and had some re-
! grets, In spite Of my knowledge that
we were right, although they related
mostly 10 Amos.
Next AFTERNOON / saw Mr.. Wright
and the president walking back and
forth on the bridge as they talked
together. A number OF men stood in
front of the blacksmith shop, by the
river shore. watching them, as I
passed. on my way TO the mill on an
errand. The two statesmen were In
broadcloth and white linen and beaver
hats. They stopped as approached
| them.
"Well, partner, we shall be leaving
in an hour or So" said Mr.. Wright as
he gave me his hand. "You may look
! for me here soon after the close OF the
session. Take care OF yourself and 20
often TO see Mrs. Wright and obey
your captain and remember me TO your
aunt and uncle"
"See that you keep coming, my good
boy" said the president as he gave me
his hand, with playful reference, no
doubt, TO Mr.. Wrights remark that /
was coming man.
Bart. I've some wheat TO be
/ thrashed in the barn on the back lot"
said the senator as / was leaving
them. "You can do Il Saturdays, il
YOU care to, at shilling an hour.
| Stack the straw out OF doors until
you've finished, then put II back In the
/ bay. Winnow the wheat carefully and
sack II and bring IL down to the gran
ary and I'll settle with you when
return"
! remember that a number OF men
who worked In Grimshaw's sawmill
were passing as he spoke.
"Yes, sir" | answered, much elated
by the prospect of earning money.
1
| down for Monday and the people OF
| the village were stirred and shaken
| by widest rumors regarding the evi-
dence to be adduced. Every day men
| and women stopped me in the street
10 ask what l knew of the murder.
followed the advice OF Bishop Per-
kIns and kept my knowledge TO myself.
/ lot H., a.
were done | went alone 10 the grain
barn In the back lot of the senator's
farm with flail and measure and broom
and fork and shovel and sacks and my
luncheon. IN pushcart, with all OF
which Mrs Wright had provided me.
II was a lonely place with woods
on three sides OF the field and road
on the other. l 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 10 eat my luncheon. Then
| swept up the grain and winnowed
out the chaff and filed one OF my
sacks. That done, covered the floor
; again and the thump Of the fail eased
my loneliness until In the middle or
the afternoon two OF my schoolmates
came and asked me TO 20 swimming
with them. The river was not forty
rods away and a good trail led 10 the
swimming hole. 1t was warm, bright
day and I was hot and thirsty. The
thought OF cool waters and friendly
companlonship was too much for me.
went with them and stayed with
them longer than | Intended. re-
member sayins as / dressed that
should have TO work late and go with
out my supper In order TO finish my
stint.
II was almost dark when i was put
ting the last sack OF wheat into my
cart. In the gloomy barn and getting
ready 10 20.
A rustllng I'm the straw where
stood stopped me suddenly. l heard
stealthy footsteps In the darkness. 1
stood my ground and demanded: