The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-04
CHAPTER Iv-continued.

angel il is that sometimes drops IN
expected favors, designed that young
EIden should the following day deliver
coal at the home of Mr.. Melvin Dun
can. Mr.. Duncan, tall, quiet and forty
five, was at work in his garden as
Dave turned the team In the lane and
backed them up the long, narrow drive
connecting with the family coal chute.
AS the heavy wagon moved straight
to it's objective Mr.. Duncan looked on
with approval that heightened into
admiration. Dave shOyeled his load
without remark, but as he stood for
a moment at the finish, wfping the
sweat from his coal-grimed face, Mr..
Duncan engaged him in conversation.
'You handle team like you were
born to it," he said. where did you
get the knack?"
''Well, I came up On a ranch" said
Dave. "I've lived with horses ever
since I could remember"
you're a rancher, eh?" queried the
older man. "Well, there's nothing like
the range and the open country. If
could handle horses like you there
isn't anything would hold me in town.
"Oh, don't know" Dave answered
''You might get sick of it,"
did you get sick of it,"
Eden shot a keen glance at him
The conversation was becoming per
sonal. Yet there was in Mr.. Duncan's
manner a certain kindness, a certain
appeal of sincere personality, that dis
armed suspicion.
'Yes, got sick OF it." he said. 81
lived on that ranch eighteen years
and never was inside school or church
Wouldn't that make you sick?
So beat it for town."
And 1 suppose you are attending
church regularly now, and night
school, too?"
Dawes quick temper fired up in re
sentiment, but again the kindness OF
the mans manner disarmed him. He
was silent for a moment, and then he
said:
mo, amt. That's what makes me
sick now. I came in here intendin' to
get an education, an I've never got
even a start at it, exceE' for some
things perhaps wasn't worth the
money. There always seems to be
somethin' elSe-in ahead"
There always will be-" said Mr.
Duncan, until you start
But how's It to be done?" Dave
questioned with returning interest
schools an books cost money, an ]
never save q dollar"
"And never WILL" said Mr.. Duncan
until you start. But I think I see a
plan that might help, and if it appeals
to you it will also be a great conven-
fence to me. My wife likes to go driv-
ing Sundays, and sometimes on a
weekday evening, but have so many
things on hand find it hard to get
out with her. My daughter used to
drive, but these new-fangled automo-
biles are turning the world upside
dOwn-and many a buggy with it
Well-as I saw you driving in here ]
said to myself, There's the man fol-
that job of mine, if 1 can get him :;
but I'm not rich and I couldn't pay
you regular wages. But if 1 couIo
square the account by helping with
your studies a couple of nights a
week. used to teach school and
haven't altogether forgotten why
that would be just what / want. What
do you say?"
ST never saw anything on four feet
I couldn't drive" said Dave, IAN If
you're willing to take a chance 1 am
When do we start?'
First lesson tonight. Second les.
son Thursday night. First drive Sun.
day." Mr.. Duncan did not explain
that he wanted to know the boy better
before the drives commenced, and he
felt that two nights together would
satisfy him whether he had found the
right man.
Dave hurried back to the coalyard
and completed the days work in high
spirits. 1t seemed he was at last
started on a road that might lead
somewhere. After supper he sur
prised his fellow laborers by changing
to his Sunday clothes and starting
down street leading into the residen
tial part of the town. There were
SpeculatiOns that he had 'seen 8
skirt"
Mr.. Duncan met him at the door and
showed him into the living room
Mrs. Duncan. plump, motherIy, low
able in the mature womanliness OF
forty, greeted him cordially. She wa.
sorry Edith was out; Edith had a ten
mis- engagement She was APPARENT,
deeply interested in the young maj
who was TO be her coachman. Dav,
had never been in a home ike this
and his eyes, unaecustomed to com
Portable furnishings, appraised then
as luxury. He soon found himself talk
| ing with Mrs. Duncan about horses
and then about his old life on tn,
ranch. and then about coming to town
Almost before he knew it he had toll,
her about Reenie Hardy, but he ha,
checked himself In time. And Mrs
Duncan had noticed 1t. without com
ment, and realized that her guest wa