Graham guardian., 1919-12-05
The Handy Man
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright, 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.)

Olu LeD Darrell StOOu NJ tne cuTU,
his pipe, just filed, between his lips,
an unlighted match in his hand. Its
sulphured end was pressed down upon
the edge of the iron-bound wheel of a
stationary buggy. AS its driver start
ed up, the match flared, Zeb ignited
the tobacco, uttered sigh Of comfort
at having been spared all eXertion by
cleverly utilizing q convenient source
Of friction, and was hailed by a by
stander, who smiled at the action
which fully disclosed the indolent
qualities of the old man.
Looking for a handy man, Per-
kins,' spoke Zeb. "You don't happen
to know one, do your"
"Why, there's Joe Lott, the carpen-
ter, and his old helper, who started In
for himself doing odd jobs" but Zeb
shook his head dissentingly.
"Plutocrats, with their extravagant
charges" he declared. "You see, the
old place is pretty nigh going to rack
and ruin. The porch Is wobbly, half
the front cornice is hanging loose and
| one edge of the kitchen lost its under
pinning last night In the big blow and
runs down hill like an Ice slide. No,
what I'm looking for is some handy
fellow who will put In about two
weeks tinkeripg around and mending
up odds and ends for his keep, and
mebbe little extra"
"Why, come to think of II, perhaps
can help you out" said Zeb's compan-
ion. unless he's through with his
work up at the house, he's there now
likely, honest seeming young fellow,
who came along last evening and of.
fered to fix up the fences for bed
and his meals"
''I'll 60 right down to your place and
see him. said Zeb, eagerly, III was
spry as / used to be I'd fix things
UP myself"
Ward Evans, for so the handy man
called himself, had just finished one
task and was ready for another He
listened to the story of his prospective
employer, readily tracing his niggardll.
ness, but finally engaging to put In his
time at the Darrell place on reason
able basis of compensation.
" seem to have natural knack for
tinkering" he explained to Zeb. "You
furnish the tools and material and I'll
do the rest"
II should think he had knack, as
| he calls III" observed Nettie Darrell
to her father week later, and she
glanced admiringly at the ramshackly
house. Ward Evans had won her lik-
| ing magically quick. In the first place
| he was good looking, and smiling, jok-
ing, saying pleasant, cheering things
half Of the time He worked without
censing all day long and had an eye
for every loose shlngle and tapping
board. He practically rebuilt the
house, the sheds, the walks the fences.
There was some loose plastering and
he made 1t tight. Two grlmy rooms he
repapered, Strengthened up the porch,
propped up the sunken kitchen and
suggested that coat Of paint would
make the old place look like new.
Evans had a flute he played eve-
nings, and he was an expert In its mu.
steal possibilities. Regularly he gave
his host and his daughter concert.
But II was in his narration Of his va
ried career that he particularly inter.
ested them. He had been a circus
rider, manager of ranch political
orator and superintendent Of logging
camp. He loved to refer to this latter
experience.
1T was there 1 met my best friend,
Willis Drake" he told his interested
auditors. THAT was the brightest
period of my iife-except being with
you people, he added, with a glance
at Nettie, who flushed slightly, while
her father looked pleased at the CON-
pliment. "Ah, Willis Drake! man
with heart of gold-the life Of the
camp. He left at the end Of the sea.
son to go back to his father, wealthy
Southerner. He had left home to be.
come wanderer. I got letter from
him month ago. and what do you
think? His father had died, leaving
him great fortune, and as soon as he
settles the estate he's coming to find
me, and he insists that we'll be like
brothers for the rest Of our lives"
Evans received another letter from
his friend week later. The latter
was coming after him at once. BY
this time Ward had become friendly
and familiar with the Darrells. He
had completed the work he had agreed
to do, but he fingered on, and they
were glad to have him about, and
Ward was gladder still to bask In the
sunshine of Nettie's winning smile.
Then his friend arrived and bore
him away to the hotel. A handsome
impetuous sort of fellow, Drake took
decided fancy to Nettie, and Ward
encouraged 1t. What better than tC
see his dearest friend happy In the
possession of wife worthy Of any
man, In the estimation of Ward7 He
sighed as he told this to Mr.. Darrell
It was with a secret pang that he
broached the subject of fostering O
further mutual liking between Nettle
and his friend
"Well, I've sort of studied Nettle
about this MATCH" reported Mr.. Dar
rell, day or two later. IT'S no go
She hasn't the least interest In Drake
outside of his being your friend. Ir
fact, Ward, I'm pretty certain that
Nettie Is already in love-"
"Why, you amaze me ~ began Ward
who"
"Are you blind? Who but yourself