The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-12-31

Wouldn't that make you sick? :.
So beat 1t for town."
"And / 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 moment, and then he
said:
mo, amt. That's what makes me
sick now. came in here intendin' to
get an education. an I've never got
even a start at II, excep' 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 1t TO be done?" Dave
questioned with returning interest.
schools an books cost money. an
never save dollar"
"And never will" said Mr.. Duncan,
until you start. But think see
plan that might help. and If 1t appeals
to you It will also be 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 I find 1t hard to get
out with her. My daughter used to
drive, but these new-fangled automo-
biles are turning the world upside
doTn-and many q buggy with 1t.
Well-as / saw you driving In here !
said to myself. There's the man for
that job of nine, IL can get him.
but I'm not rich and couldn't pay
you regular wages. But If I could
square the account by helping with
your studies couple of nights q
week. used to teach school and
haven't altogether forgotten - why.
that would be just what want. What
do you say?"
Il never saw anything on four feet
I couldn't drive" said Dave. IAN IL
you're willing to take a chance 1 am.
When do we start?"
First lesson tonight. Second les
son Thursday night. First drive Sum-
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 nurrsed 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 a street leading into the residen-
tial part Of the town. There were
specuIations that he had "seen
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 was
sorry Edith was out; Edith had ten
mis- engagement. She was apparently
deeply interested In the young man
who was to be her coachman. Dave
had never been in home like this,
and his eyes, unaccustomed to COM
Portable furnishings, appraised them
as luxury. He soon found himself talk
ing with Mrs. Duncan about horses,
and then about his old life on the
ranch. and then about coming to town.
Almost before he knew 1t he had told
her about Reenie Hardy, but he had
checked himself in time. And Mrs.
Duncan had noticed 1t, without COM
ment, and realized that her guest was
not boy but a man.
Then Mr. Duncan talked about gar
dening. and from that to Dawes skill
In backing his team to the coal chute,
and from that to coal itself. Dave had
shoveled coal all winter, but he had
not thought about coal except as
something to be shoveled and shov-
eled. And as Mr.. Duncan explained
to him the wonderful provisions or ma
ture-how she had stored away In the
undiscovered lands billions of tons Of
coal, holding them In reserve until the
worlds supply Of timber for fuel
cstOtao bD hCotth6 CAhaoctNOhs dAu 90
he told Of the Unreasonable wealth Of
this great new land In coal resources,
and of how the wheels Of the world,
traffic and industry and science. even,
were dependent upon coal and the
man who handled the coal, Dave felt
his breast rising with sense Of the
dignity Of his calling. He had had to
do with this wonderful substance all
winter. and not until tonight had 1t
fired the divine spark of his imagina-
ton. The time licked on. and although
he was eager to be at work he almost
dreaded the moment when Mr.. Duncan
should mention his lesson. But be-
fore that moment came there was a
ripple of laughter at the door, and
girl In tennis costume and q young
man a little older than Dave entered.
Edith" said Mrs. Duncan.
Dave arose and shook hands. Then
Mr.. Allan Forsyth was introduced.
Mr.. Forsyth shook hands heartily. but
Dovo WINS conscious ~ hoiu0 cou0hf IN