The Lamar register., 1919-06-18
The Handy Man
By RALPH HAMILTON
toopyrlsht 1919. BY Western Newspaper Union.l

Copyright, 1913. BY Western Newspaper unioh-l
Old Zeb Darrell stood AT the curb
his pipe just filled. between his lips,
an unlighted match In his hand. Its
sulphured end was pressed down upon
the edge Of the iron-bound wheel of
stationary buggy. As Its driver start
ed up. the match inred. Zeb ignited
the tobacco, uttered sigh of comfort
at having been spared all exertion by
cleverly utilizing convenient source
Of friction, and was hailed by by
stander, who smiled at the action
which fully disclosed the lndolent
qualities of the old man.
Looking for handy man, Per
kins." spoke Zeb. ''You don't happen
to know one. do your
"why. there's Joe Lott, the cnrpen-
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 hin like an ice slide. No.
what I'm looking for is some handy
fellow who will put In about two
weeks tlnkering 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
a 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 go right down to your place and
see him." said Zeb. eagerly. IF l 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. lie
listened to the story OF his prospective
employer. readily tracing his nlggardli-
ness. but finally engaging to put Ia his
time Mt the Darrell place ON reuSon-
able basis OF compensation.
81 seem to have u natural knack for
tinkering," he explained to Zeb. "You
furnish the tools and material and IN
do the rest"
IL should think he had knack. as
he calls itr' observed Nettie Darrell
to her father week later, and she
glanced admiringly at the ramshactly
house. Ward Evans had won her llk-
ing magically quick. In the first place
he was good looking, and smiling. iok-
ing. saying pleasant. cheering things
half OF the time. He worked without
ceasing all day long and had an eye
for every loose shlngle and Mapping
board. He practically rebuilt the
house. the sheds the walks, the fences.
There was some loose plasterlng and
he made 1t tight. Two grimy rooms he
repapered, Strengthened up the porch.
cropped up the sunken kitchen and
suggested that a coat OF paint would
make the old place look like new.
Evans had u flute he played eve
nings. and he was an expert In Its mu-
steal possibilities. Regularly he gave
his host and his daughter a concert
But 1t was In his narration of his va
ried career that he particularly inter
ested them. He had been "A circus
rider, manager of Il ranch, a political
orator and superintendent of logging
camp. He loved to refer to this latter
experience.
"It was there l met my best friend
Willis Drake" he told his interested
auditors. 'That was the brightest
period OF my life-except being with
you people" he added, with glance
at Nettie. who flushed slightly. while
her father looked pleased at the com
pliment. "Ah, willis Drake! man
with a heart of gold-the life of tht
camp, He left AT the eQd Of the sea